Middle Class Scholarship — California Student Aid Commission

The Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) is another California Student Aid Commission program, but it works differently from a fixed-dollar award: it calculates tuition assistance after accounting for other financial resources for eligible students. It is aimed at undergraduates—including certain students in bachelor’s programs at community colleges—attending UC, CSU or a participating institution. Eligibility considers family income and assets, academic standing and cost of attendance; meeting an income figure quoted in an old article is not enough.

To be considered, students submit the FAFSA or CADAA and complete the steps required by their campus. CSAC says the agency determines awards from financial and school information, and the amount can vary based on other grants and scholarships and the approved state budget. A percentage quoted in older materials should not automatically be applied to 2026–27 or 2027–28. WebGrants displays notices, while the financial-aid office at UC, CSU or the participating college can explain an individual aid package.

The official CSAC page is the place to check requirements and application links; student support is available at (888) 224-7268. Students who cannot use the FAFSA but meet California criteria can review CADAA, which opens access to certain state and institutional aid but is not the federal application. The 2026–27 priority date has passed, including the extension noted for some community-college students; for the next cycle, wait for the official calendar and avoid private intermediaries that promise a guaranteed award.