Financing your Education

Graduate school fees are set by the CSU Board of Trustees each academic year. The current fee structure may be found on the Enrollment Services website. Fall 2025 is $28,098 - $29,790 for the entire SDHE program for California residents (5 semesters at "7 units or more" + 1 semesters of "6 units or less" or 6 semesters at "7 units or more" if also pursuing the Community College Certificate).

There are many options available for financing your graduate education.

CSULB fees are based on students enrolled in either 6 units or less, or enrolling in 7 units or more. Current tuition and fees may be found at the Enrollment Services website. Please reference your program’s website packet for information about the number of units you will take each term.

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office  serves all students and help meet their educational goals. They work with students and their families to meet the full demonstrated financial need for students who satisfy all deadlines and eligibility requirements.

Phone: 562.985.8403
Hours: 9:00AM-5:00PM
Location: Brotman Hall 123

Johnson Fellows Program

The Cynthia S. Johnson Endowment promotes progressive social change in higher education by nurturing a community of scholar practitioners, providing them with opportunities to reflect on their practice, and engage with colleagues who are committed to advancing student access, equity, and success for first-generation students and those from under-resourced communities across a diverse, multicultural landscape. 

The Johnson Fellows Program offers one or more SDHE students an opportunity to earn an annual stipend for their work in University departments with direct student contact, participate in faculty research, receive mentoring from experienced practitioners, and lead the planning and implementation of the annual Cynthia S. Johnson Student Development Forum. Learn more about the Johnson Fellows Program.

The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office is the official hub for scholarship information at CSULB. They collect, organize, and distribute information on hundreds of external scholarships as well as administer university scholarships for the campus. Please visit the Scholarships Office website for information on a range of grant and scholarship opportunities.

The College of Education provides scholarships based on academic merit, financial need, personal statement, and faculty recommendations. Students must have been accepted into a major in the College of Education with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and be enrolled for at least 6 units of coursework in the year they receive the scholarship. Applications are typically available in November and are due in early March for the following academic year. Check the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office website for specific details. 

The CSULB Graduate Center provides a list of funding for research and pre-doctoral study.

The CSULB Graduate Center provides a list of funding for graduate student travel. Typically, students must be presenting their research in order to receive funding.

 

Below are links to resources and information for students who do not hold California Residency about non-resident tuition. 

  • California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption (AB-540) The California Nonresident Tuition Exemption, known as AB 540, exempts some students from paying nonresident tuition and/or permits them to apply for and receive state aid at certain public and private institutions in California. Please visit the Dream Success Center's Understanding AB-540 website for more information on AB-540 and how to apply for this exemption. 
  • Non-Resident Tuition and Fees Visit the CSULB Tuition and Fees website and select the "Non-Resident Tuition" dropdown box to review the additional non-resident tuition fees. 
  • CSULB Residency for Tuition Purposes Visit the CSULB Residency for Tuition Purposes website for information on how residency is determined and steps to establish and declare residency in California.