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Mission

We are students fighting for free college. As tuition hikes, campus hunger and homelessness, and overwhelming student loan debt put higher education out of reach, we are leading a movement to put college within reach for all.

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1,200 percent

increase in the cost of tuition in a generation

Take Action on Your Campus

Fight for Free College Tuition

Our grassroots campaign is led by students and supporters like you. With your help, we can make California a state where hard work and talent -- not income or wealth -- determines your success in college and beyond.

Lead the Movement

Apply now to organize with Rise on your campus

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$1.5 Trillion

in student loan debt nationwide.

  • "If tuition were free, I would take advantage of the full college experience." - Breeana Barrenos, Cal State San Bernardino . . . "If tuition were free, I would take advantage of the full college experience. I would take classes that didn’t revolve around my major and weren’t a requirement, so I could enjoy more of my college experience and grow. Being limited to a certain amount of financial aid restricts the classes amount of classes I take. It also restrict the experience I have. With free tuition, I would have the chance to take as many classes as I wanted, not worrying about how I would be able to finish all my requirements within a span of 4 years or less." - Breeana Barrenos, Cal State San Bernardino #College #Students #Politics #FreeCollege #FreeCollegeTuition #StudentDebt #Advocacy #California #Rise #risefree
  • Today we’re sending you all of our love - for lifting us up, supporting our students, and creating a brighter future for all of us. 💘✨
  • ✨Happy Birthday to our team member @cot_yama ! ✨ We are grateful for your hard work and passion for fighting for students! 💫💕
  • “Free college has to be the future for the rest of us to have a chance.” - Orlandria , UC Riverside • • • "I chose to go to college because I want to have a good paying job. I saw how important it was to go to college through my parents. They weren’t able to get their degrees because they couldn’t afford it. My sister tried to go but it also didn’t work out. I hope I can finish college and become a lawyer. I afford college through loans. My family also tries to help me out. My dad took out a parent plus loan to make sure I could afford my first year. It's important for us to speak up for ourselves. I want to be a role model for the people around me. Free college has to be the future for the rest of us to have a chance." - Orlandria , UC Riverside #College #Students #Politics #FreeCollege #FreeCollegeTuition #StudentDebt #Advocacy #California #Rise #risefree
  • "We are the children of hard working parents - why has the opportunity to one day help them with our degree been taken from us?" - Monica , Cal State Los Angeles . . . "After three years at a community college, I transferred to a Cal State school. I was told that if I went to a community college, I would save money. I did save money for those three years, but as soon as I went to Cal State Los Angeles, the bills started to pile up. I have to work two part time jobs to pay for my basic needs. CSUs are much more affordable than UCs, but even then, if you’re trying to help your family and not go into debt, it’s hard. People should support free college because we shouldn’t have to worry about bills when all we want is an education. We are the children of hard working parents - why has the opportunity to one day help them with our degree been taken from us? Free college would allow us to be free from debt and help our families while in college.” - Monica, Cal State Los Angeles #College #Students #Politics #FreeCollege #FreeCollegeTuition #StudentDebt #Advocacy #California #Rise #risefree
  • #TBT to November when we joined thousands of students getting out the vote .💥🗳 Reminder: the people we elect have the power to bring back free college! ⠀ Are your legislators working to address the issues you face as a student? • • • #Politics #California #Rise #RiseFree #College #Free #StudentsRise #WeRise #college
  • We've got some 🗞📣to share! A year and a half ago, we launched Rise for students to lead the free college movement in California. Since then, we've helped students enact a first year of free community college, stop tuition hikes, win new state funding, and so much more. We've also supported students outside of California as far away as Miami, Phoenix, and Omaha. That's why today we're moving to a new social media handle and URL to better reflect where we work. In the months ahead, we'll keep fighting for free college in California while launching campaigns in new states. Stay tuned here @RiseFreeOrg and our website, RiseFree.org. Tag a friend who wants to bring free college to their state! ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #FreeCollege #Students #Advocacy #StudentDebt #Politics #California #Rise #RiseFree #College #Free #StudentsRise #WeRise #College
  • “Having free tuition would not only allow me to pursue my goals as a student, but also relieve the burden on my family who supports me in my degree.” - Kristel Arenas, Cal State Long Beach ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ “Having free tuition would not only allow me to pursue my goals as a student, but also relieve the burden on my family who supports me in my degree. Education is paramount to my family. Because college costs so much, it is becoming a detriment to my future as a contributing member of society. On a more personal level, it also becomes an obstacle to those I care about, who will hopefully follow down the same path. A society that systematically limits the quality of education based on the amount of education you can afford is anti-democratic.” - Kristel Arenas, Cal State Long Beach
  • “If college was free, that $1,300 could go to buying my books or helping out my family with another bill.” - Jacob S., UC San Diego ⠀ .⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ “I am currently a second year at UC San Diego. I chose to go to college because it’s necessary to have a bachelor’s degree to get a good paying job. I want to be able to help my parents financially, and I know I can’t do it without a degree. My first year, I had my tuition fully covered, but my second year it has been different. Each quarter I have to pay $1,300. While that may not sound like a lot to some people, it is to me. I work around 25 hours a week. Most of it goes to transportation and helping my family with rent. If I worked more I would have to give up my internship. I need that internship to build connections, so I can get a job once I graduate. I know experience is just as important as a degree. If college was free, that $1,300 could go to buying my books or helping out my family with another bill.” - Jacob S., UC San Diego
  • “Growing up I have always been told that college will help change my family’s and my life.” - Crystal Salinas ✨ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ “ Once I graduate high school I want to go to college not only because I want to receive high quality education but also to learn from people and experiences as much as I can. Growing up I have been told that college will help change my family’s and my life. I’m already thinking about that fact that I wouldn’t be able to afford college. I’m hoping to receive scholarships and financial aid to help me pay as much as possible. I support free college because it shouldn’t be as difficult to go to college and get an education. The students that are attending college are our future leaders and it’s difficult for them to pursue their goals and maintain an exceptional ambition when they have to worry about where their next meal is coming from or whether or not they can attend college.” - Crystal Salinas✨ .⠀ .⠀ #College #Students #Politics #FreeCollege#FreeCollegeTuition #StudentDebt #Advocacy#California #Rise #RiseFree

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$7 billion

States Are Spending Less On Higher Education Than Before the Recession

Check out our petition here.


College costs 1,200+ percent more today than a generation ago.

Join the students fighting back.


Sign our petition to join the fight for free college.