California State University, Northridge
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Over the last five years, CSUN has awarded over $1.3 billion in grants and scholarships to students; the majority of student recipients are Latinx, and on average, 65% of Latinx students received Pell grants annually. CSUN's financial support strategy invests in the success of Latinx students through various forms of aid, including federal and state financial aid, scholarships, and other forms of direct and indirect financial support. In the 2021-2022 academic year alone, CSUN awarded over $266 million in grant and scholarship aid.

CSUN’s strategic priority to increase the retention and graduation of Latinx students and eliminate financial and administrative barriers has increased access to student support. In 2021, at the height of the global pandemic, CSUN provided 45,061 students $56,739,864 in direct emergency financial aid grants, with Latinx students representing 60% of these recipients. These funds were critical in providing resources to enable students to persist. The funding awarded to students cleared existing past-due registration balances and supported students financially. A policy shift in CSUN’s strategy was to increase its flexibility and payment options thresholds, extending the criteria for protecting the enrollment of students seeking financial assistance. These measures allow students to secure funding through state and scholarship funds without interrupting their enrollment and registration.

Undocumented students with California Dream Act (AB540) were also recipients of aid support during the pandemic.

In 2016, CSUN created the MataCare grant to provide students funding when faced with an emergency and financial hardship. This financial support is awarded to students throughout the year, and over the last five years, 53% of the recipients have been Latinx students.

Over the last 36 years the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at CSUN has provided a Transitional Program experience to new incoming EOP first time freshmen and first time transfer students which research suggest is essential for academic success. The Transitional Programs include a: Residential Bridge, Commuter Bridge, FreshStart and Transfer Bridge. All EOP first time freshmen are required to do a Transitional Program in preparation for their first fall semester. These programs are designed to assist students with their acclimation to the university environment. The program's goals are to give students a head start toward a successful college experience and the opportunity to begin building community with other students. All of the Bridge programs, include an intense summer academic experience with academic credit. These programs are all free of charge to the student and; completing a summer Transitional Program will satisfy the CSU and campus Early Start requirements. These programs do then in fact minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students.

Lastly, CSUN and its auxiliary organizations (Associated Students, University Student Union, and The University Corporation) serve as the largest employer of students in the San Fernando Valley. In this academic year alone, CSUN and its auxiliary organizations employed 2,529 students, 42% of whom were Latinx - the largest ethnic student group employed on campus. With the federal halt of new DACA applications, CSUN has also worked to create leadership experience programs to support undocumented students who do not have work authorization but can gain meaningful skills and prepare them for post-graduation success; 83% of CSUN undocumented students are Latinx.

As part of the California State University (CSU) system, low-income students are eligible for an application fee waiver, the State University Grant (SUG) and Cal Grant programs. The SUG and Cal Grant programs offer state-based financial aid which are targeted specifically to low-income students for the purpose of offsetting the cost of tuition. Additionally, students enrolled in the EOP and Student Support Services programs are eligible to receive an EOP Grant and Student Support Services grant. The CSU’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) provides admission, academic and financial support services to historically underserved students throughout California.

In accordance with the guidelines set by the California State University (CSU) System, the Student Academic Services Outreach Program's (SASOP) mission is to increase college enrollment of students who are disadvantaged due to economic, educational and/or environmental backgrounds

CSU campuses have the Federal Work-Study Program, which provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for expenses related to their education. The program encourages community service work and work related to your course of study. 

Most CSU campuses have dedicated CalFresh Outreach programs to help students with the application process to find out if they qualify for this benefit.

The State University Grant (SUG) program provides need-based awards to eligible undergraduate and graduate/post baccalaureate students who are California residents or otherwise determined as eligible, such as AB 540-eligible students. When you apply for financial aid via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application (CADA) you are considered for a SUG by your campus.

