Financial aid •

October 28, 2022

CSUEB financial aid: a complete guide

Learn everything you need to know about financial aid at CSUEB.

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Founded in 1957, California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) is a great public university that offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 40 graduate degrees.

CSUEB and its 14,705 students are split between 3 campuses in the San Francisco area. CSUEB also has a thriving NCAA Division II sports program, with 15 varsity teams competing with colleges across the country. That means there is a wide range of programs that you can participate in.

If you're interested in applying to CSUEB but wondering how you'll pay for it, we've got you covered.

Let's break it all down.

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A snapshot look at CSUEB

For more than 60 years, California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) has provided students from all over the world with world-class degrees ranging from business and teaching to social work, psychology, communications—and everything in between!

The college is split between 3 campuses: Hayward, Concord, and Oakland.

CSUEB has more than 140,000 alumni spread across the globe, and it consistently ranks among the west coast’s top schools for diversity and campus environment.

Ranking: 80

Size: 12,607 (undergrad)

Demographics: 60% female, 40% male; 37.1% Latinx, 22.6% Asian, 14.1% white, 10.1% Black,1% Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 0.1% American Indian or Alaskan Native 

Tuition: $6,995 (In-state), $16,488 (out-of-state)

Acceptance rate: 75%

Average GPA of accepted student: 3.28

Key dates and deadlines (2022)

  • Application: November 30

  • Financial aid deadline: March 2

A look at scholarships offered by CSUEB

If you want to study at California State University, East Bay (CSUEB), one of the best ways to pay for college is by securing a scholarship.

CSUEB currently offers around 160 scholarships for its new and existing students! Some are merit-based scholarships, while others focus on financial need. Let’s take a look at a few examples of existing scholarships to help you get an idea.

Presidential Pioneer Scholarship

The Presidential Pioneer Scholarship is a $6,000 merit-based scholarship available to incoming CSUEB students from California.

To be eligible for the Presidential Pioneer Scholarship, you must be coming from a California high school or community college and have a high school GPA of at least 3.5. You’ll also need to write a short essay and submit 2 letters of recommendation.

Alumni Association Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is an award of between $1,000–$2,000 for existing full-time students who have financial need and a minimum 2.0 GPA.

Priority will be given to the children of CSUEB alumni, but you can still be considered even if your parent or guardian didn’t attend CSUEB.

Global Honors Scholarship 

If you’re an international student attending CSUEB, you can apply for the Global Honors Scholarship. This is an award of $1,188 per semester for overseas students at CSUEB that have an F1 visa status and a minimum GPA of 3.3.

To be considered for this scholarship, you must submit an essay.

Howard C. Christiansen Endowed Scholarship

The Howard C. Christiansen Endowed Scholarship is a CSU-wide scholarship available to students at all 23 of the various CSU campuses.

To apply for the $6,000 scholarship, you need to be a current California State University student and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. You’ll also need to include a personal statement.

Want to find out more about CSUEB’s 160 scholarships? Join Mos now, and we’ll walk you through them and help you apply.

Student loans

It’s not always possible to fund your entire education through grants and scholarships alone. You may also need to take out a student loan to pay for college.

If you’re applying for a government-backed federal student loan, you’ll need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If you decide to go for a private loan, each lender will typically have its own application process.

CSUEB accepts a number of loan types, including: federal loans, Parent PLUS loans, Dream loans, and private loans.

CSUEB student loan types

Want to learn more about applying for CSUEB student loans? Mos can help.

FAFSA

If you’re a new or existing CSUEB student, you can apply for most of the school’s funding opportunities using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

But many of CSUEB’s scholarships and financial aid programs (particularly those for current students) do require separate application forms.

When you fill out the FAFSA, you must provide information about how much money you’ve saved and how much you or your parents make. The government will then decide the amount you’re expected to pay for college, and CSUEB will make you a financial aid offer.

The FAFSA process starts on October 1 of the year before you plan on attending, and you normally have until the end of June to submit your FAFSA. But California has a March 2 deadline for a lot of its state funding programs, so you should stick with this deadline.

