Grants
Grants are a type of financial aid that do not need to be repaid. They are generally divided into two categories: federal grants and state grants.
Depending on whether you submit the FAFSA or the CADAA, you may be eligible for both federal and state grants or for state grants only.
Federal Grants (FAFSA filers only)
Federal grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Education (ED.). Federal Grants are need-based awards. Not all students who file a FAFSA will be eligible for this aid type. To apply for Federal Grants, submit a Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) every school year.
Pell Grant
Gift aid for undergraduate and teaching credential students with exceptional financial need. Award amounts are based on your Student Aid Index (SAI) and enrollment intensity (units enrolled).
- Pell Grants are limited to six years of eligibility and are available only to students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree, including teaching credential students.
- Transfer students may only receive a Pell Grant from one institution at a time and must cancel any remaining Pell Grant at their previous school before it can be awarded at SF State.
Learn more about the Pell Grant
Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Gift aid for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, usually to students assigned a -1500 SAI number. Amounts for this award ranges from $200 to $700 per academic year.
- Full time enrollment: Per SFSU policy, students must be enrolled in 12 units or more to receive the disbursement of this award. Any student enrolled in 11 units or less will not receive a disbursement even if they are awarded it.
- The State priority deadline: Students who miss the priority deadline but have a -1500 SAI number may be considered if there is available funding later in the semester.
TEACH Grant
The TEACH Grant is federal aid available to eligible undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in a TEACH Grant-approved program.
To receive a TEACH Grant, students must complete the FAFSA and meet additional program requirements, including enrollment in an eligible teaching program. Recipients must also agree to complete a teaching service obligation in a high-need field at a low-income school after graduation.
Find out more about the TEACH Grant.
Contact our office with questions about eligible TEACH Grant programs at SF State.
State Grants (for FAFSA and CADAA filers)
State Grants are funded by the State of California to help support California residents and AB 540/SB 68 eligible students. These programs may be funded either directly by SFSU through institutional programs, or by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) through state-administered programs.
State Priority Deadline
The California State priority deadline is usually on March 2 each year, though the date may change based on state legislation.
Students who submit their FAFSA or CADAA after the state priority deadline are not guaranteed consideration for state-based financial aid programs. Depending on the program, additional documentation may also be required after submitting the financial aid application.
Institutional Programs
State University Grant (SUG)
Gift aid for Undergraduate, Credential, and classified Graduate California residents or AB 540/SB 68 eligible students. This Grant pays for tuition and registration fee costs (Local fees not included). Amounts are prorated (Adjusted) based on a student's enrollment.
Note: State University Grant (SUG) funding is limited and subject to the University's available budget. As a result, eligibility does not guarantee that a student will receive or be disbursed a SUG award.
| Units Enrolled (Per Semester) | Award Percentage | SUG Amount (Per Semester) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 units or more | 100% | $3,225 |
| 6 units | 50% | $1,869 |
| 1–5 units | 0% | $0 |
| Units Enrolled (Per Semester) | Award Percentage | SUG Amount (Per Semester) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 units or more | 100% | $4,032 |
| 4–6 units | 50% | $2,340 |
| 1–3 units | 0% | $0 |
Educational Opportunity and Pathway Programs (EOP) Grant
Gift aid for Undergraduate California residents or AB 540/SB 68 eligible students admitted to SFSU through the Educational Opportunity and Pathway Programs (EOP) for up to $1,000 per academic year.
- To receive this Grant students must be enrolled at full-time status (12 units or more per semester).
Summer Enrollment Grant (SEG)
Gift aid for Undergraduate California residents or AB 540/SB 68 eligible students who are attending the Summer session.
- To be considered, students must have been awarded either the Cal Grant A or the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) during the Fall/Spring semesters.
- For SEG to disburse, a student must be enrolled at half-time status (6 units or more).
Note: SEG funding is limited to the University's allowed budget. Students are awarded on a "First come, first serve" basis depending on how early they reported their Summer units.
Learn more about Reporting Summer Units for Financial Aid.
California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) Programs
Cal Grant A or B
Gift aid for Undergraduate California residents or AB 540/SB 68 eligible students. This award assists low and middle income students with tuition and registration fee costs. The Cal Grant is awarded by the CSAC based on financial need and grade point average.
Financial aid award amounts are initially calculated based on full-time enrollment. Students enrolled in fewer than 12 units may receive a reduced award amount based on their enrollment level.
Note: Students who receive a third-party tuition waiver or a State University Grant (SUG) are not eligible to receive the Cal Grant A or Cal Grant B Tuition Fee award simultaneously. However, students awarded a Cal Grant B may still qualify to receive the Access Award portion of the grant.
| Units Enrolled (Per Semester) | Disbursement Percentage | Grant Amount (Per semester) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 units or more | 100% | $3,225 |
| 9 to 11 units | 75% | $2,418 |
| 6 to 8 units | 50% | $1,612 |
| 1 to 5 units | 0% | $0 |
| Units Enrolled (Per Semester) | Disbursement Percentage | Grant Amount (Per semester) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 units or more | 100% | $824 |
| 9 to 11 units | 75% | $618 |
| 6 to 8 units | 50% | $412 |
| 1 to 5 units | 0% | $0 |
Middle Class Scholarship (MCS)
A Scholarship awarded by CSAC to Undergraduate and Teaching Credential students with a family annual income and assets of up to $217,000.
Eligibility requirements:
- Students must be enrolled at a California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC)
- Must be a California resident or AB 540/SB 68 eligible student
- Students must file a financial aid application (FAFSA or CADAA) by the California State priority deadline for their academic year
Note: In accordance with CSAC policy, Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) award amounts may be adjusted or cancelled if there are changes to a student’s financial aid package or eligibility status, including after the award has been offered or disbursed.
| Units Enrolled (Per Semester) | Disbursement Percentage |
|---|---|
| 12 units or more | 100% |
| 9 to 11 units | 75% |
| 6 to 8 units | 50% |
| 1 to 5 units | 0% |
Chafee Grant
Free funding for current and former California foster youth. Eligible students may receive up to $5,000 per academic year. This program is funded through both federal and state sources and award amounts may vary based on annual funding availability and student eligibility.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the California Chafee Grant, students must:
- Be a current or former foster youth
- Be under the age of 26 as of July 1 of the award year
- Have established court dependency between the ages of 16 and 18
Please note: Some students in Kin-GAP, guardianship, or voluntary placement programs may not qualify unless court dependency was established between ages 16 and 18.
Application Requirements
To be considered for the Chafee Grant, students must:
- Submit the California Chafee Grant Application
- Complete the FAFSA or CADAA by the California state priority deadline for the applicable academic year
- Ensure SFSU submits a Chafee Needs Analysis Report (NAR) on their behalf
Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) Program
The Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) is available to eligible graduate students enrolled in a Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) approved program.
To receive the GSTG, students must complete the FAFSA or CADAA and meet additional program requirements.
Learn more about the Golden State Teacher Grant.