College of the Desert will expand its tuition-free program to include every Coachella Valley resident — regardless of age, income or educational background — beginning in fall 2026, officials announced Friday.
The expansion of the “plEDGE for All” program was unveiled at this year’s State of the College event. The initiative, which has served more than 10,000 local students since its launch in 2017, will now extend free tuition to all valley residents through a phased rollout.
“The next phase of plEDGE for All removes barriers and opens doors,” Superintendent/President of COD Val Martinez Garcia said. “Education is a right that belongs to every member of our community.”
School officials said they expect the expansion will improve the valley’s workforce in several industries, including healthcare, sustainability, hospitality and digital media, aligning with long-term goals to expand access to education across all Coachella Valley communities by 2030.
Details on how the program will expand were not immediately available, except it would be in a phased roll-out.
“The award-winning plEDGE program is nationally recognized as a best practice,” COD Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Joel Kinnamon said. “This expansion continues that vision and aligns with the goal to ensure that every resident of the Coachella Valley can learn, grow and thrive close to home.”