NVC Promise

TWO YEARS FREE OF ENROLLMENT FEES! The Napa Valley College (NVC) Promise Scholarship is a 2 year program that pays enrollment fees at Napa Valley College for students who:

• Have submitted a Napa Valley College admissions application; and

• Have submitted a FAFSA or CADAA (see "How do I apply" below);

• Are enrolled as a full-time student at NVC who have never received a NVC Promise Scholarship; or
  

• Are enrolled as a full-time student at NVC who received the first year of the NVC Promise Scholarship and are applying to renew their scholarship for a second year; and

• Are California residents (or AB540 eligible) for tuition purposes with Admissions & Records; and

• Have not already earned an Associate Degree or higher.

The NVC Promise Scholarship began in Fall 2018 and is funded by the California College Promise (AB 19 & AB 2).

The NVC Promise will pay the enrollment fees for the summer, fall, and spring semesters (if enrolled full-time for the semester) and provide a discount towards the cost for fall and spring parking permits at Napa Valley College for credit programs.  Students are responsible for paying all other registration related fees (accident insurance fees, student health fee, student representation fee, student activities fee, student technology fee, lab fees, material fees, etc). Eligible Promise students will be exempt from the Pay-to-Stay requirement, so they won't have to worry about being dropped from their classes for non-payment. However, the Pay-to-Stay exemption will not be approved until all required steps (see "How Do I Apply" below) are completed and processed by the Financial Aid/EOPS/Veterans Services Office. Eligible students will receive a "Congratulations!" email in their NVC Student Email account. You may also see the exemption notice on Self Service. An example of the fees covered by the NVC Promise is shown in the table below.

Table 1 - Covered Fees Example

2026-2027 NVC Promise Scholarship

Covered Fees	Summer (12 units)	Fall (12 units)	Spring (12 units)	First Year Total
Enrollment Fees $46 per unit	$552	$552	$552	$1,656
Semester Parking Permit Discount	$0 Discount (Student pays $16)	$21 Discount (Student pays $22)	$21 Discount (Student pays $22)	$42 Discount Total
TOTAL FEES COVERED	$552	$552-$573	$552-$573	$1656-$1698

*Includes only fee(s) charged and payable at the time of registration with current semester fees. See "Schedule of Credit Classes" online for courses that have a materials fee.

The NVC Promise Scholarship Program will only pay covered fees that are listed in Table 1 found under "what does it cover?". For a complete listing of fees you are required to pay and instructions on how to "opt out' of optional fees, please review the NVC Fee and Refund page.

You are required to pay all other registration fees, books, supplies, online access fees, or other costs required by the course.

If you qualify for Federal or State grant assistance based on your FAFSA or CADAA, you should use those funds to help you pay for educational costs that are not covered by the NVC Promise Scholarship.

If you receive the CA College Promise Grant (CCPG) to waive your enrollment fees at the time of registration, you will not be eligible for the NVC Promise Scholarship.

Complete each of the following steps to be considered for a NVC Promise Scholarship (click on the blue text to open the links). Students must reapply at the end of the first year to be considered for a second year NVC Promise Scholarship (see "What must I do to remain eligible for the NVC Promise").

STEP 1: Complete the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application

If you are a U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen (not DACA), submit the FAFSA:
2026-2027 FAFSA

If you are DACA, AB540 eligible, undocumented, or under-documented, submit the CADAA:
2026-2027 CA Dream Act Application (CADAA)

STEP 2: Declare a valid major or program of study (degree, certificate, or transfer)

• Meet with an academic counselor through Counseling Services to develop your student education plan
• Update your declared major or program of study (if needed) by submitting a Change of Major form

STEP 3: Register/enroll full-time in classes

Login to NVC Self Service to register for classes. If enrolled less-than full-time in a semester, you will be ineligible for that semester and your awards may be denied or cancelled for the next semester, and you may lose your eligibility for the second year of the NVC Promise Scholarship. Full-time is defined as:

• 12 or more units per semester (including summer, for NVC Promise scholarship only).
• DSPS Students Only: If you are (or will be) enrolled in less than 12 units under a DSPS approved full-time unit load reduction for Fall and/or Spring, you must submit a Certification of DSPS Full-Time Unit Load Reduction form

STEP 4: Complete the NVC Promise Scholarship Application

2026-2027 NVC Promise Scholarship Application (availability TBA)

The average application processing time during peak periods (May-September) is 6-8 weeks. You may view your NVC Promise application status in Financial Aid Self Service under the "Complete Required Documents" link. To access Financial Aid Self Service, login to Self Service and then click on Financial Aid.

