On July 1, 2013, California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation creating the Middle Class Scholarship program, aimed at making higher education more affordable to middle-income families.
For more information about the program, please visit the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) Middle Class Scholarship web page.
For the latest updates, check out the Middle Class Scholarship information page, MCS Updates.
Improving Access for Families
The Middle-Class Scholarship program is available for new, transfer, and returning undergraduates, and students pursuing a teaching credential with family income and assets not exceeding certain amounts (subject to California State Budget Approval) for those who attend a University of California campus. Please refer to the Middle Class Scholarship web page for those details.
To apply, submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application by the deadline established by the California Student Aid Commission: March 2nd. Also, we encourage you to submit GPA Verification Form to the California Student Aid Commission for Cal Grant consideration.
- There is no extension of the March 2nd FAFSA or CADAA filing date for the 2026-2027 award year, and there are no appeals allowed for a FAFSA or CADAA filed after this deadline.
- Scholarship award amounts will vary by student and by the school. Award amounts will be based on the cost of attendance for the school of the student’s choice and the following program requirements: other available gift aid that the student is eligible for (i.e. federal, state, institutional, or scholarship aid), a self-help student contribution of $8,616 (applied to all students), and a parent contribution for dependent students with a household income of over $100,000. These three factors collectively are referred to as a student’s “available resources.” These amounts are deducted from the student’s total cost of attendance to determine the MCS award. Under this formula, award amounts will vary widely among students, with each student’s award reflecting their costs and available resources.
- Per California Student Aid Commission policy, we are required to measure enrollment at the end of the fifth week of the semester. If you were awarded an MCS and you are enrolled in less than 12 units at the end of the fifth week, your MCS will be reduced, and may be replaced with federal loans or work study. MCS awards are not eligible for replacement gift aid.
- The final award amount will be based on the number of students eligible for the MCS statewide and the funding allocated by the State Budget. Pursuant to Education Code section 70023, MCS award amounts may be reduced at any time during the academic year if it is determined that the funds appropriated are insufficient to cover the cost of the projected MCS awards.
- Students selected to receive an MCS award will be notified by the California Student Aid Commission at the time of awarding, usually by mid to late August.
- If you have any questions or concerns regarding your MCS eligibility for the award year, please review your WebGrants 4 Students (WG4S) account, which provides secure and easy access to your awarding status.