Cerritos Complete FAQs

What is the Cerritos Complete Promise Program?

The Cerritos Complete Promise Program is a student success initiative and partnership between Cerritos College and eligible partner schools, which includes seven local school districts (ABC, Bellflower, Compton, Downey, Lynwood, Norwalk-La Mirada, and Paramount Unified) and charter/private schools. 

The Cerritos Complete Promise Program is available to graduating high school seniors or adults completing high school equivalency in our partner schools. These students must complete the 6 Eligibility Steps during their senior year of high school OR while they are completing high school equivalency at an adult school.

This program is designed to help students navigate their way into college. The Cerritos Complete Promise Program focuses on the students’ pledge to earn and complete their degrees or certificates on time. Nationally recognized for accelerating student success, students in Cerritos Complete receive two years of free tuition, early enrollment, and step by step assistance while still in high school/adult school.

What are the benefits of the Cerritos Complete Promise Program?

The Cerritos Complete Promise Program is a great opportunity for high school seniors or adults completing high school equivalency to transition to college. This program provides opportunities for the students to obtain skills and knowledge needed for college, explore a variety of careers, save money on their college education, and graduate from college early.

Benefits include: Two-year free tuition (in-state rates only), two-year early enrollment, step-by-step assistance to prepare students for College, One-on-one counseling and advisement, Career exploration, and Personalized education plans.

What are the Eligibility steps for the Cerritos Complete Promise Program?

  • High School seniors or adults completing high school equivalency must complete 6 Eligibility steps during August-July. Students that do not complete the steps by the deadlines, will not be accepted into the Cerritos Complete Promise Program
  • Once they are accepted into the program, these new Cerritos College Promise Program students must meet requirements in order to stay eligible each semester. If students do not meet the program requirements for Fall, they will no longer be eligible for the Cerritos Complete Promise Program for Spring.

View the 6 Eligibility Steps to be accepted, the Year 1 requirements, and Year 2 requirements for the Cerritos Complete Promise Program.

What does the Cerritos Complete Promise Program cover?

  • The Cerritos Complete Promise Program provides free tuition (enrollment fees)(in-state rates only) for up to two years. 
  • The Cerritos Complete Promise Program also pays the student activity fees and the student health fees.
  • The Cerritos Complete Promise Program does not provide : out-of-state tuition fees, non-resident tuition fees, book fees, class fees, lab fees, parking fees, representation fees. Those fees are the responsibility of the students. Students can pay those fees in their MyCerritos account. For more information, please check out the student fees website

Students must continue to meet the requirements in order to stay eligible for the program.

Who can apply for the Cerritos Complete Promise Program?

The Cerritos Complete Promise Program is for graduating high school seniors or adults completing high school equivalency from eligible partner schools, which includes seven local school districts (ABC, Bellflower, Compton, Downey, Lynwood, Norwalk-La Mirada, and Paramount Unified) and charter/private schools. 

Students must complete Step 2: Submit a Cerritos Complete Interest Form by March 2 in order to be eligible for the program. The form is only available online from October 1-March 2. We do not add students after this deadline.

Students must complete all 6 Eligibility Steps by the deadlines, in order to be accepted into the Cerritos Complete Promise Program.

Are students from other schools allowed to join the Cerritos Complete Promise Program?

At this time, our program is only available to students eligible partner schools, which includes seven local school districts (ABC, Bellflower, Compton, Downey, Lynwood, Norwalk-La Mirada, and Paramount Unified) and charter/private schools. 

Students outside of those district schools that are interested in attending Cerritos College may still be eligible for Financial Aid.

Students can apply to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act (CADA) application. Learn more about the application process on the Cerritos College FAFSA application website and/or the Cerritos College CADA application website.

I have a disability. Can I still get support in college?

 Student Accessibility Services (SAS) provides accommodations and services to students with disabilities to ensure equal access to the educational environment, both in the classroom and at campus activities. 

If you have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), 504 plan, or other disability documentation, go to https://www.cerritos.edu/sas to learn how to apply to SAS and the support they offer to students.

Is the Cerritos Complete Promise Program available for undocumented students?

Yes! The program applies to any graduating high school senior or adult completing high school equivalency from from our eligible partner schools, which includes seven local school districts (ABC, Bellflower, Compton, Downey, Lynwood, Norwalk-La Mirada, and Paramount Unified) and charter/private schools. 

Undocumented students will need to complete the California Dream Act application (CADA) to qualify for the Cerritos Complete Promise Program. Students must add the Cerritos College School Code on the CADA application - 00116100. Before you apply, learn more about the Cerritos College resources available for undocumented students.

If I submit my Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADA) application am I automatically qualified for the Cerritos Complete Promise Program?

No. The FAFSA/Dream Act applications are used to determine your eligibility for federal and/or state financial aid.

In order to be qualified for the Cerritos Complete Promise Program, you must have completed all 6 Eligibility Steps required by the deadlines.

Students in Cerritos Complete Promise Program must submit applications each year for the FAFSA or DREAM act.

I submitTED my Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADA) application but did not add the cerritos college school code. why was i removed from Cerritos Complete Promise Program?

Students must submit a FAFSA or DREAM act application to Cerritos College by the deadline. If you do not add the Cerritos College school code, our college will not receive your FAFSA or DREAM act application and you cannot participate in the Cerritos Complete Promise Program.

You can always log into your FAFSA or DREAM act account and add our Cerritos College school code.

If you added it after the Cerritos Complete Promise Program's deadline

  • You can no longer participate in Cerritos Complete Promise Program.
  • You may still qualify for free tuition through Financial Aid. We recommend you contact Financial Aid if you have any questions.

What happens if I miss a deadline for one of the 6 eligibility steps?

You will no longer be eligible for the Cerritos Complete Promise Program, but you can still attend Cerritos College. You can enroll in the Early Success Program (ESP) at Cerritos College.

You can also join other programs at Cerritos College. Learn more about programs and services available on the Student Services website.

How many classes can I take each semester?

In your first year: You can be part-time or full-time. There is no minimum or maximum number of credits you must take. We recommend you take 12-15 units in order to graduate on-time. You must enroll and successfully complete (Grades of C or better) a COUN 101B or 200 class, math, and English/ESL. You must continue to enroll in math and English/ESL until you complete transfer-level.

In your second year: You are required to be full-time (enrolled in at least 12 units) each semester.

When will I be notified if I am in the program and will receive the Cerritos Complete Promise Program free tuition?

If you successfully complete all 6 Eligibility Steps of the Cerritos Complete Promise Program by the deadlines, you will be notified via email by July.

Can I be in multiple programs at Cerritos College?

Yes! You can also join other programs at Cerritos College. Learn more about programs and services available on the Student Services website.

When does the Cerritos Complete Promise Program end?

Cerritos Complete Promise Program is a two-year program. In order to stay eligible, students must meet all requirements by the deadlines. After the two-year program, students can continue to take classes at Cerritos College.

We recommend students continue to apply for the FAFSA or California Dream Act application each year to see if they qualify for Financial Aid. We recommend you contact Financial Aid if you have any questions.