Skip Main Navigation

How to Become a Promise Student

Steps for High School or Adult School Students

The expanded two-year Hancock Promise (otherwise known as HP2) will provide any local student who completed their high school education within the Allan Hancock Joint Community College District (AHJCCD) AND immediately enrolled at AHC in the preceding summer OR fall and spring semesters with the opportunity to attend AHC for two years tuition free. Students who are home-schooled or completed their GED through a local adult education program within the district (GED and HiSET graduates) are also eligible. Qualified students will not have to pay tuition or required lab and class fees.

Establishing yourself as a Hancock Promise student takes just a few steps. Follow the steps outlined below to ensure you are ready to receive your Hancock Promise award.

For students taking summer courses, these steps should be completed no later than the end of May to receive their Hancock Promise award for the first Hancock Promise summer disbursement. For students starting in the fall, these steps should be completed no later than the end of July to receive their Hancock Promise award for the first Hancock Promise fall disbursement.

Hancock Promise Awarding:

Awards will be posted only once all of the requirements for establishing eligbility for the Hancock Promise are met. Establishing eligibility requirements can be found under the High School Senior and Adult School Student tab on the Hancock Promise home page.

Summer Tuition and Fees- Hancock Promise awards will begin posting 1-2 weeks after summer classes have started

Fall Tuition and Fees- Hancock Promise awards will begin posting 3-4 weeks after fall classes have started

Winter/Spring Tuition and Fees- Hancock Promise awards will begin posting 3-4 weeks after spring classes have started

YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING TO APPLY: 

  Your high school transcript with an accurate GPA (if you've graduated within the last 10 years)

  A chosen major (what degree or certificate do you want to work toward?)

  A personal email address (please do NOT use your school email account since you will eventually lose access to this account). You receive an AHC student email account after registering for classes.

  Your Social Security Number (SSN) if you have one (more information below)

In an effort to ensure that your academic, financial aid records, and student account records match, your Social Security Number (SSN) is required if you have one.  If you do NOT have a SSN, please leave this field blank.

Complete the application for Admissions. If you need assistance in completing your application for admission, please contact Admissions & Records at 805-922-6966 ext. 3248.

Video: Applying to Allan Hancock College

APPLY FOR ADMISSION  »

After you have submitted the application above, you will receive a welcome email to your personal email address that will help you get started with using your myHancock portalIf you do not receive an email within 24 hours of submitting your application, please search your email for "AHC Admissions." Often the email might go into your junk, spam, or promotions folder.

The email will give you your student ID number (H#) and your username. Be sure to keep it in a safe place. This number will be used throughout your time at Hancock.

Video: Welcome to the myHancock portal

COMPLETE THE FAFSA OR DREAM ACT APPLICATION (December – August)

Find more information on completing the FAFSA or the CA Dream Act

To complete these applications,  follow these steps:Cash for College in-person workshops to help you complete your FAFSA or Dream ActAfter applying for financial aid, log onto your myHancock portal to check your financial aid status for outstanding documentation requirements, disbursement dates, Satisfactory Academic Progress and other important information about your financial aid file.

Questions about financial aid? Please call the Financial Aid Office at 805-922-6966 ext. 3200.

If you need one-on-one assistance completing the FAFSA or CDAA attend a Cash for College workshop.

STEP A.  COMPLETE YOUR FINANCIAL AID FILE 

Priority registration for summer and fall opens April 26 and 27, 2024 for Promise students who have completed Promise steps 1-4. Classes fill quickly so register early!

Complete Your:

Students beginning their studies at Allan Hancock College in the summer should complete their file by April 2024. Students beginning until the fall should complete their file by June 2024. The financial aid file can be completed any time throughout the year, but funding may be delayed significantly the longer students wait to submit requested information. Follow the steps below as soon as possible so eligibility can be determined. 

