College Corps

Eligible students can receive compensation towards their living and education expenses in exchange for completing 450 of service over the course of the academic year. This equates to approximately 15 hours of service per week during the academic year (August through July). We are currently recruiting for the 2026-27 cohort which begins August 2026.

Program Goals

Create a generation of civic-minded leaders with the ability to bridge divides and solve problems.
Help low-income students graduate college on time and with less debt.
Address societal challenges and help build more equitable communities across California.

Interest Form

If you are a student interested in the Saddleback College Corps program, or an organization seeking to partner with Saddleback College Corps, please complete the form below. A Saddleback College representative will contact you with next steps.

Fields marked with * are required.

I am a

First Name

Last Name

Student ID#

Saddleback Email

Please check the area(s) you are interested in

K-12 Education: Serve as a tutor to K-12 students at local schools and/or organizations that provide tutoring services.

Food Insecurity: Serve at a local food bank, food distribution center.

Climate Action: Serve with local organizations that are focused on positive environmental change.

Organization Name

Your organization is a

Street Address

Website

Point of Contact Name

Point of Contact Email

Point of Contact Phone Number

Area(s) of Opportunity

K-12 Education

Food Insecurity

Climate Action

In 1-2 sentences, please summarize the primary activity that you would like College Corps Fellows to support.

How many College Corps Fellows would you be interested in hosting (2-100)

What are your current volunteer requirements?

Additional Comments or Questions

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Program Benefits

As a College Corps Fellow, you'll receive:

Up to $7,000 living award (throughout the service term) and additional $3,000 Education Award upon completion of 450 service hours (Awarded by AmeriCorps to be utilized for future education needs).
For Dreamers, up to $5,500 living award (throughout service term) and $4,500 Education Award upon completion of 450 service hours (to be utilized for future education needs).
Real-world job experience and skills to add to your resume.
Access to training, networking, and professional development opportunities.
Connections with Fellows across the state via a virtual community platform and regional events.
A sense of pride and accomplishment in working toward a common purpose alongside young leaders from across the state.

Eligibility Requirements

Students selected to join the Fellowship should meet at least 1 of the following criteria:

Qualifies for a Federal Pell Grant OR Qualifies for State Cal Grant
Is an AB-540 eligible Dreamer who is an active recipient of Cal Grant B

Students who meet one of the criteria above must also:

Have an Unmet Need (assessed by our Financial Aid Office) that allows you to receive the full College Corps benefit
Eligibility will be communicated to students who apply to College Corps based on the processing timeline of FAFSA and CA Dream Act Applications

Additionally, eligible Fellows are required to:

Have a high school diploma or its equivalent (e.g., GED)
Be a full-time, enrolled undergraduate student at Saddleback College
Hold a 2.5 minimum GPA and remain in good academic standing
Commit to the program for the full 450 hours during the academic year (2026-2027)
For US Citizen and legal permanent residents only: Complete a National Service Criminal History Check and Live Scan, upon selection
For AB540 students only: Complete the Dream Service Incentive Grant Program Application

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What is a Fellow and what is a Fellowship?

Selected undergraduate students will be referred to as College Corps Fellows throughout the duration of the program.

The Fellowship refers to the year-long commitment and service completed with an external community partner. As a College Corps Fellow, you will be assigned an external community partner to work with and complete the 450 hours of service.

I'm an AB 540 Dreamer, am I eligible?

Yes! AB540 students are eligible, but you:

Must have a completed and submitted California Dream Act Application (CADAA) for 2026-2027 AY
Must be enrolled at a Cal Grant Eligible School
Must be an active recipient of a Cal Grant B Award for the 2026-2027 academic year
Must have sufficient financial need (determined by the Financial Aid Office)
Must submit a CA DSIG Application by September 1 to become eligible for Education Award

What is the required number of hours? Is it really 450 total?

Yes. 90% (405 hours) of your 450 hours must be done at your external service partner site. Working 15 hours, for 28 weeks out of the 2026-2027 academic year will put you at 420 hours. This will allow for the remaining 10% of your service hours to be utilized for organized on-boarding, ongoing academic and career support, and professional training.

How do I apply?

Complete the Interest Form on the top of the page and a Saddleback College representative will contact you about next steps.
Students selected for an on-campus interview will be notified via email.
Students who meet eligibility requirements will be required to submit a formal application by June 1, which will be sent to you directly by College Corps staff.
Students awarded a Fellowship position will be notified via email.

Is there transportation assistance?

While we are working hard to ensure placements are within a reasonable distance to Saddleback College’s campus, we understand that not every Fellow has access to personal transportation. Please be sure to share any transportation needs on your application and the College Corps staff will attempt to assist to the best of our ability. One resource available to students is the OCTA Free Bus Pass Program, which offers unlimited rides on all OCTA fixed-routes.

How will this impact my financial aid?

Each student's financial aid package is different. We encourage you to connect with the Saddleback College Financial Aid Office to make sure you understand how the $10,000 award through this program will impact your specific situation.