Free tuition program launched at Cal State Dominguez Hills

Cal State Dominguez Hills announced Tuesday a new initiative guaranteeing free tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students beginning in fall 2026.

The program, known as the Toro Tuition Pledge, will cover four years of tuition for first-time freshmen and two years for transfer students, university officials said.

The pledge is available to California residents who qualify for federal Pell Grants or have a comparable level of financial need. Officials said students must enroll full-time and maintain satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible.

“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,” Interim President Mary Ann
Villarreal said in a statement. “This effort reaffirms our commitment to transforming students’ lives and economic prospects.”

University officials said the program will rely largely on existing financial aid resources, supplemented by institutional funding to ensure tuition and required fees are fully covered for eligible students.

The pledge does not cover other costs such as housing, parking or textbooks.