  • Go to hancockcollege.edu and log in to the myHancock portal 
  • Scroll down to “My Financial Aid” and click “View My Financial Aid” 
  • Choose the Award Year: “Summer 2024 to Spring 2025”.  If unsatisfied requirements/documents exist, they will be listed here.
  • If there is a Financial Aid Task, an account will need to be created before continuing.
  • Double click each of the required items and complete each task/requirement listed.   Documents may need to be printed, scanned, uploaded, and submitted through the portal and/or emailed to finaid@hancockcollege.edu.
If you need assistance completing your financial aid file, you can visit us in person both in Santa Maria in building A and at the Lompoc Valley Center in building 1.
STEP B. REVIEW YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARD(S):

  • Go to hancockcollege.edu and log in to the myHancock portal 
  • Scroll to the financial aid button and click on “My Financial Aid”.
  • Choose the Award Year: “Summer 2024 to Spring 2025”. If unsatisfied requirements/documents exist, they will be listed here.
  • Click on the “Award Offer”.

Note: There are certain federal eligibility requirements for financial aid. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress during their college journey in order to continue receiving financial aid.

All students are required to complete Orientation. Orientation will provide you with important information concerning student support services, certificate/degree programs, and other "Need to Know" information. New student orientation is available online and MUST be completed even if the semester is underway.

Video: Welcome to the myHancock Portal

Students can choose to follow path 4a OR 4b: 

4a- Seniors attending Promise Registration Rally:
High school seniors interested in attending the Promise Registration Rally must complete Hancock Promise Steps 1-3 by March 15, 2024. Once the Promise steps have been completed, students can notify their high school counselor or their Hancock outreach specialist to help them register for the Promise Registration Rally happening on April 26 & 27, 2024. Students who attend  will complete their first semester plan and register for summer and/or fall classes the same day.

4b- Seniors completing registration on their own: 

Students unable to attend the Promise Registration Rally will need to  complete the following steps to register for courses: 

  1. Complete a first semester plan with an AHC counselor before fall 2024 registration begins April 26, 2024. 805-922-6966 ext. 3293.
  2. Go to hancockcollege.edu and log in to your myHancock portal.
  3. Scroll down to “Register Add/Drop Classes”
  4. When you register, have your first semester education plan (ASEP) available.  If you need a copy, you can obtain one by logging into myHancock portal and clicking on “DegreeWorks”.
  5. You MUST register for a minimum of 12 units for the fall 2024 AND spring 2025 semesters. There is NO minimum unit requirement if you attend summer/ winter.
  6. You MUST register and complete one English and one math class during the summer, fall, or spring semester, if required by your program of study (major). 

While we highly encourage students to attend the registration event, students who are  unable to attend the Promise Registration Rally can visit the Admissions and Records  website to review Steps to Enrollment: www.hancockcollege.edu/register/index.php

Priority registration for Promise students is only available upon completion of steps 1-3  AND creation of a first semester plan.

Keep in mind, you MUST register for a minimum of 12 units for the fall 2024 AND spring 2025 semesters.

Attention!  If you had an IEP or 504 plan in high school, or plan to request disability accommodations, please call our Learning Assistance Program (LAP) at 805-922-6966 ext.3274 or email lap@hancockcollege.edu to schedule an appointment with our LAP Counselors.

After the Promise Registration Rally, any students still in need of a first semester plan can call the Counseling Department at 805-922-6966 ext. 3293.

Complete between May – October 2024
 A comprehensive SEP (CSEP) is a semester-by-semester plan created with an AHC Counselor listing all the courses you will need to complete in order to reach your educational goal. You will need to have this completed before registration begins for the spring 2025 semester, which is usually in early November.

To schedule your (CSEP) appointment, call the Counseling Department at 1-805-922-6966 ext. 3293 or use the scheduling link below. 

SCHEDULE A CSEP APPOINTMENT

There may be some instances where students are unable to complete a Hancock Promise requirement and may want to consider filing an appeal.

HANCOCK PROMISE YEAR 1 ELIGIBILITY APPEAL

Support Resources for High School Students