SB 856: California State University students: California Promise: Finish in Four and Through in Two.

Existing law establishes the California Promise, which requires at least 20 campuses of the California State University to establish a California Promise program by which the campus enters into a pledge with a qualifying transfer student to support the student in earning a baccalaureate degree within 2 academic years of the students first year of enrollment to the campus, as provided.

This bill would rename the California Promise program the Finish in Four and Through in Two program, as provided. The bill would require, commencing with the 202425 academic year, that at least 5% of each incoming class at each participating campus of the California State University be a participant in the Finish in Four and Through in Two program, and that at least 70% of those participating students be either low-income students, first-generation students, or students from communities that are underrepresented in postsecondary education. The bill would also require, commencing with the 202425 academic year, incoming first-time students at each participating campus of the California State University to opt out of, rather than self-select into, the Finish in Four and Through in Two program.