You will receive an email in your NVC student email inbox once your application is processed.

• If you are eligible you will receive a "Congratulations!" email in your NVC student email inbox. The email will include important information you need to know about your NVC Promise Scholarship award. You may view your NVC Promise Scholarship award in Financial Aid Self-Service by clicking on the "Review and accept your Financial Aid Award Package" link.
• If you are not eligible a denial email will be sent to your NVC student email stating why you were denied. If the denial was based on a reason that can be corrected, you may submit a new NVC Promise Scholarship Application once you have met the requirements.
• Applications are processed by date received and may take up to 6-8 weeks processing time during peak periods. Your completed application must be reviewed and all eligibility requirements verified before the NVC Promise Scholarship Program can determine your eligibility.

Check your NVC student email regularly for information about your application status and eligibility. To access your NVC student email, go to MyNVC Login, click on Office 365 (not Canvas), and open the Outlook App to access your NVC student email inbox. Do not forward your NVC student email to your personal email as all of your student emails may not be forwarded.

Covered fees will be paid to your student account on the following dates:

2026-2027 Academic Year (beginning Summer 2026)

• June 2026 - Summer 2026 (optional)
• October 2026 - Fall 2026
• March 2027 - Spring 2027

Important information

• If you drop below 12 units before payment is made, you will be ineligible for payment for that semester.  Your award for the next semester may be cancelled.
• If you drop below 12 units (Fall and Spring only) at any time during your first year, you will be ineligible for the second year.
• If you paid your fees before being approved for the NVC Promise, you may be eligible to receive a refund. Parking fees are not refundable. Fees will not be refunded until after your enrollment status is verified and the NVC Promise Scholarship is applied to your student account.
• If you are eligible for a refund, any unpaid fees on your student account will be deducted from the refund before it is processed for payment by the Business Office. Fees paid by credit card will be refunded to the credit card used (if within 180 days of use).
• This is NOT a cash award. Any award amount not used for covered fees will be returned to the NVC Promise Scholarship Program.
• Awarding is limited to available funds.  

Once you are approved for the NVC Promise Scholarship program, you must maintain full-time enrollment (12 or more units) in the Fall and Spring semesters and achieve a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (C grades or better) by the end of the Spring semester of your first year in the program. If you are enrolled full-time in only one semester, the NVC Promise will only apply to that semester.

To qualify for a SECOND YEAR, you must:

• Submit a new FAFSA or CADAA for the appropriate academic year; AND
• Submit a new NVC Promise Scholarship Application for the appropriate academic year; AND
• Maintain full-time enrollment in both the fall and spring semesters during your first year; AND
• Achieve a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA by the end of the Spring semester of your first year.

HOW MUCH IS THE NVC PROMISE WORTH?
The value of the NVC Promise depends on the number of units enrolled. The NVC Promise will pay enrollment fees for each semester the student is enrolled full-time and have been determined eligible.  See Table 1 for an example of covered costs. Funds are limited, so read the instructions carefully and apply early. Incomplete or invalid applications will be denied.

ARE BOOKS COVERED?
No, books are not covered at this time.

ARE COURSE MATERIAL FEES OR LAB FEES COVERED?
No, course material fees and lab fees are not covered at this time.

HOW WILL FEES BE PAID?
Covered fees will be paid directly to your NVC Student Account on a specific date each semester (see "When Will Covered Fees Be Paid" above).

WILL THE NVC PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP COVER ENROLLMENT IN MORE THAN 12 UNITS?
Yes.

HOW LONG IS THE NVC PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP GOOD FOR?
The NVC Promise Scholarship is available for up to two consecutive year (if eligible).

What must I do to remain eligible for the NVC Promise?

 See  (above) for more information.

CAN I BEGIN IN SPRING AND STILL BE ELIGIBLE?
Yes, but you will only have 1.5 years of eligibility.

WHAT IF I DROP BELOW 12 UNITS?
Your enrollment will be checked prior to the date covered fees will be paid each semester (see "When Will Covered Fees Be Paid" above for dates). If you are enrolled in 12 or more units at that time, you will remain eligible for the entire semester.

If you drop below 12 units before your covered fees are paid, you will be ineligible for the NVC Promise Scholarship and will be responsible for paying ALL fees for the semester yourself.

If you are enrolled in a late-start course that begins after the semester census date, you are required to attend that course when it begins. If you fail to attend any course enrolled, those units will be removed from your enrollment status and you may become ineligible for the NVC Promise for the semester. You will then be responsible for paying all previously covered fees for that semester.

If you fail to maintain 12 units each fall and spring semester in your first year, you will be ineligible for a second year.