Scholarships & Aid

Catholic Educator Reduced Tuition rate

The USF School of Education offers a 40% reduced CST tuition rate in order to increase the number and diversity of credentialed teachers in Catholic schools.

Eligibility Criteria

This tuition rate is available for candidates who are in a teaching credential program (except SFTR) or in a Reading Certificate program, and providing a needed service to Catholic schools. To qualify for the CST tuition rate, candidates must submit a Recommendation Form from a supervising teacher/staff and/or the principal/head of a Catholic school that documents how the service provided to that school supports the educational success of underserved groups of students. All forms, regardless of recommender, must be signed by the principal/head of Catholic school. 

This reduced rate is available for students who are providing needed service in one of two ways, namely, as:

1. A paid teacher, teacher aide, staff, or coach in a Catholic school. Candidates who are regularly employed at a Catholic school are eligible for the CST tuition rate each semester of concurrent enrollment in teacher training and employment in a Catholic school.
2. A volunteer making a substantial commitment of time working in a needed role within a Catholic school. To be eligible for the CST tuition rate, it is expected that the volunteer commitment be at least 3 hours a week of on-site, school-related work at a Catholic school during each semester of tuition reduction. Candidates must have the volunteer opportunity secured before the first semester begins and are required to begin the volunteer position before Census Date of the semester. This allows candidates to have the opportunity to begin volunteering when they begin the program. Candidates who elect to do their student teaching requirement in a Catholic School will be eligible for the CST Reduced Tuition Rate during the semester of their student teaching placement.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates applying for the CST tuition rate must submit the CST Rate Recommendation Form to the School of Education, from a supervising teacher/staff and the school principal/head of the school detailing either the candidate’s employment or volunteer involvement in the school and recommendation to receive the tuition rate. The forms should be sent in advance of candidates starting the program and no later than September 1^st for fall, February 1^st for spring, and June 1^st for summer sessions.

Please note that for candidates who are determining their loan packages with the USF Financial Aid office we advise you to submit the CST Rate Recommendation Form no later than 10 days before the start of the semester.

The form includes:

• a statement of the intended work or service the candidate will be doing that is responsive to needs in the school;
• the time commitment of work or service that meets minimal expectations (at least 3 hours a week of on-site, school-related work throughout the semester);
• expected impact work or service will have on the educational success of underserved groups of students (i.e. student demographics such as racial/ethnic breakdown, free or reduced lunch, etc.;
• and rationale for recommending the specific candidate.

Deadlines

• Intercession - January 17
• Spring - February 1
• Summer - June 1
• Fall - September 1

RENEWAL PROCESS

To continue qualifying for the CST tuition rate in succeeding semesters, candidates must submit a CST Renewal Recommendation Form from a supervising teacher/staff and/or the principal/head of the Catholic school where they have been working or volunteering recommending continuation of the tuition rate. The renewal form must verify the work or service and time commitment completed in the previous semester; the impact the candidate’s work or service has had on the educational success of underserved groups of students; and a description of the work or service to be done, as well as time commitment (at least 3 hours a week of on-site, school-related work) for the upcoming semester. The renewal forms should be sent no later than September 1^st for fall, February 1^st for spring, and June 1^st for summer sessions. Bills for the upcoming semester will show the CST discounted tuition rate. If, by the deadlines posted above, candidates have not submitted a CST Renewal Form, they will be billed at the full tuition rate.

Student Teaching 

Candidates who elect to do their student teaching requirement in a Catholic School will be eligible for the CST Reduced Tuition Rate during the semester of their student teaching placement. To obtain the tuition rate, candidates and Catholic school principal/heads must complete the CST Rate Recommendation Form by the deadline posted above.

All forms for the Catholic Educator Reduced Tuition Rate should be submitted to CST Rate Recommendations & Renewals

Please direct any questions regarding the process to:
Quyen Tran, Project Manager for Academic Affairs.
cstrate@usfca.edu
415-422-2081

Ricardo P. Molinari Endowment Scholarship

The Riccardo P. Molinari Endowment Scholarship fund is for SOE Bilingual Authorization Multiple or Single Subject teacher education students who are full time, in good standing, and have demonstrated financial need.

