Students in the Teaching Credential Program are considered 5th-year undergraduate students, not graduate, for Financial Aid purposes and are subject to undergraduate-level loan limits. The types of financial aid available to students pursuing a teaching credential are very specific and different from undergraduate or graduate financial aid.
Independent students may be eligible to borrow up to $12,500 in Federal Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loans. Dependent students whose parents can borrow a PLUS loan may borrow a total of $5,500 in Stafford Loans (subsidized and/or unsubsidized) through the Federal Direct Loan Program. Your dependency status is determined by federal regulations. If you are dually enrolled as a credential and Masters's student, you are considered a graduate student for financial aid purposes.
There are several questions students must answer to determine if they are a dependent or independent student. If you answer "no" to all questions, you must provide parental information on the FAFSA even if you no longer reside with your parents or they no longer provide your support. The federal government will still view you as a dependent student and parental information is required for all dependent students.
Unsure if you are considered an independent student or a dependent student? Find out here.
Eligibility Criteria
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Be enrolled at least half-time (6 or more units)
- Have remaining eligibility for loan borrowing (not reached lifetime loan limits associated with the credential program)
When Completing the FAFSA
When completing the 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), credential students must provide the following answers:
- When you begin the 2022-2023 school year, what will be your grade level? Answer: 5th year/other undergraduates
- When you begin the 2022-2023 school year, what degree or certificate will you be working on? Answer: Teaching credential (non-degree program)
- At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program? Answer: No
Additional information for Teaching Credential Students
- You may be eligible for a Federal Work-Study and Federal Direct Loans (including the Federal Direct Parent Plus loan).
- Federal Direct Loans: Partial loan forgiveness for Federal Direct Loans is available for designated teachers and childcare providers. Information may be obtained at Student Aid on the Web, a site maintained by the U.S. Department of Education.
Eligible Programs
In order to be eligible to receive financial aid for your Credential Program, you must be enrolled in a program that prepares you for teaching in a classroom.
Programs Eligible for Federal Financial Aid:
- All Single Subject Credential Programs
- All Multiple Subject Credential Programs
- All Elementary Credentials
- Special Education Credential Program
Programs Not Eligible for Federal Financial Aid:
- Administrative Services
- Pupil Personnel Counseling
- Non-Degree Certificate Programs
The U.S. Department of Education limits aid eligibility for credential programs to those programs that prepare a student for teaching in a classroom.
Estimated Cost of Attendance for Non-Degree Credential Program
The cost of attendance below is based on 6 unit enrollment per term (fall/spring), 12 units total for the academic year.
*Your actual tuition cost will depend on the number of units you enroll in per term.
The tuition rate is $1,403 per unit.
|
Non-Degree Credential
| On-Campus | Off-Campus | With Parents or Relatives |
|---|
| *Tuition (estimated) |
$16,836 |
$16,836 |
$16,836 |
| Graduate Fees |
$180 |
$180 |
$180 |
| Room & Board |
$20,786 |
$20,723 |
$9,081 |
| Books & Supplies |
$1,125 |
$1,125 |
$1,125 |
| Personal & Miscellaneous |
$2,637 |
$3,843 |
$3,276 |
| Parking & Transportation |
$342 |
$918 |
$999 |
| Loan Fees (estimated) |
$132 |
$132 |
$132 |
| Estimated Total Cost |
$42,038 |
$43,757 |
$31,629 |
Types of Available Aid
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to LMU students. Scholarships are considered gift-aid because they don't need to be repaid. There are thousands of scholarships, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. There are also scholarships available by your College or program of study. Please review the links below to begin applying for LMU and outside scholarships.
Federal Direct Loan
Students, who file a FAFSA, may be eligible for federal student loans. Your FAFSA will determine if you are eligible for subsidized or unsubsidized federal loans.
Federal Direct Loan award amounts:
- Dependent Credential Students: Eligible for an annual maximum of $5,500 in loans (up to a lifetime limit of $31,000 – including any loans received as an Undergraduate).
- Independent Credential Students: Eligible for an annual maximum of $12,500 in loans (up to a lifetime limit of $57,500 – including any loans received as an Undergraduate).
Federal Parent PLUS Loan
Parents of students who filed a FAFSA might be eligible to borrow a Parent PLUS loan.
For Credential Students who are considered to be Dependent Students for financial aid purposes, federal loans are also available for parents to cover their student’s remaining education costs. PLUS Loans are Federal Direct Loans in which the parent of a dependent student is the applicant and borrower. Your parent may borrow an amount up to the cost of attendance minus any other aid you are receiving.
To qualify for the Direct PLUS loan, your parent must meet some of the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid and will need to pass a modest credit check.
To Apply:
To apply please visit studentaid.gov
Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program (TCP)
Undergraduate Cal Grant A and B recipients who plan to enroll in a teaching credential program (TCP) after they receive their bachelor’s degree may be eligible to renew their Cal Grant award for an additional year. The additional year of payment is provided to students who are seeking an initial teaching credential and cannot be used for other graduate-level courses of study. Request for Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program Benefits
Golden State Teacher Grant Program
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Teacher Candidates in California are eligible for up to a $20,000 Grant
The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has expanded the Golden State Teacher Grant, an education grant created to help prospective teachers cover the costs of earning a California teaching credential, to a full spectrum of educational fields. The grant supports soon-to-be teachers by providing a one-time grant of up to $20,000 to help pay for their teacher preparation program.
Who Qualifies for the Golden State Teacher Grant?
The goal of the Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) is to place educators in “high-need fields” at “priority schools,” as defined by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
Although it was originally only available to students enrolled in a teacher preparation program earning a special education credential, the GSTG program awards are now open to nearly all elementary, secondary, and special education credential areas. The CTC defines the following areas as eligible “high-need fields”:
- Bilingual education
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
- Special education
- Multiple subject instruction
- Transitional kindergarten
What Are the Grant Requirements?
Before accepting the Golden State Teacher Grant, all applicants must agree to the terms and conditions of a Teaching Agreement. In addition to completing the program requirements, the Teaching Agreement requires recipients to fulfill several conditions:
- Teach in a priority school. The grant requires students to teach in California in a priority school for at least four of the first five years after completing their credential program. Priority schools are those with a high percentage of teachers with emergency-type permits and/or low-income students. A current list of priority schools is available on the CTC website.
- Instruct in a high-need field. To receive the grant funding, recipients must also commit to teaching in one of the eligible high-need fields.
- Maintain good academic standing. Grant recipients must maintain good academic standing while they are enrolled in their CTC-approved teacher preparation program.
What is a Teaching Agreement?
The Teaching Agreement explains the student’s obligations under the provisions of the grant. Non-compliance with the Teaching Agreement will result in partial or full grant repayment.
For more information contact the
Golden State teacher Grant Program at:
goldenstateteachers@csac.ca.gov
https://www.csac.ca.gov/golden-state-teacher-grant-program
phone: 1.888.224.7268