The Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise Plus Program

Through the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise, we hope that more East County students will be inspired to launch a successful college career. We know that some post-high school education and training is critical to building a sustainable career, but nearly half of local high school grads are not attending college at all. A significant barrier is the cost of attending college. Nearly 60% of Grossmont Union High School District students are very low-income.

A Community Coming Together

GCCCD and GUHSD are teaming together to ensure that ALL local students have what they need to pursue and achieve their educational goals. The state covers first and second year tuition through the Promise program, but we understand that many students have a financial need that goes beyond that. That's why we've established the Promise Plus Scholarship program, which includes scholarships to help cover the cost of books and supplies, basic needs, or whatever they need to be successful in their education journey. The priorities for the Promise Plus Scholarship program have expanded beyond the incoming Promise Scholars to help meet the needs of our community and our students. They now include opportunities for students re-entering college with extenuating circumstances, adults returning to college to improve workforce opportunities, Grossmont Adult School transfer students, as well as emergency scholarships.

Our goal is to build a perpetual endowment to ensure that all local students have an opportunity to attend college and prepare for a rewarding career. 

You Can Make a Difference

With thousands of students applying for scholarships each semester, we know that there is a tremendous financial need. There are thousands of students ready to start their path to success at Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges — we need your support to get to our $4 million fundraising goal! Once fully endowed, we can expect to give away up to 200 Promise Plus scholarships to students every semester, each valued at $500. 

On behalf of our students, we thank you for your support and for investing in student success. Without you, many of our students wouldn't be able to fulfill their educational dreams. 

When you contribute to the Promise Plus program, you help support students like Jake McDermott...

Born and raised in San Diego, Jake McDermott was taken from his mother and placed in foster care while in middle school and remained in foster care until his father gained custody of him two years later. Meanwhile, he struggled with ADHD and other learning disabilities. When he was in high school, his father passed away. McDermott, now 21, graduated from El Capitan High School with honors in the spring of 2016 and enrolled at Grossmont College. He actively volunteers at Grossmont College, is a member of the campus Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and is on track to transfer to SDSU to earn a degree in graphic design and photo editing.