More Than 40 Universities Are Coming to Stockton: How Families Can Make College Night Count

A Stockton family trying to figure out what comes after high school could answer a surprising number of questions in one evening next week.

More than 40 universities are expected at San Joaquin Delta College’s 49th annual College Night on Tuesday, September 1, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Students and parents can meet university representatives, learn about financial aid, explore transferring from Delta to a four-year university and attend sessions about applying to different college systems.

College Night will be held at Delta College’s Stockton campus at 5151 Pacific Avenue. Activities are spread across several buildings, so families should expect some walking.

For students who do not know exactly where college fits into their future, that is part of the value of the evening.

You do not need to arrive knowing which college you want.

You can arrive with questions.

You Don’t Have to Know Which College You Want

College Night is not only for students who have already chosen a university.

Delta invites current high school students, Delta College students and parents. The college says it is never too early for students to begin thinking about college. Its announcement does not limit attendance to high school seniors, although it does not separately list eligibility by grade level.

Parents can attend, too.

That gives families an opportunity to divide the work. A parent might attend one presentation while a student speaks with university representatives. They can compare notes afterward rather than trying to fit everything into the same conversation.

Delta says representatives will provide information about the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and private universities.

More than 40 universities are expected, although Delta’s published announcement does not provide a university-by-university list.

Decide Which Sessions Matter Most to Your Family

College Night is more than a room filled with university tables.

Delta has scheduled several presentations around decisions students and families may eventually face.

The evening begins with a presentation on the Delta College transfer advantage from 5:30 to 6 p.m. in Tillie Lewis Theatre.

A Delta College financial aid overview follows from 6 to 6:25 p.m. in the same theater.

From 5:30 to 8 p.m. in Danner Hall, families can meet representatives from four-year universities and learn about Delta programs and services.

Beginning at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m., separate application-information sessions will be offered for the CSU system, UC system, and HBCUs and private universities.

The CSU sessions will be held in the Tony Fitch Forum, UC sessions in the Dawn Mabalon Forum, and HBCU and private-university sessions in the Campesino Forum.

That gives families choices.

A student considering a transfer from Delta might begin with the transfer presentation. A family worried about paying for college may make the financial aid presentation a priority. A student comparing four-year universities may want more time in Danner Hall.

Trying to attend everything may be less useful than deciding beforehand which questions matter most.

Starting at Delta Is One of the Paths Families Can Explore

College Night is not limited to students preparing to graduate from high school.

Current Delta students are specifically invited, and transfer planning is part of the evening.

Students can learn about completing transfer requirements at Delta while earning an associate degree before moving to a four-year institution.

Delta’s Transfer Center helps students understand major preparation, admission requirements, application timelines, transfer agreements and college selection. Its services include transfer counseling, university visits and application workshops.

For families still considering different routes to a four-year degree, College Night provides an opportunity to learn more about both direct university admission and beginning at Delta before transferring.

The financial consequences of those choices deserve careful examination. Stockton Living Today’s separate Prosperity reporting will address the financial side of choosing a college rather than assuming the option that initially looks least expensive is automatically the best one.

Have Questions About Financial Aid? Be at Tillie Lewis Theatre by 6

Families concerned about paying for college should note the 6 to 6:25 p.m. financial aid overview in Tillie Lewis Theatre.

Delta confirms that financial aid is part of the College Night program. Its announcement does not identify the individual presenters or say whether every visiting university will have a financial-aid specialist at its table.

Families with questions about a particular school’s scholarships, grants or financial-aid packages should therefore not assume a specialist from that university will be available.

Delta maintains a separate Financial Aid and Scholarships resource where families can learn about grants, scholarships, work-study and other forms of aid.

That gives families somewhere to continue their research after College Night rather than trying to answer every financial question in one evening.

You Can Attend Without Registering in Advance

Reservations are not required for College Night.

Delta does encourage attendees to complete its advance sign-up form, which is available through the official College Night announcement.

Delta’s announcement does not list an admission charge. Because the announcement does not expressly describe the event as free, Stockton Living Today is not representing that there can be no attendee cost.

Arriving at 5:30? Check the Parking Requirements Before You Leave

Families planning to arrive when College Night begins should pay particular attention to parking.

Delta requires parking permits from Monday at 6 a.m. through Friday at 6 p.m. College Night begins Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

A daily parking permit costs $2 and is purchased online. Drivers purchasing a daily permit must enter their vehicle’s license plate number correctly.

Stockton Living Today found no College Night-specific parking exception in Delta’s published event information.

Families should review Delta’s current parking requirements and daily permit information before leaving home.

A Little Preparation Could Make the Evening Much More Useful

Delta does not publish a required packing list for College Night, so the following are not event requirements.

They are simply ways families can make better use of a limited evening.

Before going, students can write down possible majors or careers they are considering—even if the answer is still, “I’m not sure.”

Then choose a few questions to ask at several university tables.

Useful questions could include:

• Do you offer the major or program I’m considering?
• What are your admission requirements?
• What should I be doing now to become a stronger applicant?
• If I start at Delta, which courses should I complete before transferring to your school?
• What scholarships or financial aid should I investigate?
• What application or financial-aid deadlines should my family put on our calendar?
• What costs should we consider beyond tuition?
• Where can we find your official information after tonight?

Bring a phone or notebook to record useful answers, names, deadlines and contact information.

The objective should not be collecting the largest possible pile of brochures.

It should be leaving with fewer unanswered questions.

Need an Accommodation? Ask Delta Before College Night

Delta College’s Disability Support Programs & Services (DSPS) helps students with disabilities access accommodations and other support.

The office is in the DeRicco Student Services Building and can be reached at (209) 954-5151, extension 6272 or dsps@deltacollege.edu.

Delta’s published College Night announcement does not provide event-specific accessibility instructions or identify particular accommodations that will be available that evening.

A student or family member who needs a particular accommodation should contact DSPS in advance rather than assume a specific service will be available at College Night.

Before You Leave Home, Choose Your Three Most Important Questions

The greatest value of College Night may not be discovering one perfect school.

It may be eliminating bad assumptions early.

A student might discover that a university does not offer the intended program.

A family might learn that an application requirement needs attention now rather than during senior year.

A Delta student might discover a clearer transfer route.

A parent might finally learn which financial-aid questions need answers before the family begins comparing schools.

That is what can make two and a half hours valuable.

Before arriving, choose your three most important questions.

During the evening, look for reliable answers from university representatives and Delta’s official advisers.

Before leaving, identify your next step. That could be scheduling a campus visit, recording an application deadline, completing a financial-aid task, meeting with a counselor or doing additional research.

College Night does not require families to make a college decision.

It gives them an opportunity to become better prepared to make one.

College Night at a glance: Tuesday, September 1, 2026, 5:30–8 p.m., San Joaquin Delta College Stockton Campus, 5151 Pacific Avenue, Stockton. Students, parents and current Delta students are invited. Reservations are not required, although advance sign-up is encouraged.