Palomar Promise 2026-2027 Application for Fall 2026 is now available
Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis pending available funds. Applicants must meet all program eligibility requirements, and acceptance is not guaranteed.
What is Palomar Promise?
The Palomar Promise program is a comprehensive student success program geared towards increasing the college-going and completion rates of first-time college students and helping to ensure their success. The Palomar Promise offers up to two years of free tuition (fall/spring), textbook assistance, and access to specialized academic and career planning with related support services to first-time college students who meet the eligibility requirements. Palomar Promise is funded using a combination of state, federal and local funding resources.
To view the Palomar Promise eligibility requirements click here.
*Program benefits subject to available funding.
Important Announcements & Information
To check your current Promise application status, log on to your MyPalomar student portal and click on the Financials screen. On the right-side of the dashboard, you will find the Promise Application Checklist. The Promise application checklist will help guide you on meeting your Promise eligibility requirements. View the checklist to see what requirements may be missing (i.e. CA residency, FAFSA, Full-Time enrollment) and what requirements have been received/completed.
If you have questions regarding your Promise application, please contact the Promise Office via email using your Palomar student email (include your full name, Student ID) or call the Promise Office at 760-744-1150, ext. 3931.
Preliminary reviews of Promise applications began around late-April/early-May. Our office will continue to conduct preliminary reviews each week through the end of June.
What does Preliminary reviews mean?
During the preliminary (initial) reviews, our office begins to update application statuses from APPLIED to PROSPECTIVE or APPLICATION ON HOLD.
- If your Promise application is on hold, it could be for the following reason(s): the College has not received your official financial aid application, you are classified as a non-resident of California and/or you are not considered a first-time college student. If your Promise application is on hold, please resolve the missing items immediately; otherwise your Promise application will remain on hold and you will not be eligible to participate in the Promise program. Weekly reviews will be conducted and application statuses will be updated to Prospective once all missing items are resolved.
- If your Promise application is Prospective, then you have met the first-time college student requirement, the College has received your official financial aid application and you have been classified as a CA resident or from an eligible exempt group (i.e. AB-540). Your last step is to register in at least 12 units (or units approved by the Disability Resource Center) for fall 2026 semester by the priority deadline date of July 1, 2026. Summer 2026 and Fall 2026 Registration begins on May 4, 2026.
Official Preliminary notifications will be sent via email to all Promise applicants early-May. Please check your Palomar student email frequently for information and updates regarding your Promise application status.
Please note that having a "PROSPECT" status does not mean you have been accepted to the Palomar Promise Program. Students who have met all eligibility requirements and have been accepted to participate in the Palomar Promise program will have a "Confirmed" status displayed on their Promise checklist.
Spaces are limited. Priority will be given on a first-come, first-served basis to students who meet all Promise eligibility requirements including enrolling in a minimum of 12 units (or units approved by the Disability Resource Center) for Fall 2026 by Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Waitlist classes will not count. We will continue to review applications after this date if space and funding are still available.
Early July, the Promise Office will start the first round of final reviews and will begin to confirm students who have met all Promise eligibility requirements. At that time, our office will email official Confirmation notifications to students who have been accepted to participate in the Promise Program via their Palomar student email. First round of Confirmation notifications are expected to be sent the week of July 6, 2026. We will continue to review Promise applications and confirm students who have met all eligibility requirements until all spaces have been filled (pending availability of funds).
Students who have been accepted to participate in the Palomar Promise program will see a CONFIRMED status on their Promise checklist.
**Promise applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis pending availability of funds.
Summer and Fall 2026 Priority Registration will begin May 4, 2026. Open registration begins May 11, 2026. View the Registration Timetable for Summer/Fall 2026.
* More information and helpful tips on how to prepare for fall registration will be added to this page in the coming months. Check back soon.
