Otter Promise

Cal State Monterey Bay is committed to expanding access and affordability to excellence for California residents. The program is designed so that eligible students can pursue a Cal State Monterey Bay bachelor’s degree with the peace of mind that their tuition and fees will be fully covered. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to earn a university education. Put simply: if you qualify, Cal State Monterey Bay ensures your tuition and mandatory campus fees are covered using a combination of financial aid awards for which you are eligible.

The Otter Promise, as described by Cal State Monterey Bay, applies to eligible new incoming students. The total number of students who receive the Otter Promise will depend on the number of new incoming students per cohort and the availability of financial resources. The Otter Promise ensures that if you meet the eligibility requirements and complete all required steps (including filing for financial aid), Cal State Monterey Bay will cover your tuition and mandatory campus fees. 

New incoming students may qualify if they meet all published requirements, including:

• Being a California resident
• Apply and be admitted to Cal State Monterey Bay
• Submit confirmation for the Otter Promise by February 16th (form now closed)
• Complete the FAFSA or CADAA by the March 2nd deadline, and list Cal State Monterey Bay for the academic year in which enrollment is sought
  • Have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 8,000 or less
  • FAFSA filers must be Pell Grant-eligible
• Confirm your enrollment once admitted 

To remain eligible, students must:

• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Enroll full-time (12 or more units per semester)
• Renew the financial aid application each year by the deadline

The Otter Promise applies to new incoming students beginning in a Fall term who meet the eligibility criteria. Students who do not meet Otter Promise criteria should still complete the FAFSA or CADAA and connect with Cal State Monterey Bay. Students often receive financial aid and scholarships that significantly reduce overall costs. In some cases, they receive an amount that exceeds just the direct costs of tuition and mandatory fees. In fact, approximately 89% of Cal State Monterey Bay students receive some financial aid.

The form is currently closed. The opening date for Fall 2027 still needs to be determined. When it opens, submit your Otter Promise confirmation form by the priority deadline. Once we receive your form, we will assess your eligibility based on your admissions and financial aid records. To qualify, you must complete the following steps:

1. Apply to Cal State Monterey Bay and get admitted
2. Submit your Otter Promise confirmation form by the priority deadline
3. By the FAFSA deadline, complete the FAFSA or CADAA and list Cal State Monterey Bay
   • Have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 8,000 or less
   • FAFSA filers must be Pell Grant-eligible
   • Cal State Monterey Bay’s FAFSA school code is 032603
4. Confirm your enrollment

Tuition and mandatory campus fees. It does not automatically cover the full cost of attendance beyond billed tuition and mandatory fees, such as housing and food, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses, which Cal State Monterey Bay lists as separate components of the overall cost of attendance. Cal State Monterey Bay also notes that there can be campus-specific fees, such as major-based fees. For more information, students should refer to the catalog fee listings for the applicable catalog year.

No renewal application is required, but financial aid applications must be submitted each year by the deadline. Additionally, students must stay on track each year by meeting Cal State Monterey Bay’s renewal expectations:

• Remain full-time (12+ units per semester)
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Renew the FAFSA or CADAA annually by the priority deadline

Yes. Cal State Monterey Bay encourages students to apply for aid because financial support is broader than any single program. Cal State Monterey Bay notes:

• A mix of need- and merit-based financial aid can offset costs
• Most admitted Cal State Monterey Bay students receive some form of financial aid (Cal State Monterey Bay cites 89%)
• Aid options can include grants, scholarships, and loans. Students may also qualify for Federal Work Study (FWS) Grants. While the student can accept this grant along with the Otter Promise, the institution does not count FWS toward the Otter Promise.

Often, yes. Many Cal State Monterey Bay students receive multiple forms of aid. In addition to the Otter Promise, eligible students may also receive other aid to help cover broader costs of attendance. Cal State Monterey Bay highlights scholarship support as a meaningful part of affordability.

The Otter Promise is not a standalone “extra scholarship.” Instead, it is a Promise that tuition and fees will be covered by various forms of aid for students who qualify, including federal, state and institutional aid. Practically, that means your financial aid offer may include multiple components (for example: grants, scholarships, and possibly loans), and the overall package is constructed so that tuition and mandatory campus fees are fully covered for eligible students.

If you receive scholarships outside of the institution, you should notify the financial aid office so Cal State Monterey Bay can include them in your financial aid package and determine if there is any impact on other aid. Financial aid is coordinated under federal and state rules, and additional resources can change how your overall financial aid is packaged. The best guidance when in doubt is to connect directly with the Financial Aid Office to understand how external resources will be reflected in your award.

No. To remain eligible for the Otter Promise, Cal State Monterey Bay states students must be full-time, taking 12 or more units per semester while maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

At this time the Otter Promise does not cover summer, although students may receive financial aid to support summer classes.

No. The Otter Promise is based primarily on in-state tuition eligibility and completion of either the FAFSA or the CADAA.

• Undocumented students who complete the CADAA (California Dream Act Application) can be considered within Cal State Monterey Bay’s stated process (since CADAA is explicitly included as a qualifying pathway).
• International students are not eligible to file a FAFSA or CADAA, therefore they would not qualify for the Otter Promise.

Cal State Monterey Bay describes the Otter Promise not as a scholarship but as a packaged award in which tuition and fees are covered through various forms of aid. Cal State Monterey Bay also describes affordability as typically supported through a combination of aid types, including grants, aid, loans and scholarships.

What typically happens after a student submits the FAFSA online is:

• Immediately after submission, the FAFSA confirmation page shows an estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) (and estimated Pell eligibility).
• After processing, the student’s official SAI appears in their FAFSA Submission Summary in their StudentAid.gov account.
• If the student provided an email address, they generally receive an email that notifies them and links them to view the FAFSA Submission Summary online, rather than reliably containing the SAI value in the email body.

(1) check the confirmation page right after they submit (estimated SAI), and (2) then log into StudentAid.gov to view the FAFSA Submission Summary for the official SAI.