Spring Is Free In 2024

California resident students, refugees, and undocumented students who complete their financial aid application (FAFSA) or their CA Dream Act application qualify for free tuition, fees, and books. For Spring, the College is, unfortunately, unable to offer these items to nonresident and international students. 

To be eligible you must be enrolled in at least six units across all four Peralta colleges (Laney, Merritt, College of Alameda, and Berkeley City College).

All students are eligible for some benefits. See the chart at the top of this page for specifics. 

You must be enrolled in at least six units across all four Peralta colleges (Laney, Merritt, College of Alameda, and Berkeley City College). 

Yes. The Cashier’s Office in A 201 will have a paper form you will be able to fill out to get an exemption. The form will be available in mid-January.

You need to do one application per year. If you completed yours in Fall 2023 you do not need to do a new one for Spring 2024. 

Visit the Welcome Center in A-Building, Room 102, Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00 pm 

Yes, you will still qualify for Spring is Free if you do your application. All you have to do is complete an application for financial aid (FAFSA) or CA Dream Act Application and enroll in 6 or more units across Peralta Colleges to be eligible for the Spring is Free program. The deadline to submit your application is April 1, 2024.

You must be enrolled in six units as a minimum.  The maximum number of units you can get for free is 18. Part-time and full-time students are all eligible. 

Yes! You can add as many late start classes up to 18 units. You must be enrolled in six units as a minimum.  The maximum number of units you can get for free is 18. Part-time and full-time students are all eligible. 

Noncredit classes are always free, so yes, they qualify. Complete your FAFSA or CA Dream Act application to receive other benefits.

Yes! You can add as many late start classes up to 18 units. You must be enrolled in six units as a minimum.  The maximum number of units you can get for free is 18. Part-time and full-time students are all eligible. 

YES! We offer many late-start classes that begin throughout the Spring. Spring is Free applies to all classes in the term. 

Yes, if you are eligible to complete the CA Dream Act application. If you have questions or need help, go to the Undocumented Community Resource Center in Tower 201 or call (510) 464-3140

No.

Nonresidents from outside of California and international students do not qualify for free tuition, fees, or books. However, you are eligible for all other benefits of the program, see the chart at the top of this page. We recommend out-of-state students complete their FAFSA, as you may qualify for financial aid.

No. Nonresidents of California and international students do not qualify for free tuition, fees, or books. However, with a student ID, other benefits are available. See the chart at the top of this page. 

No. You will not have to pay anything back. 

To see what you are eligible for if your home college is another Peralta college, see:

• Berkeley City College
• College of Alameda
• Merritt College

Click “Log In” on the home page of https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and log in. You’ll have the option to “Add/Update Schools.” Add Laney College's school code (001266) and then submit the corrections for processing by the Department of Education. The school code is 001266.

Yes. April 1, 2024.

Apply to the college in CCC Apply, enroll in at least 6 units across the Peralta Colleges, and complete the FASFA (Federal Application for Student Financial Aid) or CA Dream Act Application (State Financial Aid Application for Undocumented Students). In your financial aid application, list Laney as your college. 

• To apply: Go to https://laney.edu/enroll/ and click “Apply Now!”
• To enroll: Go to https://laney.edu/enroll/ and click “Ready to Enroll?”
• To complete the financial aid application (FASFA): https://laney.edu/financial_aid/
• To complete the CA Dream Act Application (Undocumented Students): https://dream.csac.ca.gov/landing

1. On campus: Visit the Welcome Center (Building A-101) Monday - Friday from 8:00am - 5:00pm. Phone: (510) 464-3540
2. For remote service join the Welcome Center open Zoom room:
   Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 9:00am – 11:00am & 1:00pm – 3:00pm

The Financial Aid Office offers weekly FAFSA/CA Dream Act Workshops on Thursdays from 1:30 pm-3:00 pm. You may attend the workshop in-person in A-201 or via ZOOM. Visit https://laney.edu/financial_aid/ to register for a ZOOM workshop.

• The Financial Aid Office can be reached at (510) 464-3414 and chat is available at https://laney.edu/financial_aid/
• The Financial Aid Office is open on campus from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm on Monday – Thursday in A-201. If you prefer remote interaction, you can sign up for a Zoom appointment at https://laney.edu/financial_aid/

Counseling is available on campus, on the phone, and online. Make an appointment at https://laney.edu/counseling/ or call (510) 464-3326.

https://laney.edu/classes/

One Stop Spring 2024

Saturday, January 13th & Saturday, January 20th 10 am-1 pm (Flagpole-Weather Permitting) 

Staff and counselors will be available.

Yes! You should attend an Information Session! Faculty and staff will be there to answer all your questions.

Information sessions will be held on: 

• Tuesday, December 7, 2023 at 12:30 pm & 5:00 pm  
• Thursday, December 12, 2023 at 12:30 pm & 5:00 pm 
• Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 12:30 pm & 5:00 pm 
• Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 12:30 pm & 5:00 pm 
• Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 12:30 pm & 5:00 pm  
• Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 12:30 pm & 5:00 pm 

Visit the Welcome Center, located in A-101, near the Flagpole on 9th and Fallon Streets.  

Students who have completed a FAFSA or California Dream Act application and already paid tuition and fees will be refunded after the beginning of the semester via check. The refund will be issued after the semester begins.

Yes. Even though your fees and tuition are covered, you still must complete your federal application for financial aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application to receive coverage of your other fees and needs this semester, including student health fees, books, food, technology  and transportation.

If you have a hold, call the Bursar’s Office and the Vice President of Business and Administrative Services at (510) 464-3131 or Laney Business Office at (510) 464-3228 for assistance.

You will see a balance due on your account until it has been verified that you have completed the required financial aid application (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act application to qualify for the program. Once verified, the account balance will be waived. Payment is not required to register for classes, however, if you do not submit a completed financial aid application or Dream Act application by the deadline,  you will be responsible for any outstanding tuition or fees for the Spring 2024 semester.

No.

During the initial two weeks of school (1/22/24 - 2/2/24):
- Monday & Tuesday: 9 am - 7 pm
- Wednesday & Thursday: 9 am - 6 pm
- Friday: 9 am - 4 pm

Starting from February 5, 2024, regular hours will be in effect:
- Monday to Thursday: 9 am - 4 pm
- Friday: 9 am - 1 pm

Yes.

Bring your student ID card to the Cashier’s Office in A-201.

You must be enrolled in and maintain six or more units and have completed your financial aid application (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application.

While free tuition and fees do not apply to international students, Laney's Office of International Students does offer services and tools to provide guidance and support. See https://www.peralta.edu/international/events to learn what is available for the spring semester. See the chart at the top of this page to see which elements of Spring is Free are available for international students. 

Academic accommodations can be given to students with learning challenges via Student Accessibility Services. Call SAS at (510) 464-3428 or see their webpage at Student Accessibility Services Home - Student Accessibility Services Student Accessibility Services (laney.edu). To request services, submit the form found at Accessing SAS Services - Student Accessibility Services Student Accessibility Services (laney.edu).

Laney is not able to financially support your home internet costs, but you should check out the Affordable Connectivity Program from the federal government at https://www.fcc.gov/acp. This program provides discounts on home internet service that you may be eligible for.

There is a very limited supply of Chromebooks available to check out from the library.  

Laney is using remaining COVID Recovery Block Grant and Student Retention Funds.

No, summer 2024 will not be free.

The general rule of thumb is that for every one hour of class time, a student should expect two hours of homework.