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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.

  • Motivational Monday ✨ Read about the inspiring determination of @citlalii_ag ➡️ “I was an 18 year old girl who didn’t have much help or opportunities to continue her education. However, I found a way to pay for at least one class. After that, I received a Pell Grant and now I'm very close to getting my associates in pre-photography; but honestly, I couldn't continue my education if I didn't have a Pell Grant.” - Citlali Almanza Garcia . . . "I’m a permanent resident of the US. I moved here two weeks after my High School graduation in Mexico and started working in a factory. It was my first job, and it was horrible! I did experience discrimination because of my nationality and I didn’t understand English at the time either. After that experience, my only priority was to learn English. So, I started looking for schools where I could learn English for free; however, all of them put me on a waiting list. I kept looking and I eventually found GRCC. I thought twice before I started taking classes there just because I didn’t have enough money. My parents were in Mexico and I didn’t have any financial help here, I was on my own. I was an 18 year old girl who didn’t have much help or opportunities to continue her education. However, I found a way to pay for at least one class. After that, I received a Pell Grant and now I'm very close to getting my associates in pre-photography; but honestly, I couldn't continue my education if I didn't have a Pell Grant. There are many brilliant minds out there that do not have the opportunity to receive a higher education and make their dreams come true. Education is essential to success; as soon as more people have access to education, we will have a more successful world.” - Citlali Almanza Garcia • • • #College #Students #Politics #FreeCollege #FreeCollegeTuition #StudentDebt #Advocacy #Michigan #Rise #RiseFree #studentsmatter #studentsvoice #freecollegetuition #collegeforall #collegelife #highered #studentdebt
  • The typical college student is not who you might think 🎓 Swipe ➡️ to see who college students are today.
  • “I take every opportunity that comes my way. I see college as a huge opportunity, but there are definitely a lot of financial obstacles.” - Jahi Jenkins, UC Riverside ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ “I take every opportunity that comes my way. I see college as a huge opportunity, but there are definitely a lot of financial obstacles. I work full time to help out at home and cover my own costs. Other than that I invest a lot of my time in internships and fellowships. My routine is school and work. I don’t have time for anything else. If college were free I wouldn’t be tired all the time. I can’t count how many all nighters I’ve done this quarter.” - Jahi Jenkins, UC Riverside⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #College #Students #Politics #FreeCollege #FreeCollegeTuition #StudentDebt #Advocacy #California #Rise #RiseFree #studentsmatter #studentsvoice #freecollegetuition #collegeforall #ucr #california #collegelife #highered #studentdebt
  • #TBT the 2018 United State of Women! ✨📸 || What makes you feel empowered? ⚡️
  • "Public education is our greatest pathway to opportunity in America. So we need to invest in and strengthen our public universities today, and for generations to come." - Michelle Obama 💖⚡️#NationalWomensHistoryMonth
  • #MotivationalMonday ✨ Like Brian many students see their parents as their motivation. ❤️ Read his story ➡️ “I chose to go to college because I believe getting my degree is the only way to get a good paying job in the future. I want to pay my family back for everything they have done for me." - Brian, UC Irvine ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ ⠀ “I chose to go to college because I believe getting my degree is the only way to get a good paying job in the future. I want to pay my family back for everything they have done for me. I want them to be able to retire soon. Right now I have a part time job and have taken out loans twice. With free college, I would be able to save money for a car so I could get to work faster.” - Brian, UC Irvine⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #studentsmatter #studentsvoice #freecollegetuition #collegeforall #uci #california #collegelife #highered #studentdebt #irvine #risecalifornia
  • "All I want is an education and I am afraid of no one." - Malala 💥💫 #NationalWomensHistoryMonth
  • We’re so excited to welcome our first Rise organizers in Michigan this week! They’re working hard to enact @gewhitmer’s proposal for two years of #freecommunitycollege and an opportunity scholarship for four-year universities! Send them some 💓 for 🆓🎓 and learn more about our Michigan campaign ☝️ #RiseMichigan • • • #RiseFree #FreeCollege #FreeCollegeTuition #StudentDebt #Debt #College #Rise #Politics #Advocacy #RiseUp #Michigan #Lansing
  • Meet Monica, our amazing Michigan organizing fellow ➡️ “I’m creating a pathway for generations of farmers and hard labor workers. How many more innovators, educators, advocates would we have if tuition wasn’t a burden?” - Monica Rivera, Grand Rapids Community College ✨⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ ⠀ ⠀ "Having medical issues in the past, I’ve had to work two jobs to pay my health care bills and my college tuition. This meant I had to attend college part time, and I focused on classes towards a degree that I felt would offer more financial security. If I had been able to solely focus on school, I would have found my passion sooner. I wanted to provide for my family so my parents wouldn’t have to work so hard in their factory jobs. That degree choice didn’t work out because I wasn’t passionate about it. It took me 2 ½ years of classes, college involvement and community work to find that I love social justice and fighting for the rights of others. If tuition were free, I could have developed my desire to advocate for others sooner." - Monica Rivera, Grand Rapids Community College ✨⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #College #Students #Politics #FreeCollege #FreeCollegeTuition #StudentDebt #Advocacy #Michigan #Rise #RiseFree #studentsmatter #studentsvoice #freecollegetuition #collegeforall #collegelife #highered #studentdebt
  • Meet our second Michigan fellow ➡️ “Free college is essential to bridging the divide between those who are privileged enough to afford it and those who cannot ” - Alex Klein, Eastern Michigan University ✨ . . . “I’m an undergraduate at Eastern Michigan University, and since starting college I have tried to take full advantage of every opportunity given to me. I’ve applied to over 25 scholarship applications, and am fortunate to have my tuition covered between financial aid, scholarships, and parental support. For those without these opportunities, paying for college can be overwhelming, or result in life long debt. Working multiple jobs just to pay for education is a reality for many students, and can hinder their opportunities and studies. Everyone deserves a chance at succeeding in their education. Free tuition allows students to focus on their studies, internships, and extracurricular activities that will help them in their professional future. Additionally, it would allow students to pay for other necessities such as housing, transportation, and food.” - Alex Klein, Eastern Michigan University 🎓 #College #Students #Politics #FreeCollege #FreeCollegeTuition #StudentDebt #Advocacy #Michigan #Rise #RiseFree #studentsmatter #studentsvoice #freecollegetuition #collegeforall #collegelife #highered #studentdebt

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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.