Reimagine Apply

What is the new online admissions system?

The new Reimagine Apply online system, which will launch for colleges in the initial wave in June 2026, will ultimately replace the existing CCCApply system. The new system is designed to support Vision 2030, with the goals to:

• Improve the user experience
• Reduce student stress throughout the process 
• Better support individuals from all backgrounds and communities
•  Increase data accuracy
• Enhance data protection so only real information gets through 

Why is the California Community Colleges system making this change?

The Reimagine Apply system simplifies the admissions process for potential students while safeguarding their information as well as the systems and data within California Community Colleges. The intent is to make the process as smooth and intuitive as possible for potential students, while collecting the right data at the right time for internal CCC processes and workflows to operate effectively.

For students, the new system offers a mobile-first, modern, and minimalist approach to starting their college journey with California Community Colleges. Some prospective students could even complete their initial submission while waiting in line for their specialty coffee to be brewed!

In addition, the new system offers a single gateway into California’s community colleges. Every potential student starts at the same place and completes only the questions relevant to them, for a personalized experience.

What are the benefits for applicants, colleges, and the public?

The legacy CCCApply system has evolved to include an extensive number of questions, to be answered by every individual completing the process, regardless of their situation, their history of engagement with California community colleges, or other differentiating factors. With the new system, students respond to a set of questions that are targeted to their personal journey and provide only the information relevant to their admissions process.

The colleges benefit from accessing initial admissions data from a single system (once deployed across all California community colleges) as well as an increased completion rate of the process by prospective students. Colleges have visibility into the pipeline, to see how many people submitted their information, as well as how many started the process but didn’t finish and can reach out to those individuals to offer support. Colleges also benefit from reductions in fraudulent entries, with modern fraud detection and management capabilities included in the new system.

What will happen to the current application system?

The new Reimagine Apply system will be deployed in waves, starting in mid-2026. CCCApply will continue to co-exist with the new system until all California community colleges have transitioned to the new system. 

How will the different waves be deployed? I’ve heard about ripples…

To ensure a smooth transition and fully support the colleges and students, Wave 1 districts are going to move to the new system in a series of three smaller waves (that is, ripples), starting shortly after the go-live date for the new system on June 1. All Wave 1 colleges will be using the new system by the end of September 2026. 

Which colleges and districts are part of Wave 1?

Wave 1 districts and all their included colleges were recruited and vetted in early 2025. The Chancellor's Office goal for Wave 1 was to include districts from various regions across the state, of differing sizes, and using different Student Information Systems. The 11 Wave 1 districts are:

• El Camino Community College District
• Imperial Community College District
• Los Angeles Community College District
• North Orange County Community College District
• Peralta Community College District
• San Diego Community College District
• San Francisco Community College District
• Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District
• South Orange County Community College District
• Ventura County Community College District
• Yuba Community College District

When will the current system be retired?

The CCCApply system will be retired once all California community colleges have transitioned to the new system. A target date for retirement of CCCApply will be determined as the project advances through initial waves. As the project evolves through initial implementations, the rough estimate of the end of 2027 may be adjusted.

When will the new admissions system be available?

Prospective students will be guided to the correct admissions system based on their college of interest. They will not need to select a specific system at any point in the admissions process.The new system will roll out for different districts at different times, with the initial set of districts, Wave 1, launching in June 2026. Later waves will follow in approximately four-month intervals.

How do I access the new system?

Note that the first step for every prospective student is to create an OpenCCC account. People do not need to know which admissions system to access, just which college they want to attend. The landing page from the main California Community Colleges website will use a zip code lookup function to display several colleges for the individual to choose from.Equipped with that account information, prospective students access the appropriate admissions process either directly from the website of the college they are interested in or from the main California Community College website (https://www.cccco.edu/Students/Apply-for-College). This website links to a landing page which will allow prospective students to select the college (by name, city or zip code) they want to apply to, then sends them to the appropriate website for the new system or CCCApply. Alternatively, a student can start the process directly from the college they are interested in attending. For example, a student who wants to go to San Diego Mesa College, a Wave 1 college, can navigate to that college’s webpage, https://www.sdmesa.edu/student-support/admissions/apply-to-mesa.shtml, click the Apply to Mesa link, then start the process.

Can I apply to multiple colleges at once?

As people go through the new system, they need to select the primary college of interest, which becomes their “home college.” If they’re interested in enrolling in courses at a college within the same district as their home college, they do not need to specify interest in those other colleges within the registration process. However, if they are also interested in another college outside the district of their home college, they can indicate that interest within the new system. During the “co-exist” period, when some colleges use CCCApply and others use the new system, prospective students will have to use both systems to apply to different colleges. This is a temporary requirement, and all colleges will transition to the new system by the time the legacy CCCApply system is retired. 

What information or documents will I need to apply?

To complete the initial process to apply to California Community Colleges, prospective students need information about their educational background, contact details, whether they meet requirements to be considered a resident of California, educational goals, initial college of interest and potentially more information depending on their situation. Later in the process, documents to confirm some information may be required. For instance, people who want to explore options for financial aid will need to engage with their home college financial aid office to complete various forms (such as, FAFSA) and provide relevant materials.

