Welcome to the Alder Graduate School of Education Office of Financial Aid. We are here to help you achieve your educational goals by accessing financial supports. There are a number of different financial supports available, including grants, scholarships, and loans that can help make financing the residency possible, and we have included brief summaries below. For a detailed overview of financial aid options at Alder GSE and the required steps to apply, please review our Financial Aid Application Checklist.

Partner Residency Stipends

Each TK-12 School Partner offers a stipend to support residents’ expenses during their residency year. These stipends typically range from $25,000 to $50,000. During the admissions process, your Alder Recruiter can share more about specific partners’ stipends. Please note that the IRS considers the living stipend paid to you by your TK-12 partner to be taxable income. You will need to declare it on your tax form and pay taxes on it.

Alder GSE Residency Scholarships

The Alder Residency Scholarship offers need-based tuition scholarships ranging from $3,000- $10,000. Visit the scholarship page for more information on upcoming deadlines and how to apply.

Federal TEACH Grant

Federal TEACH Grants of up to $5,658 may be available for students who commit to teach in a high-need field at a high-need school for four years. High-need fields include Math, Science, Special Education, Bilingual Education, Foreign Language, and other fields as determined annually by the Federal Department of Education.

Golden State Teacher Grant

The Golden State Teacher Grant is a California state grant available to applicants enrolling in many teacher education programs across California, including Alder. Pending state funding availability, grants of up to $10,000 may be available for eligible residents who commit to teaching in a high-need school for two years. If grants are available, they will be prioritized based on the Student Aid Index from the FAFSA. The total grant amount is not affected by which program you enroll in, whether it be Alder GSE or another graduate program.

Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program

The Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program offers the opportunity to renew a Cal Grant for an additional year for students who received Cal Grant A or B as undergraduates and who enroll at Alder within 15 months of the end of the term for which they last received a Cal Grant payment.

Federal Loans

Federal loans may be available for up to any remaining cost of attendance amount not covered by other financial aid sources. The cost of attendance (~$60,000) includes tuition and estimates for living expenses. We support students through the process of applying for federal loans when needed (eligibility requirements).  If candidates are not eligible for federal financial aid, we support candidates in exploring private loan options at comparable interest rates.

External Scholarships

We encourage candidates to apply to external scholarship opportunities as part of their financial aid plan. Please note that most external scholarships have specific criteria qualifications, like academic track record, teaching subject, demographics/personal profile, geography, and club or organizational affiliation.

FINANCIAL AID PLANNING TIMELINE

1. Review tuition, other program costs, and program benefits for your residency year.
2.  You will have multiple opportunities to learn more about financial aid and access support and resources throughout the admissions process.
3. Determine your financial need and what sources of financial support you are interested in pursuing. You can find an overview of state and federal financial aid options and the steps to apply in our financial aid application checklist.
4. If applying for state or federal grants or loans, complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. Please note that Alder’s FAFSA school code is 042870. 
5. If applicable, apply for scholarships according to their deadlines. Note that you must be accepted by Alder GSE to apply for the Alder Residency Scholarship.
6. Once accepted to the program, meet all enrollment and financial aid milestones. You will also begin receiving individualized financial aid support from your Student Services Advisor.
7. As a resident, work with the Offices of Financial Aid and Student Billing to meet tuition payments and grant requirements.