Middle Class Scholarship for You

Undergraduate students can get financial aid through the Middle Class Scholarship to attend California State University or the University of California. The Middle Class Scholarship is available to families with incomes up to $226,000 and a maximum household asset value of $226,000.

Students must submit the California Dream Act Application or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 2nd of each year in order to be eligible for the Middle Class Scholarship. The MCS deadline has been moved to July 2, 2024, for the 2024–25 academic year only, due to technical difficulties with the 24/25 FAFSA.

Eligibility for the Middle Class Scholarship

• Students at the undergraduate level
• Students who are U.S. citizens, qualified non-citizens, California residents, or who fulfill the requirements of AB540 are eligible to submit an FAFSA or California Dream Act application.
• Reach the asset and income ceilings.

Award

• The entire cost of attending
• Resources that are available include: Additional grants and scholarships
• $8,412 in student contributions (updated annually)
• A contribution from a parent (if household income exceeds $100,000)

How to Apply for the Middle Class Scholarship

Students must submit the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 2 for the upcoming academic year in order to be eligible for the Middle Class Scholarship, which is administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). The deadline was moved to April 2.

The reward is determined after you have been awarded any Federal, State, or Institutional aid. If you are selected for a Middle Class Scholarship, the California Student Aid Commission will notify you. The final award amount will also be determined by the number of students who are eligible for the Middle Class Scholarship and the amount of funding provided by the State Budget.

When determining eligibility, the California Student Aid Commission considers the student’s enrollment, total cost of attendance, and all available resources previously awarded to the student. The student’s “available resources” are made up of three components: other available gift aid that the student is eligible for (i.e. federal, state, institutional, or scholarship aid), a self-help student contribution of $8,154 (applied to all students), and a parent contribution for dependent students with a household income of more than $100,000.

The MCS award will be determined by deducting the student’s “available resources” from their overall cost of attendance. Under this formula, reward amounts will differ significantly amongst pupils.

If the student’s total grant support from federal, state, institutional, and private sources exceeds or equals their Middle Class award eligibility, they will be disqualified for the award.

MCS award amounts may be reduced at any time during the academic year if it is determined that the funds allocated are insufficient to cover the projected MCS awards.

Please be aware that if you receive a Cal Grant, you may be ineligible for MCS funds.