I wanted to know if anyone thought I had a chance of getting aid via FAFSA for a 1 year, full-time teaching credential program I plan to take at a UC or CSU next fall.
I am over 24 years of age, have not used FAFSA before as an independent, and worked only part time last year, making my income a little less than $17K in 2015. I’m also recently unemployed… I used the online estimator and I saw that I would be provided aid for all of my tuition, textbooks, and housing (I plan to be off-campus), but I also saw that they may give me loans.
I also don’t know how accurate that is. Would they really potentially give me aid for my full tuition, books, and housing?
Does anyone have knowledge out there as to if I will receive enough aid to be a full-time student without working part-time, and the likelihood of receiving aid vs. loans?
You are over 24 years of age. You will be considered independent for FAFSA purposes whether you have a previous degree…or not.
If you have a bachelors degree already, is this credential program considered a grad program? If so, there are no Pell Grants or Calgrants for grad students. If younputmthst you were an undergrad when younare a grad, the calculator wrongly assumed that you were eligible for,aid,that is for undergrads only.
I find it completely unlikely that you will get full aid at a UC or CSU…meaning tuition, fees, room, and board. I believe you entered something incorrectly in the net price calculators.
Yes, I got my bachelors in 2014. I read that for teaching programs, the Pell grant may be given. I had calgrant throughout undergrad, but that was when I was a dependent. I know that teaching credential students can renew their calgrant within 15 months…but it’s been over that for me. Does anyone know if we can try to re-establish our calgrant status now that I’m an independent, or is that a lost cause too?
To get federally funded aid, one must be pursuing a degree or certificate program. Does this credential program meet that requirement? if not, the Pell would not be available.
Re: Calgrant…you would have to contact the Calgrant folks to get an answer about your delayed request to reinstate this.
There are specific financial aid rules for teaching credential programs, and the rules vary depending on how the school classifies the program. You will need to contact the financial aid office at the school to find out what would be available to you. In some very limited circumstances, a Pell grant may be available (but this is not the norm - it has to do with the program and the school, and whether or not it fits some very limited criteria). Also note that, while the law allows FWS and Perkins, the school may not award either for this type of coursework (the school where I used to work did not) - those are campus-based programs, and limited funds are typically awarded to those in degree programs.
Here are the overall regulations:
Teacher certification coursework
A student may receive Federal Work-Study (FWS), as well as Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, and Perkins Loans (and a parent may receive Direct PLUS Loans on behalf of a dependent student) if he or she is enrolled at least half time in required teacher certification coursework, even if it does not lead to a degree or certificate awarded by the school.
To qualify, the coursework must be required for elementary or secondary teacher certification or recertification in the state where the student plans to teach and must be offered in credit or clock hours. Courses using direct assessment in lieu of credit or clock hours are not eligible. An otherwise eligible student may also receive a TEACH Grant. Optional courses that the student elects to take for professional recognition or advancement, and courses recommended by your school but not required for certification, do not qualify.
Direct Loan limits for preparatory coursework & teacher certification
(There are) three instances in which a student may receive a loan for coursework that is not part of an eligible program. If the student and the academic coursework meet the conditions … the annual loan limits are:
Preparatory coursework (not to exceed 12 consecutive months)
For undergraduate degree/certificate coursework:
Direct Subsidized & Unsubsidized $2,625**
Additional unsubsidized for independent students … $6,000
For graduate or professional coursework:
Direct Subsidized & Unsubsidized $5,500**
Additional Direct Unsubsidized for independent students … $7,000
State-required teacher certification coursework
Direct Subsidized & Unsubsidized $5,500**
Additional Direct Unsubsidized for independent students … $7,000**