Fees and Financial Aid for Teaching Credential

Fees and Financial Aid

Overview

The teaching credential/M.A. program can be completed in less than two years. The teaching credential program begins in late July/early August and ends in June (Summer, Fall, Winter, & Spring quarters). Upon earning a teaching credential, students may choose to complete the M.A. in two additional part-time quarters (Fall and Winter).

Program Cost

Tuition

Visit UC Davis Current Fees and Tuition and select the Education Credential Program for California Resident (or International Student if appropriate) for a breakdown of the tuition.

Budget

Visit Financial Aid Cost of Attendance by Program to view the total budget which includes potential expenses of tuition, books, mileage, health insurance and living expenses. Actual expenses may be less, depending on your personal circumstances. One example is in the area of Health Insurance which has an option to be waived if you have comparable coverage. Visit UC Health and Counseling Services.

Useful Resource

The Council of Graduate Schools and TIAA have joined to produce the Grad$ense website, a free financial literacy website for potential and actual graduate students. Students can learn about the pros and cons of graduate school, explore reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, look into the cost and value of a graduate degree, understand how to manage their money, and weigh considerations following a graduate degree.

Financial Aid

By early April each year, our Financial Aid office provides each admitted student with a personalized financial aid package, which may include grants, scholarships and offered loans.

Scholarships/Grants

The School of Education offers a number of scholarships and grants to well-prepared credential applicants who apply by January 15th. Master’s year funding is awarded at the end of the credential year.

Veterans Education Benefits

If you qualify for VA benefits such as tuition fee waivers or housing allowances, please contact the VA Center at vaoffice@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-2020. Email credentialanalyst@ucdavis.edu for general guidance.

Cal Grant

Undergraduate Cal Grant A and B recipients who plan to enroll in a teaching credential program (TCP) after they receive their bachelor’s degree may be eligible to renew their Cal Grant award for an additional year. You will need to work with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to verify eligibility and submit the G-44 Form (Request for Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program Benefits) to request benefits. For assistance, please contact CSAC at (888)224-7268. Be sure to review the Financial Aid and Scholarships website regarding specifics on filling out the G-44 Form

Golden State Teacher Grant

The Golden State Teacher Grant Program (GSTG) awards up to $10,000 to students currently enrolled in a professional preparation program approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and working towards earning their preliminary teaching credential. Visit the Golden State Teacher Grant Program website or email goldenstateteachers@csac.ca.gov for information.

Loans

There are a variety of loan options to help you fund your education. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) allows the university to determine what types of financial aid you qualify for.

  • When completing your financial aid application, in section “Plans and Educational Background” under degree or certificate, select Grad/Professional program – not teacher credential.
  • In the “Dependency” section make sure to mark yes for Grad/Professional.
  • The UC Davis school code is 001313.

Financial Aid Office Contact Information

Additional information is available at the Apply for Financial Aid webpage. If you have any questions, please feel free to send us a message through Contact an Expert, or contact our Financial Aid Representative Vince Ramos at vramos@ucdavis.edu. For general financial aid information and to answer your questions regarding your financial aid awards, please visit the Office of Financial Aid.

Application Fee Fellowship

The Teacher Education Program understands that the graduate application fee can present a financial barrier for many prospective students. For the 2026–2027 academic year, we are offering an Application Fee Fellowship (AFF), which provides a fee waiver for the Credential/MA Program application during this year’s admission cycle. The Application Fee Fellowship application can be found here.

We are unable to reimburse applicants who choose to submit their online application and pay the application fee on their own.

Priority consideration will be given to:

  • California residents
  • Applicants with demonstrated financial need
  • Applicants with a strong interest in addressing educational access and opportunity
  • Applicants with substantial experience in a variety of educational settings

We especially encourage applications from individuals who are first-generation graduate students and/or interested in pursuing a Bilingual Authorization. Receiving an Application Fee Fellowship has no impact on admissions decisions and does not influence whether or not you are accepted into the Credential/MA Program.

Applications for the Application Fee Fellowship will be accepted on a rolling basis until March 1. Applications will be reviewed after each of the following dates:

  • December 8 
  • February 1
  • March 1 

If you have questions about the Application Fee Fellowship, contact credentialanalyst@ucdavis.edu.

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