Hi everyone! I'm super into computer science and I've heard about some colleges offering free tuition. Is that a thing in California too? If any of you know about such colleges, could you drop a hint?
Yes, there are indeed programs or initiatives that might lead to free or heavily subsidized college education, even with a focus like Computer Science. However, keep in mind, these usually aren't associated with a specific major but rather are based on income or other criteria.
A key example of this is the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, offered by the University of California (UC) system. If your family's income is under $80,000 and you meet certain requirements including being a California resident, the system covers your systemwide tuition and fees. This would apply at UC colleges that offer a Computer Science program, which include UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara, among others.
Another option is the California Promise Program for California State University (CSU) schools, where qualifying students with a family income of under $70,000 may have their tuition fees fully covered. Again, this would apply at any CSU campus that offers a Computer Science program, which includes CSU Fullerton, San Diego State, San Francisco State, San Jose State, and many more.
There are a number of independent scholarships available too which could potentially cover your tuition or at least a substantial chunk of it.
Do keep in mind, though, that these plans usually only cover tuition. Other expenses like housing, meal plans, books, transportation, and personal expenses may not be covered. You should investigate each school's net price calculator to get a better handle on what your out-of-pocket costs might be, even after tuition is covered.
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