For millions of low-income families, sending a student to a private university is next to impossible.

For millions of low-income families, sending a student to a private university is next to impossible. But now Santa Clara University says it has a plan to change that. Starting next fall, any California applicant accepted into the university whose family earns less than $150,000 a year will get a free ride. Yeah, a college education for free. It's part of the university's recently expanded California Promise program. NBC Bay Area's Damian Trujillo is on campus with that good news. Boy, that's huge, Damian. Santa Clara University says this is the Jesuit way. It's a way of giving to families who dream but can't afford to come here. It was California's eighth mission, founded by the Franciscans in 1777. Now the grounds are home to Santa Clara University. I live in Nobili Hall, so I get to walk through the Rose Garden to my classes. It's amazing. But coming here was only a dream for sophomore Arlene Guzman. Her mom just started working again, her dad, a waiter in San Rafael. Affording the $90,000 tuition was simply something out of reach. Absolutely not possible. But the university's California Promise program offered to pay $60,000 of that tuition. The same offer was made to Gabriel Ruiz Florez, the son of blue-collar immigrants. Santa Clara was really willing to fund my dreams. Now the university is about to take a giant leap. Starting in 2027, any California student who's accepted to the school and whose family earns less than $150,000 per year will get their education for free. No payments, not even for room and board. As a Jesuit institution, the university has made a commitment to try to meet 100% of demonstrated need of students. There are a few rules. In addition to qualifying for admittance, eligible families also have to possess assets worth less than $120,000. Final eligibility will be determined using the applicant's federal student financial aid application, known as FAFSA. I think a lot of times people think private, you know, college isn't attainable. This would make it attainable for a lot of families that don't see it as a possibility. So, it's going to be able to get them access to education that they never thought they can have. People like Arlene and Gabriel, gifted students now given the opportunity to be proud SCU Broncos. Being here at Santa Clara is honestly a huge deal for me and my family. It was my dream school. On the Bronco campus, Damian Trujillo, NBC Bay Area News.