A nearly $9.8 million grant will extend the College Corps program at UC Davis and enable up to 225 undergraduates in each of the next three academic years to learn and earn as they serve the community.  

UC Davis was selected as a returning partner for the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program, administered by California Volunteers in the Office of the Governor.

The 2026-27 grant of up to nearly $3.3 million is renewable for the following two years based on the availability of state appropriations and program performance. 

“The College Corps program at UC Davis has benefitted hundreds of our students, served dozens upon dozens of our community partners, and touched the lives of thousands of Californians,” said Timo Rico, executive director of Student Affairs Assessment and the College Corps Coalition. “Now even more will benefit in the coming years.” 

One of the program’s main goals is to break down the barriers that can prevent students from participating in meaningful service opportunities and community-based fellowships and still graduate on time with less debt. 

Students who complete 450 service hours — or 15 hours a week — over an academic year in fellowships with campus units, government agencies and community organizations earn a pre-tax $7,000 living allowance to support their fellowhip and a $3,000 education award. The program also includes a one-credit leadership course, professional development support and financial literacy workshops.

In the first four years of the program through March 2, a total of 766 students completed nearly 270,000 service hours in the focus areas of K-12 education, food insecurity and climate action. Among their activities, the students tutored children in K-12 schools, distributed food and planted trees. In the coming year, advancing economic opportunity will be added as a focus area.

Applicants are asked to demonstrate financial need by qualifying for a federal Pell Grant, state Cal Grant or Middle Class Scholarship; or needing to work or borrow student loans to meet education and personal expenses during the fellowship. Undocumented students may qualify by being an AB-540 California Dream Act Student with a California Dream Act application on file or being a Cal Grant A or B recipient. 

Students may apply through April 2 to meet the program’s priority deadline for the 2026-27 cohort. Incoming first-year and transfer students have until June 8. 

Nonprofit organizations and government agencies may apply through April 30 to be a host site. Online information sessions will be held March 16 and 31.

For the program’s first two years in 2022-23 and 2023-24, the campus was awarded $11.4 million to lead a consortium that included Sacramento State and two community colleges. In 2024, a grant of $6.4 million extended the program through this academic year. The campus continues to partner with Cosumnes River College and Undergraduate Admissions to encourage enrollment of first-year and transfer students.