For more on applying for FAFSA, head to our learning hub.

CSUEB financial aid FAQs

Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about financial aid at California State University, East Bay (CSUEB).

Does Cal State East Bay offer financial aid?

CSUEB offers financial aid to all eligible students. There’s a wide range of grants, scholarships, and federal loans available to students—it’s worth doing your homework to find out what you’re eligible for.

How much does CSUEB cost?

If you’re joining CSUEB as an in-state student, the estimated undergraduate tuition and fees are $6,995 per year. For grad school students from California, the annual cost is $8,429 per year.

Out-of-state students coming to CSUEB pay tuition on a per-unit basis of $396/unit. For the 2021–2022 academic year, you can expect to pay about $16,488.

But don’t forget: this is just the tuition fees we’re talking about here. You’ll also have to consider other living costs, like accommodation, textbooks, food, travel, and more.

How long does financial aid take to direct deposit CSUEB?

CSUEB students are all encouraged to sign up for direct deposit so they can easily get any potential refunds from the school. It currently takes between 1–3 business days after financial aid is paid out to receive money in your student accounts.

Financial Aid Eligibility Status

When do prospective students hear back regarding financial aid?

CSU East Bay says that it sends students their financial aid letters between February and March as long as the students submit their financial aid applications by the deadline.

Can transfer students receive financial aid?

Yes, transfer students can receive financial aid to help them pay for the cost of their education.

Is there grant aid available?

Yes, students who attend CSUEB can receive grants from aid programs operated by the federal government, the state of California, and CSUEB itself.

Federal grants include the Pell Grant, worth up to $6,895, and the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, worth up to $600. California residents can receive aid from the Cal Grant program and other state-based aid programs. CSUEB also offers the State University Grant and the Middle Class Scholarship, which is available to students with family incomes and assets up to $201,000.

What is the average debt among CSU East Bay’s graduating students?

The average federal student debt among CSU East Bay students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree is $15,500. Among those who do not graduate, the average balance is $11,000.

Is there support for students with disabilities at CSUEB?

Yes, CSUEB has academic support services available to students with disabilities. CSUEB also offers disability counseling and disability management assistance.

Students can schedule a welcome meeting with a disability counselor to discuss their unique needs and get assistance, such as access to course notes and audio recordings of their lectures.

Does CSUEB offer support to first-generation college students?

Yes, CSU East Bay’s library has a variety of programs and support services available to first-generation students. In fact, nearly 64% of CSUEB’s undergraduate students and almost 39% of its graduate students are first-generation students.

Is CSUEB a safe school?

CSUEB takes student safety seriously; as such, it is a very safe school. In 2021, CSUEB’s campus police made only 3 arrests — 2 of students and 1 of a non-student.

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Universities like CSUEB that you might be interested in

If you’re not sure California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) is right for you, there are a few alternative colleges in California that might fit the bill.

CSUEB alternatives

San Francisco State University

Based in San Francisco, San Francisco State University (SFSU) is part of the 23-campus CSU system (just like CSUEB).

San Francisco State is home to more than 30,000 students, and tuition is around the same price as CSUEB for both in-state and out-of-state students.

San José State University

Located in downtown San José, San José State University (SJSU) is the oldest public university on the west coast and was the founding campus of the 23-campus CSU system.

The tuition at San José State is a rough match for CSUEB and San Francisco State, and San José offers around 250 specializations to its 36,000 students.

University of California, Berkeley

Founded in 1868, the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) was California’s first land-grant university and has a great reputation as a research institution.

The university offers over 350 programs of study to its 42,000 students.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, CSUEB is an inclusive and active school with a wide range of majors and specializations. For a school of its size, CSUEB also offers a whole lot of scholarship opportunities.

There are loads of different grants, scholarships, and loans available if you’re a current or prospective CSUEB student—and if you’re looking for the best way to pay for school, Mos is here to help.

We can connect you with hundreds of scholarships and grants and negotiate for more financial aid. Check out Mos to learn more.

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