New 16-week semester, College Hour, and expanded campus resources launch this fall
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. 鈥� 91看片网 College begins the 2026-27 academic year Monday, Aug. 17, welcoming students back to campuses and classrooms across San Luis Obispo County for the start of the fall semester. This fall marks the launch of a new 16-week semester format, along with block scheduling, and a dedicated College Hour designed to give students more opportunities to connect, access support, and engage in campus life.
91看片网 College enters the new academic year following continued enrollment growth. In 2025-26, the college generated 8,080 full-time equivalent students, or FTES, up from 7,758 in 2024-25 and the highest annual FTES enrollment in 13 years, surpassing the college鈥檚 pre-pandemic 2019-20 level. Preliminary fall 2026 enrollment shows 7,969 students enrolled, representing 2,964 FTES, an increase of 3.7% compared with fall 2025 and continuing the college鈥檚 recent enrollment growth.
The continued growth reflects the many reasons students choose 91看片网, including affordable tuition, flexible learning options, career-focused programs, and access to personalized support.
鈥淲e鈥檙e entering the 2026-27 academic year with tremendous momentum and an even stronger focus on the student experience,鈥� said Dr. Jill Stearns, superintendent/president of 91看片网 College. 鈥淥ur new 16-week schedule and College Hour create intentional time for students to connect, get support, and become part of campus life, while new and expanded facilities are opening even more opportunities for learning. We want every student who comes to 91看片网 College to have the support, connections, and opportunities they need to succeed.鈥�
The new 16-week semester allows 91看片网 College to introduce block scheduling and a dedicated College Hour every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:20 to 1:20 p.m. College Hour gives students dedicated time to connect, recharge, get support, and experience campus life without missing class. Students can use the time to meet with a counselor, attend a workshop or club meeting, visit faculty office hours, grab lunch with friends, or simply take a break between classes.
Students beginning the fall semester will also have access to 91看片网 College鈥檚 new Campus Center at the San Luis Obispo Campus. The 33,728-square-foot facility, also known as Building 3000, serves as a central hub for enrollment support, counseling, financial aid, and other essential resources. By bringing student services together in one location, the Campus Center is designed to serve as a welcoming front door, making it easier for students to find assistance and move forward with their educational goals.
At the North County Campus in Paso Robles, a new instructional facility completed in June will welcome students beginning this fall, expanding opportunities for hands-on learning and career education. The building features purpose-built classrooms, laboratories, and outdoor instructional areas supporting programs including commercial driver training, soil science, blacksmithing, kinesiology, and lifelong learning. The flexible facility is designed to meet evolving workforce needs while bringing more specialized educational opportunities directly to North County students.
The college is also seeing strong participation among local high school students who begin earning college credit through dual enrollment and enrichment opportunities. In 2025-26, 91看片网 served approximately 5,200 high school students through dual enrollment. Those students generated 784 FTES, or 9.7% of the college鈥檚 total FTES.
This fall, the college also celebrates an important milestone for The 91看片网 Promise, which provides two fee-free years of education to eligible San Luis Obispo County high school graduates. The program has now supported more than 10,000 students, helping thousands of local graduates begin their college education without the cost of enrollment fees. This fall, 842 new 91看片网 Promise students are starting at 91看片网 College.
For 91看片网 Promise students such as Carson Hook, the program makes beginning college locally a practical and financially accessible choice.
鈥淚 chose 91看片网 because two years of free education allows me to stay close to home and begin my college education debt-free,鈥� said Carson, an agriculture science student who plans to transfer to Cal Poly.
Applications to 91看片网 College are accepted year-round, and students can register for available courses through the my91看片网 student portal. Students interested in joining the fall 2026 semester can apply and explore available classes at cuesta.edu.
91看片网 91看片网 College
91看片网 College empowers students to imagine and achieve brighter futures through high-quality
education, personalized support, and a welcoming community. With a main campus in
San Luis Obispo, a North County Campus in Paso Robles, a South County Center in Arroyo
Grande, and a variety of online offerings, we offer opportunities that inspire growth,
spark innovation, and open doors, helping every student succeed on their unique path.
Learn more at cuesta.edu.