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 support and resources. We have gathered a series of resources and will be hosting live virtual events related to financing your residency year. Please explore the links below and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

There are a number of different financial supports available, including grants, scholarships, and loans that can help make financing the residency possible, including:

Golden State Teacher Grant

Golden State Teacher Grants of $20,000 for residents who commit to teach in a high-need school for four years. To apply, first submit either the FAFSA or CADAA, and then complete the Golden State Teacher Grant application.

CAL Grant Teaching Credential Program

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. Please see the California Student Aid Commission website for more information and the application form (Form G-44).

Federal TEACH Grant

Federal TEACH Grants of up to $5,658 for students who commit to teach in a high-need field at a high-need school for four years. High-need fields include STEM, Special Education, Multiple Subject, Language Arts, Bilingual Education, World Language, and other fields as determined by the federal department of education.

Federal Loans

Federal loans of up to any remaining cost of attendance amount not covered by other financial aid sources. The cost of attendance (~$55,000) 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.

Partner Residency Stipends

Each K-12 School Partner offers a stipend to support residents’ expenses during their residency year. These stipends typically range from $18,000 to $35,000. An Alder Recruitment and Admissions Manager can share more about specific partners. Please note that the IRS considers the living stipend paid to you by your K-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

Need based tuition scholarships from Alder GSE ranging from $3,000- $10,000 are available. For the 2022-2023 cohort, 70% of scholarship applicants received a scholarship. Visit the scholarship page for more information on deadlines and how to apply.

External Scholarships

We encourage candidates to apply to external scholarship opportunities as part of their financial aid plan. For most external scholarships, there are 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.
2. Set up a time to speak to your recruiter and/or attend a live informational webinar on financial aid here.
3. Determine your financial need and what sources of financial support you are interested in pursuing.
4. If applying for federal grants or loans, complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. Please note that Alder’s FAFSA code is 042870. The federal financial aid application flowchart provides additional information on the steps in applying for federal aid.
5. If applicable, apply to scholarships according to their deadlines. Note that you must be conditionally accepted by your partner to apply to the Alder Scholarship. The next scholarship deadline is April 10th.
6. Once accepted to the program, meet all enrollment and financial aid milestones.
7. As a resident, work with the Office of Financial Aid and Billing to meet tuition payments and grant requirements.

OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORTS FROM ALDER

Making it Work Regional Resources are a great way to access other types of support including resources on healthcare, housing, transportation, and childcare. See below for guides to regional government and nonprofit financial assistance programs curated by region.