PICO RIVERA – In a landmark agreement aimed at expanding college access, the El Rancho Unified School District (ERUSD) and the University of La Verne have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide a streamlined pathway for local students to pursue higher education.

The official signing ceremony took place on Feb. 19 at the El Rancho High School quad.

The agreement guarantees admission for ERUSD graduates who meet the university’s admission requirements and provides a minimum $19,000 annual scholarship to eligible students. The partnership also eliminates application fees and includes dedicated college counseling to help students meet university admission standards.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the University of La Verne to make higher education more accessible and affordable for our students,” said Dr. Marco A. Villegas, superintendent of El Rancho Unified School District. “This agreement underscores our commitment to ensuring every student has a clear and supported path to a college degree.”

As part of the initiative, the University of La Verne will host on-the-spot admissions events and bilingual financial aid workshops for ERUSD students and their families. These efforts aim to ease the transition from high school to college by providing personalized guidance and financial literacy resources.