Spring is Free FAQs

No. You do not have to resubmit your application. 

Call our Spring is Free Helpdesk at (510) 255-3507.

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 to be eligible for the Spring is Free program.  The deadline to submit your application is Monday, April 17, 2023.  

.05-18 units. Part-time and full-time students are all eligible.

Yes! Complete your FAFSA or California Dream Act application.

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 as you would like to take, up to 18 units.  

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

Yes. Complete your CA Dream Act application. If you have questions or need help, go to Admissions and Records in A 120 or call (510) 464-3540 for assistance.

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 thank our nonresidents who have taken classes as part of Fall is Free and regret that budgetary limitations have kept us from only offering limited aspects of the Spring is Free program. 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 17, 2023

Call the Spring is Free Helpdesk at (510) 255-3507 on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday from 9:00am – 11:00am or 1:00pm – 5:00pm. Or call on Tuesdays from 3:00pm - 6:00pm.

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/

Saturday One-Stop:

Attend one of our two One-Stop events on either of the following Saturdays at the flagpole on Fallon Street:    

• Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 10:00-1:00 pm
• Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 10:00-1:00 pm

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 in the Tower lobby and free lunch or dinner will be served. Register at: https://laney.edu/events/information-session-for-new-and-interested-students/

Thursday, December 15 at 12:30 pm, followed by a financial aid workshop at 1:30

Thursday, December 16 at 6:00 pm

Friday, December 16 at 12:30 pm

Tuesday, January 10 at 12:30 pm

Tuesday, January 10 at 6:00 pm

Thursday, January 12 at 12:30 pm, followed by a financial aid workshop at 1:30

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 April 17, 2023, you will be responsible for any outstanding tuition or fees for the spring 2023 semester.

You should complete the 2022-2023 application.

No.

Go to the Laney Bookstore in the basement of the SSC (cafeteria) building. Show them your student id card and they will give you the required books and instructional materials. 

For quicker pickup, order your books online, click “contactless pickup” as your delivery method and your order will be bundled and ready for you to pick up at the bookstore. To order online go to  https://www.bkstr.com/laneystore/home.  When ordering online, at the last step on the payment screen, check the box for “Financial Aid”. This will populate the Spring is Free program as the funding source so you will not have to pay. When you go for pickup, you will have to show your schedule of enrolled classes. 

If you are taking online classes and are unable to come to campus for pickup, you can order your books online to be delivered to your home. This may take up to a week before you receive them. To order online,  https://www.bkstr.com/laneystore/home. When ordering online, at the last step on the payment screen, check the box for “Financial Aid”. This will populate the Spring is Free program as the funding source so you will not have to pay. 

If you are renting a book, you will have to provide a credit card as collateral for books. The card will not be charged unless you do not return the rented book at the end of the term. 

If you have further questions, you can call the bookstore at (510) 464-3349.

Closed for Spring Break!

Yes.

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

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 College follows the Peralta Community College District’s COVID-19 policy. All students are required to wear a mask while on campus and upload proof of vaccination or receive an exemption to the policy if they are coming to campus. Details can be found at htts://safe.peralta.edu/ 

On a daily basis, if you are coming to campus, please complete a daily health screening. To do so, use the Campus Shield app to answer screening questions for campus access. Instructions for downloading and using the mobile app are available here. If you do not have a smartphone, you can stop by the Tower lobby to use the computer and printer that are there.