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. The approximate cost as of Fall 2025 is $16,365 for the entire Teacher Librarian Credential program for California residents (fees will vary based on two- or three-year tracks).
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 for information about the number of units you will take each term.
The Teacher Librarian Services Advanced Credential program completed as a stand-alone option is not Financial Aid eligible. Please note that our MS in Educational Technology and Media Leadership program is Financial Aid eligible.
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.
There are many organizations sponsoring scholarships for Librarianship students. Beyond those listed on this page, other library groups also sponsor scholarships, which are announced to current students.
- California School Library Association offers these scholarships and awards
- Leadership for Diversity Scholarship recognizes the need for teacher librarians who reflect the diversity of California's multicultural, multilingual population.
- The California Library Association lists information about their scholarships.
- The College of Education and CSULB award close to 150 scholarships to deserving students each year, including some awards specifically granted to Librarianship students (Barbara Ward Memorial Scholarship, the Orange County Library Association, and Friends of the Library at Leisure World).
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.