What happens to applications started in the old system?

Once a college has transitioned to the new system, students who have started the CCCApply process but not completed it will need to restart the admissions process in the new system. Note that data from applications completed using CCCApply will not be transferred to the new system.  During the transition period, staff may need to refer to information within CCCApply and within the new system for students who apply for colleges using different application systems.

What if I experience technical issues while applying?

One goal of the new process is for intuitive and simple operation for potential students, though certainly support materials will be available. That said, there are also several ways for prospective students to reach support should they have questions.Support is available through email, live chat and telephone, with live support from nearly 100 help desk technicians from 6 am to 10 pm Pacific Time on business days. Chatbot, available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, is integrated with an online Help Center, and includes hand-off to live support. These support options are available in both English and Spanish.

Is the system available in multiple languages?

The system will initially be available in English only, with a Spanish language version to follow. Until other languages are supported, prospective students can use browser-based translation to see the user interface in different languages.Live support is available in English and Spanish, and the chatbot is available in many different languages. 

How will the new system change admissions workflows?

For Wave 1 colleges, the majority of admissions workflows do not have changes. At this earliest launch, some CCCApply questions have been shifted from the old system to a separate process to be completed by the local college, typically one that is already in place.For example, the new system helps remove redundant questions from the initial process. For example, a military veteran indicates their military status within the new system by answering just a couple questions. Verification of military status happens in conversation with the veteran affairs team at the college. One function of the new system is related to review of submitted forms at the college level, with a system available to all colleges. A&R teams can see submissions in various phases, including in-progress, under review, and decision. (Training will be scheduled for colleges as they transition to the new system to include this follow-up activity.)

What training opportunities are available?

Training materials are in development for California Community College staff. This answer will be updated when those programs are available. 

How is project progress being shared?

Project updates come through various means, including materials shared through the Chancellor’s Office, including the Reimagine Apply, articles in periodic newsletters, and presentations to stakeholder groups. Members of the working committees, Reimagine Apply Implementation Advisory Group and Reimagine Apply Steering Committee, also share information with college staff. 

Who serves as the district's point of contact?

Districts that are transitioning to the new system have leads from various functional areas, like Admissions and Records, Financial Aid, Student Services, etc., included on the project teams, either in the Reimagine Apply Implementation Advisory Group or the Reimagine Apply Steering Committee. Members of those teams can be found here.

How is applicant data protected?

Applicant information is protected with multiple security measures. When admissions information is submitted, encryption software protects the data during transmission, similar to sending information through a secure, locked channel. Once received, personal information is stored on secure computer systems in a controlled environment with protections against unauthorized access.Information is only shared when necessary to provide requested services, such as sending applicant details to the chosen college. The system is also required to follow California's Information Practices Act, which sets strict rules about how personal data can be collected, used, and shared. The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office recognizes the importance of safeguarding the privacy of individual personal information. The Chancellor’s Office and its vendors follows robust, industry standard security protocols and privacy practices as required by the Information Practices Act (Privacy Statement and Notices Standard, Civil Code Section 1798 et seq.), Government Code Sections 11015.5 and 11019.9, and other applicable laws.

Is the system compliant with FERPA and other privacy standards?

The new admissions system follows the California Community College privacy policy, to safeguard the privacy of individual personal information.

Who is leading the project?

The Chancellor's Office leads, with a steering committee of 20 people from Wave 1 colleges and stakeholder groups, and more than 60 representative members from Wave 1 districts forming the Reimagine Apply Implementation Advisory Group (IAG). The IAG includes members responsible for Admissions & Records, Financial Aid, Institutional Research, Student Services, and Technology Operations. In addition, Higher Digital has overarching project management responsibility through system-wide implementation.

How is the Chancellor's Office ensuring a smooth, transparent rollout?

The Chancellor's Office has a detailed plan in place for communications to all interested parties through deployment. Online resources, such as the Reimagine Apply website, and this FAQ will be updated regularly. Other information sources include the Reimagine Apply Steering Committee, Reimagine Apply Implementation Advisory Group, and public affairs officers for colleges in active waves, as well as briefings to stakeholder associations, webinars, and periodic newsletters from the Chancellor's Office.

On the technology side, Higher Digital, Liaison (the primary technology vendor), and other technology stakeholders meet regularly to move the project through the development and implementation phase.

Where can I find help documents and how-to guides?

These resources are in development and will be available for students applying to colleges through the new system when it goes live June 1. Check back here to find links to this material when it’s available.

Who do I contact for help with my application?

Once the system is deployed, support contact information will be available within the system. There is also a knowledge-based Help Center available within the system to address many common questions. Check back here to find links to support resources when they are available.

Where can the public learn more about the project?

See the Reimagine Apply webpage for a summary of actions taken prior to the Design and Build phase, which started in October 2025, as well as ongoing progress.

Reimagine Apply: Fall 2025 Update (PDF)

Reimagine CCCApply Project Update Fall 2025 (PDF)

Reimagine Apply Task Force Final Memo - March 2025 (PDF)

Final Summation Presentation: Reimagine Apply March Task Force Wrap-Up (PDF)