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 for up to 4 years based on their eligibility as determined by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).
Students must meet all the following requirements:
- be a California resident attending a UC or CSU;
- be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or meet the requirements for non-resident tuition exemption;
- meet certain income/asset and other financial aid standards;
- maintain satisfactory academic progress;
- be attending at least half-time;
- not be in default on a student loan; and
- must not be incarcerated.
Generally, beginning on October 1st through the March 2nd deadline, students may complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). For the 2024/2025 academic year the FAFSA/CADAA priority deadline is 7/2/24. Students who did not submit their applications by 7/2/24 will not be considered by CSAC for the MCS program. Students without a Social Security Number or who have a U or TPS visa or DACA (including those who lost DACA or never applied for DACA), should complete the CADAA. After students submit the FAFSA/ CADAA, they are encouraged to establish a WebGrants 4 Students account to monitor their state financial aid. The WebGrants 4 Students website is secure and provides easy access to review their awarding status.
IMPORTANT
2024/2025 MCS Awarding Timeline
Students selected to receive an MCS award will be notified by the CSAC, usually between the end of August through the middle of September. CSUEB anticipates that the MCS funding for the Fall 2024 semester will be posted after the census date, and by the end of October 2024. CSAC continues to notify students of their preliminary eligibility on a rolling basis, after October 2024.
Spring 2025
CSUEB anticipates the MCS to be disbursed after the Spring census date.*
*Students were sent an email notification as of 2/14/25 regarding the current delays of the MCS disbursement for the Spring semester. At this time we are waiting for CSAC to inform institutions of when we can proceed. Please email us at finaid@csueastbay.edu or contact us for details about the delay.
We advise students to plan accordingly. During this time you may see that an enrollment file is pending on your WebGrants account. Please note CSUEB will be sending this information to CSAC and no further action is required on your part. If you are expecting additional aid during during the school year and are an MCS recipient, the funding is subject to a reduction.
Example: Student has received an MCS award for the Fall 2024 semester. Thereafter, the student is awarded a departmental/external scholarship. CSUEB is required to report the aid changes to CSAC and the MCS will be recalculated (reduced). This MCS reduction may result in a balance. Keep track of the adjusted Award Offers sent to your CSUEB Horizon email account.
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MCS Details
The MCS is based on your FAFSA/CADAA and your initial submission of GPA information. This is pending verification of the information that you submitted on your Financial Aid and Admissions application. Note that MCS award amounts are subject to change depending on the accuracy of the information submitted, units of enrollment, cost of attendance, other available gift aid, self-help student contribution amount determined by the State, and if applicable, parent contribution for dependent students with a household income of over $100,000.
MCS funds will not be made official until all data has been verified and we are able to guarantee your eligibility with the state. This process includes providing an enrollment file to CSAC. Please note that the MCS processing timeline is subject to change and although you may receive a notice from the state department regarding your eligibility, there are additional steps in the administrative process that are required to validate your eligibility and it can take time to receive your aid. Please plan accordingly. Please note that the final amount will be authorized for disbursement after the term census date which can fall after the payment deadline for the semester.
Monitor your CSAC WebGrants 4 Students account to get the most updated information on your MCS eligibility.
If you are expecting additional aid during the school year and you are an MCS recipient, please note that your MCS will be subject to a reduction.
For more information about Middle Class Scholarship, please visit the CSAC official website.