Toro Tuition Pledge Guarantees Free Tuition and Fees for New Students
In Spring 2026, CSUDH announced a new initiative designed to make college more affordable for incoming students. Starting in Fall 2026, the Toro Tuition Pledge covers four years of costs for eligible first-year students and two years for transfer students.
Widely recognized as one of the best-value universities in the state and nation, CSUDH supports the majority of students with substantial financial aid. Existing financial aid resources cover most of the costs associated with the Toro Tuition Pledge, with the university directing additional philanthropic funds to ensure eligible students’ costs will be fully covered.
The Toro Tuition Pledge is offered to California students who qualify for Pell Grant awards or have an equivalent Student Aid Index. It covers tuition and all mandatory fees for students enrolled in a full schedule of classes who maintain satisfactory academic progress, among other requirements. The pledge does not cover housing, parking, textbooks, or other costs associated with enrollment.
“CSUDH’s mission is rooted in affordability and accessibility, and the Toro Tuition Pledge builds on our longstanding work of expanding opportunity to ensure every student can succeed,” said Interim President Mary Ann Villarreal. “This effort reaffirms our commitment to transforming students’ lives and economic prospects.”
“At CSUDH, access and affordability are values that are central to our mission,” added Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Deborah Brandon. “The Toro Tuition Pledge represents a bold investment in student success, ensuring that financial circumstances do not stand in the way of educational opportunity. By expanding access to a high-quality CSU education, we are helping students transform their futures, strengthen their communities, and achieve lasting economic mobility.”
CSUDH plans to extend the Toro Tuition Pledge beyond the 2026-27 academic year, and will be offering it to eligible students enrolling in Fall 2027.
