What is the best San Francisco free hidden gem? City College!

San Francisco is expensive, but let me give you the scoop on the best San Francisco free thing out there! City College of San Francisco (CCSF) is a public community college located in San Francisco, California. Best of all, if you’re a SF resident for 1 year, you can go for FREE!

If you are an SF resident for 1+ years, it is an absolute no-brainer to sign up for CCSF and take classes. You just want to take pottery classes because you have a real job? That’s OK. Why pay $300-$400 when you can pay $0!!

How is that possible you say? You can use the FREE CITY grant, which means your tuition is FREE! It is free enrollment for all residents, regardless of age, income, or background. Yes, there is a health services fee per semester ($29 I believe) and a student registration ($2, though you can opt out) / activities fee ($15, though you can opt out). SF is expensive, taxes are expensive, make use of your money… because this is a steal!

In 2019, San Francisco committed to funding Free City College for ten years, starting with $15 million and increasing annually with inflation. However, this promise is now at risk of being broken due to low enrollment. City College has stabilized its finances, balanced its budget, and increased enrollment by 10%, despite remaining financially fragile. Accreditors have warned of future fiscal challenges, including a revenue freeze starting in 2025-26. San Franciscans voted for Prop. W in 2016 to support free tuition. Reneging on the 2019 agreement would undermine education access and destabilize City College. The best thing you can do to help keep City College free is to enroll!

CCSF offers a wide range of programs, including associate degrees, certificates, and transfer programs, as well as non-credit courses and workforce training programs. They are semester long classes. If you can’t do a class that is that long, there are also CCSF Extension programs you can take.

The college has several campuses throughout the city, offering a variety of courses and programs to meet the diverse needs of its students. CCSF has high-quality instruction, affordability, and commitment to serving the community. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

The application process at CCSF is godawful and confusing. The registration process for classes isn’t all that much better. Persevere anyway and talk to CCSF’s Admissions office if you get stuck (they’re very helpful): admit@ccsf.edu or 415-452-5101.

Apply for City College San Francisco

• Apply here. You will need to create a California Community Colleges account
• In the email you used to sign up, you will receive a welcome email, CCSF RAM ID #, and CCSF email
• You will get access to the RAM Portal

Register for Classes

• You will receive a registration time in your CCSF email, review the available courses beforehand
• Step 1 – add classes
• Step 2 – “build” and review your class schedule
• Step 3 – confirm your class schedule by registering

Some Helpful Notes/Tips

• The mascot for CCSF is a ram, hence the RAM ID and RAM Portal, etc.
• If you sign-up for a class past the normal window, you will likely need manual approval from the instructor. Once the instructor approves, you have a limited time window (I think 2 days) to finish the registration process. If you miss the window, you need to request approval again and finish within the time window.
• It’s totally OK if you have already taken college classes and want to take classes at CCSF. You can take credit courses (there is more selection anyway). I am in the program “lifelong learning” and my major is “general learning”.
• FREE CITY is not a normal “financial aid” program in case you are confused. Financial aid refers to FAFSA.
• Don’t feel bad if you are confused or are frustrated by the registration and application process. Do contact CCSF’s Admissions office if you get stuck (they’re very helpful): admit@ccsf.edu or 415-452-5101.

Like other free things? Check out my page on free things to do in San Francisco!