7 Middle Class Scholarships for Students: Qualification and Benefits

As a student with a middle-class family economic background, you don’t need to worry anymore about how you can finance your education. The good news is that these Middle Class Scholarships allow you to enter one of the campuses of your favorite University of California or California State University.

Middle Class Scholarships
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Initially, the California State Legislature enacted the Middle Class Scholarship to make college more affordable for California’s middle class families.

Besides, it helps to reduce student fees at the California State University and University of California by up to 40%.

Also, the scholarships benefit the families that have been particularly affected by the rapid fee increases during the Great Recession.

Specifically, those are families with incomes too high to qualify for existing financial aid programs, but still unable to afford the fees without relying heavily on student loans.

However, which campuses in California award Middle Class Scholarships?

Check out the list below to see if your favorite college is also on it.

1. CSUF

The Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) is a tuition scholarship to assist students in paying for part of their tuition fees at a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU).

In fact, it is available to eligible undergraduate and teaching credential students attending either one of the said universities.

Furthermore, students whose families earn up to $171,000 per year may be eligible for a scholarship of no less than 10%.

Also, they may be eligible for a scholarship of no more than 40% of the mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at the UC and the CSU.

However, to apply, students must meet all eligibility criteria as mentioned below. Therefore, you must:

  • Be a California resident attending a UC or CSU,
  • Have AB 540 student status or be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident,
  • Meet certain income/asset and other financial aid standards,
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress,
  • Not be in default on a student loan, and
  • Not be incarcerated.
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All in all, if you need further information on CSUF’s middle class scholarships, visit the official page at CSUF’s website.

2. Fresno State

The Fresno State’s Middle Class Scholarship provides another option to help students fund their education. However, it is only available to pay the State University fees.

In fact, the scholarship is open for new, transfer, and returning undergraduate students to the CSU or UC system.

Yet, please note that it is only available to first undergraduate and teaching credential programs.

Particularly, the maximum scholarship award for families earning up to $100,000 will be up to 40% of the system wide-state tuition fee.

However, students whose parents earn between $100,001 and $150,000 per year may be eligible for a reduced scholarship.

Nevertheless, they must meet the following criteria to be eligible:

  • Be a California resident and U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have AB 540 status,
  • Meet certain income and other financial aid standards,
  • Must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units,
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid,
  • Not be in default on a student loan, and
  • Must not be incarcerated.

In short, if you need further information on Fresno State’s middle class scholarships, visit the official page at CSAC’s website.

3. SAC State (California State University, Sacramento)

SAC State’s Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) provides a scholarship to undergraduate students with a maximum annual family income and household asset ceiling of ​$177​,000.

Specifically, to be eligible for the grant, you must:

  • Be enrolled at a California State University or University of California,
  • Have an eligible AB 540 status or be a California resident, and
  • File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) application by the March 2nd deadline. If you need assistance on completing a FAFSA, please refer to our guidline: FAFSA Financial Aid Explained.

Alternatively, if you need further information on SAC State’s middle class scholarships, visit the official page at CSAC’s website.

4. SFSU

In fact, at San Francisco State University, there are a number of state-based grants that are reserved for students who demonstrate financial need.

And, one of those state-based grants that the students coming from middle-class backgrounds can earn is the Middle-Class Scholarship.

Particularly, Middle Class Scholarship provides a scholarship to undergraduate students with a family annual income of up to $150,000.

Basically, students must fulfill the following requirements to qualify for the grant.

  • The student must be enrolled at a California State University or the University of California.
  • Students are CA residents or eligible AB 540 students.
  • The student must file a FAFSA or California Dream Application by the March 2nd

However, for more complete information on the program, visit the official page at CSAC’s website.

5. SJSU

Fascinatingly, you can also earn middle class scholarships if you are enrolled at San José State University.

Here, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will notify you if you are eligible to receive a Middle Class Scholarship (MCS).

Besides, you may receive the MCS award for up to 4 years, depending on your education level when awarded.

In fact, the MCS provides undergraduate students, including students pursuing a teaching credential, with family incomes and assets up to $177,000, a scholarship up to 40% of the state tuition fee.

Furthermore, awarding of the MCS typically occurs in late October to early November.

In particular, they will award the MCS upon verifying eligibility requirements.

Generally, you must:

  • Complete the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by the March 2nd priority deadline,
  • Be a resident of the state of California and a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have an AB 540 student status,
  • Meet certain income, asset, and other financial aid standards,
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress,
  • Not be in default on a student loan, and
  • Not be incarcerated.

Yet, students who are auditing classes or taking classes for “no credit” are not eligible for any financial aid towards those registration fees.

In short, visit the CSAC Middle Class Scholarship web page for more information.

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6. UCI

Fascinatingly, regardless of the surrounding impression, UC Irvine is an affordable choice for all families.

In fact, one of the reasons is due to the establishment of the Middle Class Scholarships.

Specifically, the Middle Class Scholarship program applies to undergraduate students with family incomes and assets up to $171,000 and who attend a University of California or California State University campus.

In particular, the scholarship amounts are based on a sliding scale according to your family income and the other types of support you receive.

Therefore, to receive the financial aid you must meet these requirements:

  • Apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and registered with Selective Service (if required).
  • Not be in default on a federal educational loan.
  • Make Satisfactory Academic Progress, and
  • Not owe a refund on a federal grant.

In short, more information is available from CSAC’s official website.

7. UCSD

Lastly, you can also earn a Middle Class Scholarship if you are enrolled at UC San Diego as it is one of the University of California’s campuses.

In particular, the scholarship program provides a scholarship to undergraduate students with family incomes between $80,000 to $184,000 with assets of $184,000 or less.

Besides, it will be based on a sliding scale according to the family income.

Thus, the scholarship amounts may vary by student and institution.

Basically, the official limits the scholarship amount to no more than 40% of the amount of University of California’s systemwide tuition.

Also, to qualify for the grant you must:

  • Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if you are unable to submit a FAFSA and are AB540 eligible, complete a California Dream Act application by March 2nd,
  • Submit a GPA Verification to the California Student Aid Commission,
  • Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have AB 540 status and be a California resident,
  • Not be in default on a student loan,
  • Maintain a 2.0 GPA, and
  • Meet income and other financial aid standards.

Furthermore, you can see frequently asked questions about the Middle Class Scholarship at CSAC’s official website.

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