Credential Program

Welcome to the Financial Aid web page for Teacher Education students pursuing credentials. Our mission is serving students and our goal is providing you with the services and funds you need to achieve your educational goals. Read below for information on various state and federal aid programs available to teacher credential students.

Cal Grants

Funded by the State of California and administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). To help offset the cost of registration fees for students enrolled in a teaching credential program. The Cal Grant B assist in paying fees and offers a stipend to offset other school-related expenses. Student must have been a Cal Grant A or B recipient as an undergraduate student to be eligible for one additional year of Cal Grant to pursue their teaching credential certificate.

  1. Required Form/Deadline - Must complete G-44 form, "Request for Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program BenefitsOpens in new window ".
  2. Limits - There is a limit to the number of years you can receive funding. You can check your status on Web Grants for StudentsOpens in new window to determined your time frame.
  3. Learn more about the Cal Grant ProgramOpens in new window .

Additional Information: CSAC WebsiteOpens in new window  

Federal Direct Loan Programs

Federal student and parent loans are issued through the Federal Direct Loan program from the U.S. Department of Education. Direct Stafford Loans are low-interest loans for students. Loans help pay for the cost of higher education after high school. You’ll have a single point of contact and online access to your Direct Loan account information. 

Maximum annual award amount
Dependency
Status		 Subsidized
Only		 Subsidized and Unsubsidized
Combined
Dependent $5,500 $7,500
Independent $5,500 $12,500

Learn more about the loan programs at CSUF. 

Additional information - Federal Student Aid - LoansOpens in new window  

Federal Pell Grant

Funded by the United States Federal Government & administered by the U.S. Department of Education. This federal funded program that is the foundation of financial aid to undergraduates and credential students who demonstrate need. The program is offered to eligible credential students to encourage students to become teachers by increasing grant eligibility to help reduce loan debt. 

To receive Federal Pell Grant as a teaching credential candidate, you must:

  1. Complete a FAFSA Application
  2. Have remaining lifetime eligibility
  3. Be enrolled in at least six units of courses leading towards your initial teaching credential.

In order to receive Federal Pell Grant as a teaching credential candidate, you must be enrolled in at least six units in your initial credential program. The Pell Grant will be paid only for credential courses. Prerequisites, waiver courses and second credential do not qualify for payment of Pell Grant. The Pell Grant will be disbursed after the Office of Financial Aid verifies that you are enrolled in the appropriate number and types of units. This verification (or validation) will occur after census date, which is normally the fourth week of school. Once eligibility is confirmed, the Pell Grant will be released for payment. Click here to learn more about the Federal Pell Grant.

Additional information - Federal Student Aid - Pell GrantOpens in new window  

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is one of five major federal financial aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. FWS is designed to provide part-time employment to eligible undergraduate, credential, and graduate students who have established significant financial need according to federal guidelines. The primary goal of FWS is to provide students with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and offset some of their educational costs.

Funding is limited and priority is given to student with the highest financial need. Eligible students will be awarded the funds on their award summary. Click here for more information about FWS and how the program operates at CSUF.

Additional information - Federal Student Aid - FWSOpens in new window

State University Grant (SUG)

Funded by the State of California & administered by the California State University. Assists students with educational expenses. Students must be California residents and must demonstrate need. Must be enrolled in at least 6 units to receive a SUG payment. Funding is limited and students who file financial aid applications after the March 2 priority deadline may not be offered a SUG award. Award limits apply, teacher and credential students are limited to 30 earned units. 

Additional information - the California State UniversityOpens in new window

Financial Aid Specifically for Teacher and Credential Students

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

TEACH Grant is a federal grant program awarded to students who commit to teaching full-time for at least four years in a specific high-need subject at a qualifying elementary or secondary schools that serve students from low-income families.  The teaching obligation must be met within eight years of completing the course of study associated with the TEACH Grant.

Eligibility

To receive the TEACH Grant at CSUF, you must:

  • Be enrolled in the College of Education Special Education programs, Multiple Subject programs, or a Single Subject program specializing in the following fields: math, science, English, history, social science and foreign languages. 
  • Have a cumulative GPA 3.25 GPA prior to each disbursement
  • Complete TEACH Grant counseling online each year you receive an award
  • Sign an Agreement to Serve each year you receive an award.
  • Complete the FAFSA and meet general eligibility requirements for federal student aid.
  • Complete the TEACH Grant Requirement Certification Form.

Funding

TEACH Grant eligibility and award amount is confirmed at census every term.  For the 2016-2017 award year, TEACH Grants will be prorated as follows (due to the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the required sequester cuts):

  • Full-time enrollment = $1,862 per semester enrolled
  • Three-quarter time enrollment = $1,396 per semester enrolled
  • Half-time enrollment = $931 per semester enrolled
  • Less than half-time enrollment =$465 per semester enrolled

Obligation

TEACH Grant recipients must fulfill ALL requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education or the TEACH Grant will be converted into an interest-bearing Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan that will include interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant originally credited to your student account.  Once a TEACH Grant is converted to a loan, it cannot be converted back to a grant.  Please review the following obligation:

  • TEACH Grant recipients must be a full-time teacher for at least 4 years within 8 calendar years of completing a TEACH Grant eligible academic plan.
  • TEACH Grant recipients must be deemed highly-qualified by the state in which he/she teaches per the No Child Left Behind Act.
  • TEACH Grant recipients must teach in a designated Low-Income School which is defined as a public or private elementary or secondary school. For a current list of schools designated as low income visit the Department of Education’s “Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits,”  available at https://www.tcli.ed.govOpens in new window .
  • TEACH Grant recipients must also teach a majority of their classes in High-Need Subject Areas which include: bilingual education and English language acquisition, foreign language, mathematics, reading specialist, science and special education as well as any other field that has been identified as high-need by the federal government, a state government, or a local education agency and that is included in the Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing. https://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.docOpens in new window

Grant recipients who are unable to complete any of the service requirements of the TEACH Grant will have their grants converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan.  Once the loan is converted, it remains a loan and it must be repaid with interest accruing from the date the grant funds were disbursed.  There is no credit for part-time teaching or partial fulfillment of service. 

Additional information - Federal Student Aid - TEACH GrantOpens in new window

AVOID PROCESSING DELAYS & FAFSA ERRORS

Credential students are not considered graduate or professional students and therefor may be required to submit parent information. To avoid delay in processing your financial aid file and ensure all needed information is provided please answer the FAFSA dependency questions below correction on your application. 

  1. Question: When you begin the school year, what will be your grade level?
    Select response: 5th year/other undergraduate
  2. Question: When you begin the school year, what degree or certificate will you be working on?
    Select response: Teaching credential (non-degree program)
  3. Question: At the beginning of the school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, graduate certificate, etc.)?
    Select response: No

For more information about becoming a teacher, visit the College of Education Credential Programs websiteOpens in new window .