Three scholarships of $2,750 each are available to students currently enrolled in the USF School of Education Teacher Education Program. Funds will be disbursed spring semester. The funds are restricted to meet tuition expenses.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must be pursuing the Bilingual Authorization Multiple or Single Subjects Credential.
• Candidates must be enrolled in or plan to take the Bilingual Authorization courses at the School of Education.
• Candidates must maintain good standing with the School of Education and the University (GPA 3.0 +).
• Candidates must demonstrate financial need, with Financial Aid Application completed and on file with the USF Office of Financial Aid.

NOT ELIGIBLE

• Students in the San Francisco Teacher Residency program are not eligible for consideration.
• Students who have previously received the Molinari Scholarship are not eligible for consideration.

DEADLINE

The Molinari Scholarship application, essay, and paragraph on your financial need must be submitted by November 30th.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, complete the  application, essay, and paragraph on financial need by the deadline. Send these required documents to teachered@usfca.edu.

San Francisco Teacher Residency

Students enrolled in the San Francisco Teacher Residency (SFTR) program will receive a discounted tuition rate during the program as well as a $15,000 living stipend. Upon successful completion of all program requirements, candidates are offered employment contracts to teach in one of San Francisco Unified's hard to staff schools or subjects.

SFUSD Employee Discount Rate

We will offer reduced tuition for SFUSD employees, who begin any of our preliminary credential-plus-MA programs (e.g., MAT, MATR, UESJ, SPED; SFTR already has this rate) at the San Francisco Hilltop Campus (not additional locations) starting in spring, summer, or fall, if employees meet these criteria:

• candidates are currently employed as paraprofessionals, emergency-credentialed teachers, or long-term substitute teachers that wish to apply for any of our preliminary teacher credential plus MA programs (MAT, MATR, UESJ and Special ED)
• candidates will continue to be employed as such (or they become interns) during their enrollment in the USF program in the same year, and
• candidates plan to teach in SFUSD for at least 3 years thereafter.

Note: Students are only eligible for one type of reduced tuition, e.g. students who receive the SFUSD Employee Discount Rate are not eligible for the Catholic Educator Reduced Tuition Rate.

For more information, contact teachered@usfca.edu

TEACH Grant

The TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000* per year to graduate students who are completing coursework needed to begin a career in teaching. In order to be eligible for this grant a student must: 

• Complete a FAFSA for the current academic year at www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Download, print & submit a completed grant form by the priority due date in order to have the TEACH Grant funds reflected on your semester bill:
  • July 15 for fall semester
  • December 15 for spring semester
  • April 15 for summer semester
  • *Note: Deadlines above apply to continuing students. New students will receive information about applying to the TEACH Grant (and the deadline for new students) at New Student Orientation.
• Complete entrance counseling and sign an agreement to serve;
• Be in the process of completing coursework and other requirements necessary to begin a career in teaching.
• Plan to enroll in 3 units or more per semester
• Students must not already have a graduate degree
• Students must ALSO qualify academically in ONE of the following ways:
  • If the student is a graduate student during the first payment period (a first semester student), s/he must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, or the numeric equivalent; OR
  • If the student is a graduate student beyond the first payment period (a continuing student), s/he must have a cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, or the numeric equivalent, through the most-recently completed payment period.
• Within eight years of completing enrollment in a credential program, TEACH Grant recipients are required to:
  • Teach full-time for a minimum of four years.
  • Teach as a highly-qualified teacher at an elementary school, secondary school or educational service agency in a low-income school district, as defined in the Teacher Cancellation Low-Income Directory.
  • Teach in a high-need field, as defined by the Department of Education’s annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing, in the majority of classes taught during each elementary and secondary academic year.
  • Report the above information to the Department of Education within 120 days after ceasing enrollment and once a year thereafter.
• IMPORTANT: This grant may convert to an unsubsidized loan, including all applicable interest, if the above stated requirements are not met.
• Students accepted into the Reading Certificate Program are not eligible for the TEACH Grant.
• If you are accepted into, or enrolled in, an eligible program and would like to apply for a TEACH Grant, please complete the Teach Grant Request Form (grant application) and submit it to your program coordinator listed below by the priority due date (see above for dates).