Starting as a campus-community collaboration between CSUN and Canoga Park High School in 2017- 2018, Bridge to the Future (B2F) provides a tuition-free, four-year CSUN education to 25 Canoga Park High School students each year. To date, CSUN has provided support to 158 students. An initial needs assessment indicated that Canoga Park High School (85% Latinx students and 6 miles away from campus), had lower rates of four-year college enrollment and lower enrollment at CSUN. The B2F program supports students holistically. Bilingual tutoring and mentoring are also provided to best support students who are native Spanish speakers, and B2F develops its programming in conversation with Scholars, focusing on community projects grounded in their community that resonate with cultural history. B2F participants are primarily Latinx (84%) and serve in various on-campus roles and commitments.

As a program dedicated to supporting the enrollment and retention of students by providing holistic support and financial assistance, B2F has awarded $728,226 in tuition scholarship funding to 127 B2F participants since 2017. These awards are provided to students who did not receive a Cal Grant to cover the cost of tuition and fees. Instead, students are awarded a State University Grant or a B2F-specific tuition grant. In addition, the B2F has an annual operating budget of $212,311 to support staffing and programmatic efforts, which are critical for the students’ success. The B2F program also employs 10 B2F Scholars as Peer Tutors, selected because they are both academically successful and advanced in their degree progress. B2F Tutors are 100% Latinx. In 2022-2023, CSUN provided services to 111 B2F scholars, 83.8% identified as Latinx and 83% as first-generation college students

CSU, Northridge is host to the Educational Opportunity Program which is a California legislated program designed to provide access opportunities and an array of holistic academic support services to historically financially needy, underserved and underrepresented populations. EOP provides for a modest annual grant of $1000 until the student graduates or five years whichever is first. Only students who file a FASFA or CADAA and have an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of $1500 or less are eligible for admission to EOP. This program grant is intended to make the CSU campus accessible and affordable to a limited (about 500 per year) number low income students. The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) serves as a primary vehicle for the CSU in increasing the access, academic excellence and retention of California’s historically underserved students. The program provides admission, academic, and financial assistance to EOP-eligible undergraduate students. The CSU’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) provides admission, academic and financial support services to historically underserved students throughout California.

Over the last five years, CSUN has enrolled between 1,375 (2018) and 1,151 (2022) undocumented students classified as AB540, 83% identifying as Latinx. CSUN undocumented students are provided with holistic resources and financial support to help them meet their needs. In 2015, CSUN established The DREAM Center to create community, provide academic and educational workshops, and access to free immigration legal services through off-campus partner CARECEN. The Center also advises students in completing California Dream Act applications, residency forms, and graduate school applications. It helps students navigate campus resources, including the Dreamers Scholarship, Angel Fund (funding DACA Renewals, Advanced Parole, Family Petition, Adjustment of Status, Work-Authorization Replacement, and Asylum and Refugee Work-Authorization Renewal) and provides information on the Dreamers Loan. This year, a DREAM Center endowment was created to fund undocumented student scholarships and an Undocumented Student Emergency grant to support students in need.

As a leader in supporting undocumented students with one of the largest undocumented student populations in the CSU, CSUN continues to lead in supporting undocumented students financially. Over the last five years, the CSUN Dreamers Scholarship has awarded $4.99 million to 918 undocumented students (88% Latinx). For students not otherwise eligible for Title IV federal funding, the Dreamers Scholarship helps them pay for campus fees, books, supplies, and housing. Two years ago, the Angel Fund was also created to support undocumented students. To date, 130 students (96% are Latinx) have been provided a total of $70,000 in funding. CARECEN lawyers, who deliver community-based immigration legal services, also supported students in completing their applications. CSUN has also provided $971,055 to students (89% Latinx) as part of the Dreamers Loan. Undocumented students with AB540 status also pay in-state tuition and are eligible to receive Cal Grant Funding.

CSUN also has programs for other types of non-traditional students, including parents and veterans. There is the Parent Scholar Resources and the Veterans Resource Center. 

-https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/student-services/eop/Pages/questions-about-eop.aspx

-https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/work-study

-https://www2.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/student-success/basic-needs-initiative/Pages/calfresh-and-the-csu.aspx

-https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/paying-for-college/financial-aid/types/Pages/state-university-grant-program.aspx