For third-year Del Mar student Leo Gutierrez, the student emergency aid assistance program arrived at a critical time during the spring 2026 semester. After switching majors, Leo did not receive financial aid in time to cover the cost of his 21 credit hours.
Gutierrez learned about the student emergency aid program through Cynthia Longoria, Dean of Music at Del Mar College. “The application process was really simple and easy, took about 15 minutes, and I was approved within two days,” said Gutierrez.
The funding allowed Gutierrez to pay tuition for one class before the deadline, which was one of his biggest concerns when he applied. The money was deposited directly into his bank account, he said, which was especially helpful because he was commuting about 40 minutes to and from the Del Mar campus.
Del Mar students facing unexpected financial challenges at any time during the semester can access emergency assistance designed to support students experiencing hardships that could interfere with their educational journey.
Current students enrolled in six or more credit hours can apply for this student emergency aid program, which Del Mar created and which is funded by locals and private organizations in the community who “understand that life can sometimes derail a dedicated student and regularly invest in this program,” said Christine Moreno, administrative assistant in the Del Mar College Foundation Department at Del Mar College.
Although Gutierrez found the program helpful, he wishes Del Mar College promoted this aid more so more students know the resource is available and understand their options moving forward.
Gutierrez encourages future recipients of this student emergency aid to “take advantage of this resource, but only when truly needed, since you can only benefit from it once.”
During the past year, more than 470 students received emergency aid up to $500, with more than $124,000 awarded through the program.
