Explore Financial Aid for Your Teaching Credential
If you're pursuing a teaching credential, you may be eligible for grants, scholarships and other financial aid to help pay for your education. This page explains the financial aid programs available to teacher credential students, eligibility requirements, and which credential courses count toward financial aid.
Federal Pell Grant
Students pursuing their first teaching credential may be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.
- You must not have previously earned a teacher certification.
- Pell Grant eligibility is limited to 36 attempted units in an eligible teacher credential program. Course enrollment will be verified after census for disbursement.
- You must be enrolled in at least six Pell-eligible units.
- You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
- Award amounts are based on your Student Aid Index (SAI), Cost of Attendance and enrollment status.
- Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) automatically determines your Pell Grant eligibility.
State University Grant (SUG)
Teacher credential students may also be eligible for a State University Grant (SUG) to help pay for tuition and mandatory fees.
Completing the FAFSA® or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) automatically considers eligible California residents for this program.
- You must be a California resident.
- You must be admitted to a classified credential program. Students who are conditionally classified are not eligible.
- You must be enrolled in at least six units of eligible core credential courses listed on this page.
- You must be enrolled in your first credential program. Students pursuing a second or additional credential are not eligible.
- You must meet the required Student Aid Index (SAI) range.
- You may not exceed 45 earned units or the required length of your credential program.
- Students enrolled through the College of Extended Learning are not eligible for a State University Grant.
- Awards can cover up to the cost of tuition and mandatory fees but do not cover additional campus charges.
- Funding is limited and based on availability at the time your financial aid record is reviewed.
- Students receiving other financial aid that covers tuition and mandatory fees may not qualify for a State University Grant.
Middle Class Scholarship (MCS)
Teacher credential students may also qualify for the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS).
- Students with family income and assets up to $250,000 may be eligible.
- Complete the FAFSA® or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) to be considered.
- Award amounts vary by student and are not guaranteed.
- Your scholarship amount is determined after federal, state and institutional financial aid has been awarded.
- Final award amounts also depend on statewide eligibility and funding provided through the California State Budget.
- If you're selected, you'll be notified by the California Student Aid Commission.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
If you're planning to teach in a high-need field at a school serving students from low-income families, you may be eligible for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
The TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 per year to eligible students. Unlike other grants, however, it requires you to complete a teaching service obligation after finishing your program.
Depending on your enrollment status, you may receive:
- Up to $4,000 per year if attending full time.
- Up to $3,000 per year if attending three-quarter time.
- Up to $2,000 per year if attending half time.
- Up to $1,000 per year if attending less than half time.
Your TEACH Grant, combined with all other financial aid you receive, cannot exceed your Cost of Attendance.
To receive a TEACH Grant, you must:
- Complete the FAFSA® (financial need is not required).
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Be enrolled in an eligible credential or graduate program leading to a career in teaching.
- Be enrolled in coursework required to become a teacher in one of the following high-need fields:
- Mathematics
- Science
- Special Education
- Bilingual Education
- Computer Education
- Foreign Language
- English/Drama/Humanities
- Multiple Subjects
- History/Social Science
- Reading Specialist
- Meet the required academic standards by either:
- Maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25, or
- Scoring above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test.
- Complete TEACH Grant entrance counseling each year you receive the grant.
- Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve each year you receive the grant.
- Complete TEACH Grant exit counseling each year you receive the grant.
By accepting a TEACH Grant, you agree to:
- Teach full time for at least four academic years.
- Complete your teaching service within eight calendar years of completing or leaving the program for which you received the grant.
- Teach in a high-need field.
- Teach at an eligible public or private elementary or secondary school serving low-income students.
Eligible schools are identified in the U.S. Department of Education's Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits, and eligible teaching fields are listed in the Department's Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing.
Each year you receive a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve through the U.S. Department of Education.
Within 120 days of completing or leaving your teacher preparation program, you must notify the U.S. Department of Education that you are fulfilling — or plan to fulfill — your teaching service obligation.
You'll also need to document your qualifying teaching service. Your documentation must be certified by the chief administrative officer at the school where you teach. It is your responsibility to maintain communication with the U.S. Department of Education throughout your service obligation.
If you received a Federal TEACH Grant, you must complete TEACH Grant Exit Counseling before you graduate, withdraw from your program or drop below half-time enrollment.
Exit counseling helps you understand your TEACH Grant service obligation and what you'll need to do after leaving your program. Plan to spend about 20–30 minutes completing the counseling in one session.
Complete TEACH Grant Exit Counseling online through the Federal Student Aid website.
If you decide you no longer want to receive a TEACH Grant—or you want to reduce the amount—you may cancel all or part of your grant by notifying the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships:
- Within 14 days after the university notifies you of your right to cancel, or
- Before the first day of the payment period.
The U.S. Department of Education estimates that approximately 80% of TEACH Grant recipients do not complete the required teaching service. If you do not fulfill your teaching obligation, your TEACH Grant will permanently be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and interest will accrue from the date each TEACH Grant was originally disbursed.
Eligible Core Credential Courses
Which Courses Count Toward Financial Aid?
Only certain core credential courses count toward eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant, State University Grant, Cal Grant and Dream Grant.
Expand your credential pathway below to view the eligible core courses.
ESEC (6)
5001, 5030, 6001, 6002, 6003, 6004, 6005, 6006, 6010, 6011, 6012, 6013, 6014, 6015, 6016, 6017, 6020, 6022, 6030, 6031, 6032, 6033, 6034, 6610A, 6610B, 6610C
ESEC (6)
6605
EMAT
6011, 6012, 6013, 6015, 6016, 6017
EDMD
5101, 5102
ESEC (6)
5001, 6001, 6002, 6003, 6004, 6005, 6010, 6011, 6012, 6013, 6014, 6015, 6016, 6017, 6030, 6031, 6032, 6033, 6034, 6055, 6056, 6071, 6072
ESEC (6)
6605
ESPE (5)
5530, 5531, 5532
ESPE (6)
6609, 6610, 6620, 6622, 6631, 6632, 6633, 6634, 6635, 6636, 6639, 6642, 6643
CD
2240
HSCI
5240
ESPE (5)
5530, 5531, 5532
ESPE (6)
6609, 6610, 6621, 6623, 6631, 6632, 6633, 6634, 6635, 6636, 6639, 6662, 6663
CD
2240
HSCI
5240
ESPE (5)
5530, 5531, 5532
ESPE (6)
6609, 6610, 6619, 6624, 6631, 6632, 6633, 6634, 6637, 6638, 6639, 6672, 6673
CD
2240
HSCI
5240
