COD President speaks on free-tuition announcement, college expansion
Athena Jreij
PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — College of the Desert will provide free education to every Coachella Valley resident, regardless of age, income, or educational background, COD Superintendent/President Val Martinez Garcia announced last week.
Martinez Garcia says the announcement builds on COD’s current plEDGE Program, which provides tuition-free enrollment for two years for incoming high school graduates. The expansion, plEDE for All, begins Fall of 2026, with veterans set to be the first cohort of students included.
The Superintendent says it’s been a mission of plEDGE for years and is finally coming to fruition.
“Well, the first barrier to access is cost, and we want to eliminate that barrier for them,” Martinez Garcia said.
The program will be piloted in Fall of 2026, with over 3,000 students participating including veterans, returning students with 30 units or more, and high school graduates.
Martinez Garcia says all students, regardless of income, background or race will be included. He says all students must complete their FAFSA, or Federal Application for Student Aid, to confirm their aid eligibility. Depending on state and federal aid received, COD will then subsidize their tuition through philanthropic funds.
“It’s a combination of federal state money per individual. Then we’ll come in with other moneys through our foundation and other philanthropic efforts that we’ve had. We received $18 million from Mackenzie Scott funds for plEDGE specifically, and for the expansion of this program.”
He estimates it will cost the foundation between $1.2 to $1.5 million each year.
Students on campus welcomed the idea and say it will make them more confident in pursuing their education.
“A lot of us are trying to be full-time students, but also work and support ourselves and have fun, balance our life. So for it to cost a little bit less would honestly just help out with the whole process,” Collin Rhodes said.
For more information on the plEDGE program, visit: https://www.collegeofthedesert.edu/students/edge/default.php