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Funding Opportunities: Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Grants

Tuition and Fees

 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

  • We recommend all students complete the FAFSA to be eligible UCSD Financial Aid. The deadline to submit the FAFSA is March 2nd. The UC San Diego FAFSA code is 001317.

Financial Aid Resources

  • We believe that financial hardship should not stand between a promising teacher and the classroom. The vast majority of our students have received funding for their academic career. At EDS, students have been able to obtain up to $25,000 in financial support through a combination of M.Ed./MA-ASL Fellowship (exclusive for educational fees), Tuition Fellowship, Noyce Fellowship, and internship opportunities (for single-subject candidates).
  • Office of Graduate Studies Financial Aid Information
  • UCSD Graduate Funding Blog
    • Financial Aid is need-based support, and is administered through the Financial Aid Office at UC San Diego. Most Graduate Students are eligible for certain types of federal loans. International students are not eligible for this type of funding. If you have any questions or concerns about financial aid, please contact the UC San Diego Financial Aid Office (858-534-4480)

Travel Grants

Graduate Student Association Travel Grantsfor all graduate students who are presenting a paper or giving a talk on their own original research.

EDS M.Ed./MA-ASL Fellowship

We strongly recommend our applicants to apply for the M.Ed./MA-ASL Fellowship. The application is included in the online graduate application at https://apply.grad.ucsd.edu/home

Recipients must apply to this fellowship and be admitted to one of the following programs: M.Ed/Multiple Subject (Summer Intensive), M.Ed./Multiple Subject (Professional Year, MS-2), M.Ed/Single Subject (Professional Year, SS-2), or MA/ASL-Bilingual Education. First-Year "SS-2" candidates are eligible to apply during the application for advancement to the SS-2 Professional Year.

In order to be eligible to receive this fellowship, recipients must remain a full-time student in good academic standing and complete all field requirements each quarter, including student teaching. 

Aspiration Scholarship Application Instructions & Selection Criteria 2024

Aspirtation Scholarship 

The Aspiration Scholarship supports the development of professional skills by funding graduate education in
select fields designed to improve the quality of life in San Diego County. This program is managed by Impact
Cubed, a 501(c)3 public charity created in 2018.
Amount: Up to $30,000 - over the course of the student’s academic program
Award Criteria

• Acceptance at one of the following programs for Fall 2024 and attending an in-person or a hybrid (in-
person and online) program:

o California State University San Marcos
i. MSW, School of Social Work, Pupil Personnel Services Credential
ii. MPH: Health Promotion and Health Education
iii. Teaching Credential, School of Education, College of Education, Health, and Human
Services

o University of California, San Diego
i. Teaching Credential and M.Ed, CalTeach Program


o University of San Diego
i. JD, School of Law, Child Advocacy Specialization
ii. MA, Conflict Management & Resolution, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
iii. MA, Social Innovation, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
iv. MA, Peace and Justice, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
v. MA, Nonprofit Leadership and Management, School of Leadership

• Preference given to applicants who demonstrate:
o Past academic performance.
o A commitment to the field of study.
o A desire to apply their learning to improve the quality of life in San Diego County.
o Financial need.
• Renewed funding requires submission of a brief application, including an academic progress report.
Applicants will be selected without discrimination based on an applicant’s race, color, religion (creed), gender,
age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, gender
identification or expression, or military status in any of its activities of awarding and selection of scholarships
or any other legally protected characteristics.


Employees and their family or household members of the Aspiration Scholarship Selection Committee, Impact
Cubed, and Leichtag Foundation are not eligible to receive the Aspiration Scholarship.


Application Instructions


____Review selection criteria to confirm eligibility.
____Submit online application at https://impactcubed.org/aspiration-fund/.
____For priority review, applications must be received by 5 p.m. PST, Monday, July 8, 2024.


Award Payment


Awards are made prior to fall payment deadlines and sent directly to the university for for tuition and fees.
Questions: Contact Sharyn Goodson at sharyn@leichtag.org or 858-997-6675.

TEACH Grant

TEACH Grant (for Graduate Students)

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants of up to appoximately $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.

Student Eligibility:

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), although you do not have to demonstrate financial need.
  • Have a UC San Diego cumulative Undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or above
  • Be enrolled as a graduate student
  • Be enrolled in coursework that is necessary to begin a career in teaching or plan to complete such course work.
  • Willingness to teach for 4 of your first 8 years in a designated low-income school
  • More than half of your time teaching during each year must be in a high need field: Math, science, foreign language, bilingual education, English language acquisition, special education, or reading specialist.

Conditions:

  • In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students.  Annual published Low-Income School Listing
  • As a recipient of a TEACH Grant, you must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant. IMPORTANT: If you fail to complete this service obligation, all amounts of TEACH Grants that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education. You will be charged interest from the date the grant(s) was disbursed.
  • You should only consider this program if you are planning to enter a teaching credential program immediately upon graduation. You can then apply for additional funds ($4000) for your year in the credential program. 
  • Individuals may not receive both the Noyce Scholarship and the U.S. Department of Education TEACH Grant. If you have previously accepted a TEACH grant, you are not eligible to apply for the Noyce scholarship program. Conversely, Noyce scholarship recipients are not eligible to receive USDoEd TEACH grants.

