Grants
You may qualify for one or more Federal or State grants as part of your need-based financial aid award.
CSU Cares Initiative
In April 2020, the US Department of Education (DOE) announced that more than $6 billion would be distributed immediately to colleges and universities across the country to provide direct emergency financial aid grants to college students whose lives and educational pathways have been disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The funding has been made possible through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The purpose of this federal funding is to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
Federal Grants (FAFSA Applicants)
Federal grants are a form of financial aid that is awarded based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA. These grants do not need to be repaid unless you withdraw from the university or receive a grant when you are not eligible.
The Federal Pell Grant is designed to assist students from low-income families to pay for education expenses. In order to be considered for the Pell Grant at CSUMB you will need to submit the FAFSA, be working on your first bachelor’s degree or first teaching credential, and be admitted and pursuing an academic program at CSUMB. You may only receive the Pell Grant from one college/university per semester. The award will also prorate based on how many credits you are enrolled in. For maximum eligibility, be sure to enroll in 12 credits.
You may receive up to 600% of your total Pell Grant award, which translates to 2 semester at 12 credits each is calculated as 100%. This includes all Pell Grants you have received from all colleges/universities. You may also use your Pell Grant throughout the year to pay for fees in the winter and summer terms. Please contact our office if you are interested.
The EOP grant is available to undergraduate students admitted to CSUMB through the EOP Program. Due to limited state funds, not all EOP students are selected for EOP grants. For additional information & deadline, visit the EOP Website.
This grant is an additional award for first time freshmen who are eligible for the Pell award and demonstrate a higher need. You need to be enrolled as a full time student (12 units) to be eligible to receive this award.
This award is for students whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq and Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. The award does not need to be repaid and is equal to the maximum Pell Grant award. Eligibility requirements are:
- Complete a FAFSA;
- Cannot be eligible for the Pell Grant;
- Enrolled at least part-time (6 credits);
- Have a parent or guardian who died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001; and
- Were less than 24 years old at the time of parent/guardian's death.
To qualify for the TEACH grant, a student must annually complete the following (in this order):
- Complete a FAFSA
- TEACH Entrance Counseling on the TEACH website
- TEACH Grant Request form on the Financial Aid Forms page.
- Agreement to Serve on the TEACH website
At CSUMB, TEACH grants are available only to students admitted into an eligible teaching credential, approved graduate program, or liberal studies degree. Be aware that a federal TEACH grant will be converted into a unsubsidized Direct Loan if the student fails to meet all of the requirements in the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve. Interest will be calculated retroactively based on the grant disbursement dates. Students who complete their eligible program at CSUMB are required to complete TEACH Exit Counseling on the TEACH website.
Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program to provide grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.
To be considered for California state grants, you must complete your FAFSA/CADAA by the priority deadline. You will be awarded based on information you provided in the application and what the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) determines you are eligible for.
To be considered by the California Student Aid Commission for the Cal Grant program, you must file the FAFSA and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by the state priority deadline.
- The Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) provides undergraduate students, including students pursuing a teaching credential, with a scholarship to attend a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) campus. MCS Income Ceilings change every year, pleaser refer to the California Student Aid Commission for current income ceiling information.Scholarship award amounts will vary by student and by school. Award amounts will be based on the cost of attendance for the school of the student’s choice and the following program requirements: other available gift aid that the student is eligible for (i.e. federal, state, institutional or scholarship aid), a self-help student contribution of $7,898 (applied to all students), and a parent contribution for dependent students with a household income of over $100,000. These three factors collectively, are referred to as a students’ “available resources.” These amounts are deducted from the student’s total cost of attendance to determine the MCS award. Under this formula, award amounts will vary widely among students, with each student’s award reflecting their costs and available resources. For more information visit the California Student Aid Commission website https://www.csac.ca.gov/middle-class-scholarship.
The State University Grant (SUG) is for students who are residents of California. Priority is given to undergraduate students who have an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) between 0-5,500. Students receiving a tuition fee payment from other programs such as: CSU Employee Fee Waiver, Vocational Rehabilitation, California Veterans Waiver, and Cal Grant A, B, are not eligible to receive a SUG.
If you have any of the tuition fee payments listed above, please notify the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible in order to prevent any over-payments.
The Financial Aid Office at CSUMB will facilitate your eligibility for the following grants. Additional steps may be required from you as the student. Read thoroughly
The State of California offers state grants to eligible Undergraduate and Teacher Credential students who are California residents. Cal Grants are for payment of registration fees. Initial awards are based on financial need, grade point average, and income eligibility. Renewals are based on financial need and satisfactory academic progress. View Income & Asset limits established by the California Student Aid Commission.
Recipients of any California State Grant are notified of their eligibility in writing by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) in early Summer. To be considered for the Cal Grant program, you must file a FAFSA or a California DREAM Act Application and submit the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form (first-time freshman only) by the state priority deadline. To view your Cal Grant eligibility, log onto Webgrants for Students.
CAL Grant A initial awards are available to undergraduate students with both need and academic merit. This grant is specifically to pay for state tuition fees. Cal Grant A is renewable for up to 4 years.
CAL Grant B initially awards a living allowance for first-time-freshman demonstrating high financial need and academic merit. Renewal Cal B awards include both the living allowance plus cost of tuition.
Cal Grant B fee and access awards will be disbursed to your student billing account and will pay any outstanding fees. Any excess will be refunded to you. In some cases students may opt to receive the Cal Grant access grant without paying any outstanding charges. You will need to contact the Financial Aid Office in order to have this granted.
CHAFEE is for current/former foster youth may qualify for up to $5,000 a year for college. You are able to use your grant to help pay for child care, transportation and rent while you’re in school. You don’t have to pay this money back. For more information visit the California CHAFEE Grant for foster youth website.
The Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program provides need-based educational grants to dependents and spouses of: California peace officers (Highway Patrol, marshals, sheriffs, police officers), Department of Corrections and California Youth Authority employees, and permanent/full-time firefighters employed by public entities who have been killed in the performance of duty or totally disabled as a result of an accident or injury caused by external violence or physical force incurred in the performance of duty. Grant awards match the amount of a Cal Grant award and range from $100 to $12,192 for up to four years. Visit the California Student Aid Commission Website for more information.
For students who are active members in the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval Militia may be eligible for a state-funded program designed to provide an educational incentive to improve your skills, competencies, and abilities. Visit the CNG EAAP Website for more information.