  Ed Specialist (Special Education) Credential – Aisha Ortega
  Single and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (USF additional locations) – Sandi Fenderson
  Single and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (USF Hilltop Campus) – Teacher Education Department

  * The actual amount of the grant is determined annually and dependent on Federal funding

The USF & Presidio Hill School Teacher Apprentice Program

The University of San Francisco’s Teacher Education Department has partnered with The Presidio Hill School to offer The USF & Presidio Hill School Teacher Apprentice Program in Progressive Education.

Students accepted to the USF & Presidio Hill School Teacher Apprentice Program complete a two-year teaching apprenticeship with a master teacher at Presidio Hill School while earning a master's degree and California teaching credential from the USF School of Education. Apprentices work with their master teacher at Presidio Hill School for the full school week and attend graduate courses at USF in the evening. Additionally, apprentices will complete a short student teaching placement in a public school classroom. Apprentices receive a $25,000 per year stipend and ongoing classroom support.

Criteria

• Candidates must apply & be accepted to both the USF Teaching MA program on the USF Hilltop Campus and the USF and Presidio Hill School Teacher Apprentice Program.
• Program open to Multiple Subject credential candidates on the Hilltop Campus only.
• Candidates must have a deep interest in learning the practices of progressive education.
• Students participating in the Urban Education and Social Justice program, the San Francisco Teacher Residency program, or the Bilingual Authorization program are ineligible to participate in the USF & Presidio Hill School Teacher Apprentice Program.

Application Process

• Interested applicants must submit an online application to the USF Teacher Education program in addition to completing the release and online application for the USF & Presidio Hill Teacher Apprentice Program.
• The priority application deadline for the USF & Presidio Hill School Teacher Apprentice Program beginning fall semester has been extended to March 15.

For more information, contact teachered@usfca.edu

State Resources and Federal Resources

The following programs are administered by various agencies in the State of California and around the United States. Please consult each program's website for further information.

Cal Grant Program
If you are currently an undergraduate student with a Cal Grant A or B and plan to enroll in a teacher credential program, you may be eligible to renew your 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.

Perkins Loan Forgiveness
You qualify for cancellation (discharge) of up to 100 percent of a Federal Perkins Loan if: you have served full-time in a public or nonprofit elementary or secondary school system as a teacher in a school serving students from low-income families; or you are a special-education teacher, including teachers of infants, toddlers, children, or youth with disabilities; or you are a teacher in the fields of mathematics, science, foreign languages, or bilingual education, or in any other field of expertise determined by a state education agency to have a shortage of qualified teachers in that state.

Stafford Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers
The Teacher Loan Forgiveness program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue in the teaching profession. Under this program, individuals who teach full-time for five consecutive, complete academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools that serve low-income families and meet other qualifications may be eligible for forgiveness of up to a combined total of $17,500 in principal and interest on their Federal Family Education Loan and/or Direct Loan program loans.

Teach Grant
The TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 per year to graduate students who are completing course work needed to begin a career in teaching.

Troops to Teachers Program (TTT)
Troops to Teachers is a U.S. Department of Education and Department of Defense program that helps eligible military veterans begin new careers as teachers in K-12 public, private, and charter schools where their skills, knowledge, and experience are most needed. State and regional Troops to Teachers offices provide participants with counseling and assistance regarding certification requirements, routes to state certification, and employment leads. Additionally, generous financial assistance may be provided to eligible individuals who wish to serve as teachers in schools serving a high percentage of students from low-income families.