South Bay Promise
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The South Bay Promise
The South Bay Promise creates a direct pathway to college and increases access, affordability,
and success for students and their families.DonateAnswering the call for college access and affordability and to create a college-going culture in the South Bay, El Camino College created the South Bay Promise program. First-time, full-time students can get up to two years of enrollment fees waived.
The rigorous academic programs at El Camino College are building tomorrow's workforce and preparing students for career success. Strong community college programs can ensure that states have the skilled workers trained for the jobs of the future, including manufacturing roles that can't be filled due to the skills gap.
Accessible and Affordable Education
With the introduction of the South Bay Promise, an opportunity exists to break these barriers and make a postsecondary education available to all high school students in the South Bay.
By creating accessible and affordable higher education, the South Bay Promise will contribute to economic growth in the South Bay, which benefits local businesses, and creates a sense of community pride.
The overall goal of the South Bay Promise program is to attract new students to community college, therefore, creating a more educated and sustainable local workforce.
Comprehensive Support
Opening the door financially to a college education is a great start, but more must be done. To help ensure students' success, programs are in place to provide strong connections to El Camino College for South Bay Promise students. To this end, students entering El Camino College through the South Bay Promise will receive the following benefits:
- Priority early registration
- Educational planning and additional academic counseling
- Guaranteed placement in required English and math classes
- Guidance and assistance through follow-up activities and continuous support
- An active, engaging, and dynamic setting for students to grow their knowledge and skills
I am the first to attend college in my family. Going to college wasn't on my radar until I heard about the South Bay Promise program from my counselor. El Camino College has been great; I plan to major in kinesiology."
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Program History
The El Camino College South Bay Promise program started in 2014 with 12 students from Inglewood Unified School District and Centinela Valley Union High School District. With the inclusion of Torrance Unified School District in the fall of 2017, the program grew to 90 students. Since 2025, the program has expanded to support over 7,000 El Camino College students.
News
The ECC Foundation received $50,000 from American Honda Motor Co., Inc. as a lead gift to create the South Bay Promise Endowment Fund. The South Bay Promise program provides affordable access to a college education. This commitment from Honda will be the catalyst for providing long-term funding in perpetuity for students in the South Bay.
Dr. Dena Maloney and Andrea Sala (center) surrounded by friends from American Honda Motor Co. Karin Baker and Steve Morikawa (on left) and Alexandra Warnier and Kacey Takeshima-Ahn (on right).
On May 11, 2018, 130 South Bay leaders visited El Camino College to participate in a signing ceremony for the South Bay Promise.
Educational leaders, elected officials and community partners joined together to sign resolutions and reaffirm their commitment to this program that provides college access. State Senator Ben Allen was the keynote speaker and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. presented a $50,000 check to support an endowment fund for the South Bay Promise.
The South Bay Promise expanded in the fall of 2018 to include 500 high school graduates
from all seven school districts in the El Camino Community College District. Through
this program, students who attend ECC full-time will have enrollment fees waived for
up to two years. The Foundation was pleased to host this historic event and bring
awareness of this vital community program.
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Signing Ceremony Television Coverage
Signing Ceremony keynote speaker, Senator Ben Allen.