Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and do not have to be repaid. Grant programs for both entering and continuing UC Merced students are awarded each year.
Federal Grants
- Federal Pell Grantsare available to undergraduate financial aid applicants who have not yet received a baccalaureate degree.
- Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grantsare need-based grants provided to low-income undergraduate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Priority is given to students with exceptional financial need.
- Teach Grants are grants awarded to eligible students enrolled in the Teacher Preparation Program through UC Merced Extension. The TEACH Grant program provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete coursework needed to begin a career in teaching.Due to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (Federal Sequestration) any TEACH Grant that is first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2021, and before Oct. 1, 2022, must be reduced by 5.7 percent from the award amount which will result in a new total of $3,772. To be eligible for the TEACH Grant at UC Merced, you must:
- Be enrolled in the Teacher Preparation Program
- Complete TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling (must be completed each year the TEACH grant is received)
- Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay (New Agreementmust be completed each year the TEACH grant is received)
If you do notcomplete your service obligation, all TEACH Grant funds you received will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education, with interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed (paid to you or on your behalf).
State Grants
Cal Grants are offered by the State of California to residents of California who qualify as FAFSA applicants or as CADAA applicants who meet AB 540 requirements.. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) determines initial eligibility for grants, which are based on academic achievement and financial need. Students must meet GPA requirements and family income and asset requirements. The campus must verify the student meets the eligibility requirements to finalize their award. This includes, but is not limited to, meeting Cal Grant income and asset ceilings, having sufficient financial need (which changes depending on living on-campus versus off-campus or at-home), meeting satisfactory academic progress requirements, and enrollment in an eligible program. If the student is eligible for a Cal Grant, but a different institution is listed on their award notification, the student must submit a Grant Record Change form (G-10). If the student is eligible for a Cal Grant at UC Merced, the award will transfer and the student will receive an updated communication from CSAC.
- Cal Grant Ais available to entering and continuing students who are enrolled at least half time and is awarded based on financial need and GPA. You must be a California resident, undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and meet the family income and asset requirements of the program. Awards cover system wide fees.
- Cal Grant Bis initially awarded to low-income students who are enrolled at least half time. First-year awards are usually limited to non-fee costs: subsistence stipends for books, supplies and living expenses. A Cal Grant B may also cover system wide fees when renewed. You must be a California resident, undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 2.0, and meet the family income, asset and disadvantaged background requirements of the program.
Students cannot receive two financial awards that are intended to pay fees (i.e. Cal Vet Fee Waiver, Vocational Rehab Benefits, Stanford Tuition Grant, etc.)
Institutional Grants
Bobcat Grants are available toeligible undergraduate California residents who qualify as FAFSAapplicants or as CADAA applicants who meetAB 540 requirements. Funding is provided by the Regents of the University of California and the State of California. Award amounts are determined based on a student's Cost of Attendance, family income and financial need and are impacted by the amount of a student’s federal and state grant eligibility, waivers, scholarships, and Student Aid Index. To qualify, students must meet the Financial Aid Application priority deadline of May 2nd prior to the award year and all relevant document deadlines. Students must also otherwise qualify for student financial aid.
