Financial Aid & Scholarship Office
Our Office

Financial Aid & Scholarship Office
Student Services Center, Room 250
530-898-6451
Fax: 530-898–6883
Financial Aid Email
finaid@csuchico.edu
Scholarships Email
scholarships@csuchico.edu

Open Mon-Thurs, closed Fri
Phone: 10 AM - 4 PM
Lobby Mon: 8 AM - 5 PM
Lobby Tues-Thurs: 10 AM - 5 PM

Mailing Address
Financial Aid & Scholarship Office
400 W. First St.
Chico, CA 95929–0705

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Middle Class Scholarship

FAFSA/CADAA Priority Deadline:
Even though the 4/2/25 California priority deadline has passed for 2025-26, you can still apply for financial aid. Funding may be more limited, however we still strongly encourage you to apply!

2025-26 Awards: At this time, Chico State has not added estimated Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) to your financial aid offer. In order to be as accurate as possible, we will award MCS when we get official confirmation of amounts from the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). We will begin awarding MCS over the summer for students who meet the 2025-26 criteria below. Please contact us if you have questions. 

General Information: MCS is for undergraduates and students pursuing a teaching credential who submit FAFSA(opens in new window) or California Dream Act Application(opens in new window) (CADAA) by the priority deadline.

Spring 2025: Spring MCS has disbursed for spring 2025. If you have questions reach out to us. 

Middle Class Scholarship amounts vary according to each student’s eligibility. MCS is tied to a student's enrollment at University Census. There is not a separate application to apply for the Middle Class Scholarship - your FAFSA or CADAA also serves as your MCS application.  

For 2025-26 the income limits are as follows:

  • Dependent students and Independent students with dependents other than a spouse: $234,000
  • Independent students:
    • Single, no dependents: $136,000 
    • Married, no other dependents: $155,000

For 2025-26 the asset limits are as follows:

  • Dependent students and independent students with dependents other than spouse: $234,000
  • Independent students: $112,000

Chico State students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Must submit FAFSA or CADAA by state deadline
  • Be a California resident
  • Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or AB540 eligible
  • Meet certain income/asset limits
  • May receive up to 4 years, depending on education level when awarded
  • Must be enrolled in at least half time
  • Limited to undergraduate and teaching credential programs
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress
  • Not be in default on a student loan
  • Must not be incarcerated

Scholarship award amounts vary by student. Award amounts are based on the cost of attendance 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 $7,898 (applied to all students)
  • a parent contribution for dependent students with a household income of over $100,000.
These three factors collectively, are referred to as a students’ “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.

The final MCS award amounts for the year will be based on the number of students eligible for the Middle Class Scholarship statewide and the funding allocated by the State Budget.   

Additional Information:

For additional information about this scholarship contact our office at (530) 898-6451 or check your WebGrants 4 Students account. The California Student Aid Commission contacts students via email so it is critical that you keep this information current on your WebGrants 4 Students account.