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PALM DESERT — College of the Desert saves students money on college thanks to more affordable classes close to home. But what if we told you that all graduates from high schools located in the Coachella Valley, including GED and HS diploma programs, can take advantage of FREE college for two years? This can amount to thousands of dollars saved in loans and interest with plEDGE!

For students who aren’t confident that college is attainable due to finances or their past academic performance, EDGE/plEDGE can be life changing. The EDGE/plEDGE program has given nearly 10,000 students – and counting – two years of tuition-free college, dedicated support, wrap-around services and provided a smooth transition from high school to college.

The EDGE/plEDGE program was born out of the need to equip students for college; it has since grown into an award-winning, nationally acclaimed program, and best practice model for other institutions to emulate.

EDGE, which was implemented in 2012, addressed the fact that the majority of new students assessed below collegiate levels in math, English and reading. In 2010, nearly 90% of new incoming students assessed below collegiate levels in math, 80% assessed below collegiate levels in English, and 73% assessed below collegiate levels in reading. Additionally, College of the Desert’s service area included many communities with bachelor or higher education attainment rates as low as 1%.

plEDGE, which was added in 2017, made it possible for ALL local high school graduates to attend College of the Desert for two years for free. These two parts of the EDGE/plEDGE program tackle the most significant barriers faced by students from underrepresented communities: financials, college readiness, retention, persistence, and completion.

The EDGE/plEDGE program boasts better outcomes for students who participate in the program versus those who do not. Including an increase in persistence, and completion rates compared to their counterparts who do not participate in the program.

In the 2021-22 academic year, EDGE/plEDGE first-time college students persisted from fall to spring at higher rates compered to their non-EDGE/plEDGE counterparts; 81.7% compared to 58.5%.  Additionally, EDGE/plEDGE persist from fall to fall, and fall to second spring, at higher rates than their non-EDGE/plEDGE counterparts.   EDGE/plEDGE students were also more successful (59.90%) in college-level English than non-EDGE first-time students (48.49%). And, EDGE/pLEDGE first-time college students were more successful in college-level math (28.6%) compared to their non-EDGE first-time counterparts (19.47%).

These outcome patterns continue to appear in each class that enrolls in EDGE/plEDGE. We look forward to continuing to see these results as all graduates of Coachella Valley high schools and adult GED/HS diploma programs have the opportunity to get two years of college for free. Program requirements include full-time enrollment status, completion of the financial aid application, one career-focused workshop, and 10 hours of community service. EDGE/plEDGE offers intentional counseling, classes to prepare students for college and college-level coursework to build community and their confidence.

As college acceptances roll in, students might be finding that they didn’t get into their dream school or financial aid packages are not what they need to be for them to afford a four-year university. College of the Desert’s EDGE/plEDGE program and Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) makes it possible for students to save thousands of dollars and enjoy guaranteed acceptance to participating UC schools as well as several Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country.

Ready to set and achieve new educational and vocational goals? Learn more about how you can join thousands of other students who have benefited from the EDGE/plEDGE program.