July 2025

Financial Aid

Middle Class Scholarship Program

Key Information by Segment

  2023-24 Actual 2024-25 Revised 2025-26 Enacted Change from 2024-25
Amount Percent
Recipients     
CSU  193,959
  246,526
  229,713
  -16,813
  -6.8%
UC  83,524
  98,800
  104,500
  5,700
  5.8
CCCa  56 86   77  -9  -10.5
Total  277,539
  345,411
  334,289
 -11,122  -3.2%
Spending (Dollars in Millions)     
CSU  $584
  $709  $679  -$31
  -4.3%
UC  219 292 317  25
  8.4
CCCa —b   —b   —b  —b  31.3
Total $803   $1,002c  $996
  -$6  -0.6%
Average Award     
CSU $3,010   $2,876
  $2,954
  $78  2.7%
UC  2,623   2,958
  3,032
  74  2.5
CCCa 3,778   4,089
  6,003
 1,914 46.8
Notes: Data reflect California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) estimates (as modified in 2025-26 to align with the budget agreement). The 2025-26 Budget Act sets award coverage at 35 percent of a student's remaining financial need. The table shows estimated program costs in 2025-26. Under the budget agreement, the state plans to pay 2025-26 costs using a General Fund loan, with the associated budget appropriation provided in 2026-27. 
a In addition to undergraduate students at UC and CSU, CCC students in bachelor's degree programs are eligible for awards.
b Less than $500,000.
c Data reflects CSAC's estimates as of May Revision.