Santa Clara University will cover 100% of tuition, fees, and room and board, after the family’s expected contribution, for every admitted California student from a family earning $150,000 or less, starting in fall 2027. The private Jesuit school announced the expansion of its California Promise program on September 24, 2026, the latest income-based pledge on our running list of tuition-free colleges.
Transfer students are included for the first time. Admitted transfer students with family income of $150,000 or less will receive scholarships of at least $35,000, with more possible based on individual circumstances, which changes the math for students planning a transfer to a four-year school.
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Why It Matters
Santa Clara’s 2026-27 undergraduate tuition is $64,956, and a standard residence hall adds $13,383. This year’s incoming Promise students averaged $71,358 in grants and scholarships, according to the university.
Until now, the program was limited to first-year students eligible for a Cal Grant, the state award with income and GPA cutoffs, so the $150,000 line opens it to middle-income families for the first time.
The promise covers need, so families still pay their expected contribution. Santa Clara calculates need as billable costs minus the family contribution from the CSS Profile, and the thresholds assume typical assets.
Packages can include federal and state grants alongside university money and renew annually, but the announcement does not say whether loans or work-study count toward the package. Families should read award letters line by line, since schools often build in costs aid won’t touch.
The Details
- Start date: Students entering in fall 2027.
- Eligibility: California residents with family income of $150,000 or less and typical assets.
- Coverage: Tuition, fees, and room and board, minus the expected family contribution.
- Transfers: Minimum $35,000 scholarship and Santa Clara has guaranteed-admission agreements with 43 California community colleges.
- Applications: Financial aid is based on the CSS Profile.
- Scale: More than 1,000 students are expected in the program over the next four years.
How This Connects
Santa Clara’s cutoff sits below the $200,000 lines at Rice, Wellesley, and UChicago’s $250,000 threshold, and it applies only to California residents.
It reaches further on housing, though: Rice covers room and board only below $100,000, while Santa Clara includes it up to $150,000.
The transfer piece stands out, since starting at a community college and transferring already cuts costs, and more than half of Santa Clara’s transfers come from California Community Colleges.
What’s Next
Families targeting fall 2027 should file the FAFSA and CSS Profile early and check where they land on the 2027-28 Student Aid Index chart.
Santa Clara currently meets 81% of first-year students’ demonstrated need and says it is working toward 100% for every student, so watch for further expansion and whether other California private colleges respond with published income cutoffs.
Editor: Colin Graves
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Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
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