Del Mar College unveils 'Freedom to Dream' tuition-waiver pilot for in-district students
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Summary
Del Mar College president presented a pilot tuition-waiver program that would cover tuition and fees for up to three years for eligible in-district students, including graduates, GED recipients, dual-credit entrants and low-credit adult learners; the college has more than 1,100 prospective applicants already.
Del Mar College President Marcus Camilla told the Nueces County Commissioners Court that Del Mar’s new Freedom to Dream tuition-waiver pilot will cover full tuition and fees for eligible students for up to three years.
The program is targeted to in-district residents — those living in the Del Mar College tax district, including Corpus Christi and portions of nearby school districts — and is aimed at high school graduates (class of 2025), GED recipients, dual-credit students and adult learners with 12 or fewer college credits. "It's about access," Camilla said, describing the initiative as intended to remove financial barriers to both academic transfer and career-technical programs.
Why it matters: County commissioners said the program could shift student behavior from part-time to full-time enrollment and accelerate transfers to four‑year programs or entry into the local workforce. Commissioners praised the college’s outreach: Camilla said more than 1,100 prospective students were already in the pipeline and that registration had opened earlier that week.
Key details presented by Del Mar College: - Eligibility: high school graduates, GED recipients, dual-credit matriculants and adult learners with 12 or fewer college credits; must reside in the college district. - Length and conditions: tuition and fees covered for up to three years; recipients must sign an agreement, enroll full time, complete mandatory advising and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA. - Stacking with other aid: the program is described as a “first-dollar in” benefit for qualified students; Pell grants, other financial aid and scholarships may be stacked on top of the waiver to cover books and other costs.
Camilla said the pilot is limited to Del Mar College's tax base and described it as distinct from prior “Promise”-style programs that paid remaining tuition after financial aid. "This is not that; you qualify, you're in, tuition and fees are taken care of," he said. Commissioners and several attendees — including parents and county officials — highlighted Del Mar’s role in workforce training and dual-credit pipelines, and urged increased promotion of the program to students and families.
What’s next: The board of regents had approved the pilot and the college said it would continue information sessions at high schools and on campus. Commissioners asked staff to publicize the program and monitor enrollment and fiscal impacts as the pilot unfolds.