How to Apply:

  • Apply via the FAFSA, if not already done.
  • Contact Danielle del Rosario for the Teach Grant checklist/form that will need to be completed by both you and Danielle. Danielle will then forward the completed form to the Financial Aid office.
  • Complete the "Initial & Subsequent Counseling" on the Teach Grant website, and then the "Agreement to Serve".

San Diego Foundation

https://www.sdfoundation.org/students/common-scholarship-app/

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Even if you’re not a straight-A, star athlete or student body president, we have scholarship opportunities if you have:

  • Commitment to your education
  • Potential for success in college
  • Minimum GPA of 2.0
  • Participation in community service, extracurricular activities and/or work experience
  • Current residence in San Diego County (for at least one year)
  • Need of help to pay for school (including middle-income families)
  • A completed FAFSA or CA Dream Act and Student Aid Report (SAR). This is necessary for all applicants. Recommendation: Please start ASAP as this information is needed to fill out the application.

Student Loan Forgiveness Option for Teachers

California Retired Teachers Association Scholarship

CalRTA Scholarships (intended for graduate students in a teaching credential program)

The CalRTA Scholarship program provides scholarships to students in a teaching credential program. Scholarship information from CALRTA Division 69 and North Shores Div.78 is forwarded via email from our department to graduate students while in our teaching preparation program. 

Restriction:
Scholarship money is to be used for tuition and/or books and supplies during student teaching semesters. Applicants who have already completed student teaching, or who will not be doing student teaching during the year of the scholarship, are not eligible.

Qualifications:
The applicant must have a Bachelor's Degree, be enrolled in the teacher training program of the University, and be a resident of San Diego County.

CAL Grant A & B

CAL Grant A and B (for undergraduates and those wishing to renew the grant while earning a teaching credential)

How to apply: first-time Cal Grant applicant

By March 2, submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (for Dream Act-eligible students) and a GPA Verification Form. Get full GPA verification form instructions.

Golden State Teacher Grant program (GSTG)

The Golden State Teacher Grant program (GSTG) program encourages students to consider earning a teaching credential.

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will award one‐time Golden State Teacher Grant funds of up to $20,000 to eligible students across California, that are enrolled in a Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) approved teacher preparation program within a California institution of higher education.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the GSTG, a student must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Applicants must agree to all terms and conditions of the GSTG program or be required to repay the grant. College and University staff will determine the financial need and eligibility of applicants using their selection criteria.

Please read more details regarding the GSTG program and apply at: https://gstg.csac.ca.gov/by clicking on the first time user option.  VERY IMPORTANT:  Apply after July 1st of the year you are admitted into EDS in order to capture the most funding.  Also, apply as soon as possible since funding will become limited soon after.  

When asked the type of credential, please enter the word: Preliminary.

If eligible, the monies would be distributed by the Financial Aid Office.
Any questions, please contact Maria Gomez at mcg017@ucsd.edu.

Loan Forgiveness Programs

Stafford Loan Forgiveness for Teachers

If you teach full time for five consecutive years in a low-income school, you might be eligible to have a portion of your loan canceled. This applies to FFELSM Stafford Loans, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and in some cases, Consolidation Loans.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Intended for those who wish to remain in public service for at least 10 years after you initiate a loan repayment plan. This program discharges any remaining debt after 10 years of full-time employment in public service.
The borrower must have made 120 payments as part of the Direct Loan program in order to obtain this benefit. Only payments made on or after October 1, 2007 count toward the required 120 monthly payments.

Federal Perkins Loan Teacher Cancellation

You may qualify for cancellation (discharge) of up to 100 percent of a Federal Perkins Loan if you have served full time in a public or nonprofit elementary or secondary school system as a teacher in a school serving students from low-income families; or special-education teacher, including teachers of infants, toddlers, children, or youth with disabilities; or teacher in the fields of mathematics, science, foreign languages, or bilingual education, or in any other field of expertise determined by a state education agency to have a shortage of qualified teachers in that state.

Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE)

Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE)

There are currently no APLE loans available this year.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Have completed a minimum of 60 semester or 90 quarter units , of post secondary education prior to the fall term.
  • Must have received or is approved to receive educational loans issued through institutions of higher education.
  • Must be in a program leading to a Bachelors Degree or in a teacher preparation program.
  • Is not in default on a federal student loan or has made satisfactory repayment arrangements.
  • Does not owe money on a federal or state grant, or has made satisfactory repayment arrangements.
  • Must sign an agreement to teach in a designated California public school for up to four full time, or part time equivalent consecutive years after obtaining an initial teaching credential.

Filing Requirements:

Apply through the UC San Diego assigned APLE Coordinator, Melissa Wolf , (858) 822-2177.

Service Commitment:

Requires full-time teaching service as a K-12 public school teacher in California, in either the subject matter shortage area or the designated school type identified.

Award Amount:

Up to $19,000 in loan assumption possible.

Questions/Additional Information:

Contact the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) at 1.888.224.7268, #3 or visit www.csac.ca.gov or email Specialized@csac.ca.gov.