San Diego Education Fund
The application period for San Diego Education Fund scholarships is open through March 27. Eligible San Diego Unified School District seniors who dream of careers as teachers or STEM professionals are encouraged to apply.
Designed for students from low-income households, our scholarships cover tuition and other costs from the first day of college through graduation.
Along the way, we provide counseling, mentoring and team-building to steer students toward success.
Many San Diego Education Fund scholars are the first in their families to attend college.
Our approach ensures that scholars graduate with the skills and confidence to succeed. While STEM Scholars solve some of our most challenging problems, Teacher Scholars return to San Diego Unified to find meaningful employment and inspire students, sometimes in the very schools they once attended.
March 27 will be here soon! To all eligible students: Apply today!
Are You a High School Senior? Make Sure You Claim your CalKIDS Account!
Graduating seniors are now preparing to finance an important next chapter in their lives: college or career training. Many have $500 to $1,500 in their CalKIDS account already which can be used to support these expenses.
What's Needed to Claim An Account?
Claiming an account and using the money is quick and easy. Just follow these simple steps:
- Locate the high school senior’s 10-digit Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), which may be found on their school’s portal, report cards, or by asking their campus.
- Check eligibility here.
- If eligible, claim your account at www.calkids.org.
Once the account is claimed, money can be used to pay for qualified higher education costs, such as tuition, fees, computers, books, and more. The funds can be used at eligible colleges, universities, vocational schools, community colleges, and apprenticeships.
Click here for CalKIDS resources/flyers
Guaranteed Admission to Cal State University San Marcos for San Diego Unified Graduates Under New Agreement Between University, District
Criteria and Additional Supports Laid Out for Students and Families
High school graduates from the San Diego Unified School District will be guaranteed a spot at Cal State University San Marcos (CSUSM) under a new compact that includes college prep and supports for students and families starting in middle school
Approved by the Board of Education on May 14th, the partnership is designed to provide students the access and resources they need to attend and thrive at CSUSM.
“San Diego Unified is committed to giving every student a path to college, as well as the resources they need to prepare for a successful transition to higher education,” Deputy Superintendent Dr. Fabiola Bagula said. “We are so grateful to Cal State San Marcos for this partnership, which provides our students with access to a world class university.”
Among the requirements for the district’s high school graduates:
- Students must be continually enrolled in the district from at least 9th grade with exceptions for homeless, foster youth, and military dependents.
- Completion of all A-G coursework required through California State University (CSU) system.
- Meet minimum CSU eligibility requirements.
- Graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
San Diego Unified will help prepare students for guaranteed enrollment under the compact with supports that include:
- A Common Core State Standards-aligned mathematics curriculum for grades 6-12.
- Additional high school mathematics electives that prepare students with skills to pass college entrance exams or to meet college course requirements.
- Summer school opportunities for basic skills preparation.
- Increased opportunities for 11th and 12th graders to experience university-level academic work at all high schools.
Additionally, the district will offer expanded intervention and credit-recovery opportunities for students and submit the required Cal Grant GPA Verification by March 2 of their senior year.
Family and community engagement is an integral component of the guaranteed admission partnership, especially for families of first-generation college students.
Beginning in seventh-grade, students, families and staff will receive notifications about the CSUSM partnership and how to meet eligibility criteria. The district will also lay out criteria for identifying and supporting incoming seventh graders who are at risk of not meeting the admission requirements.
For Blessyn Lavender Williams, a student Board of Education member and a senior at Lincoln High School, one of the benefits of this agreement is that it could eliminate some of the anxiety - and mystery - that comes with the college application process.
“Getting into college often feels like a random lottery for so many students. This agreement gives students at every San Diego Unified high school the ability to plan for college without the stress and uncertainty of increasingly competitive college admissions,” Lavender Williams said.
In an effort to help students and their families familiarize themselves with CSUSM, tours and orientations - along with transportation - will be organized by the district.
“The admission pipeline to Cal State San Marcos provides an incredible opportunity to students at every San Diego Unified high school by providing them with a clear path to college,” Board of Education President Shana Hazan said. “This alliance shows the shared commitment of both institutions to enhance and expand educational opportunities that benefit our students, families, and the entire community.”
For its part, CSUSM has pledged to assign a Recruitment and Outreach Officer to San Diego Unified schools who will, among other things, promote college awareness, preparation, and access to CSUSM.
“This partnership with San Diego Unified School District will provide opportunities to transform the lives of more students, their families, and their respective communities,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Viridiana Diaz. “We want students to envision themselves in college early on and to know that CSUSM is a great option given that many of our graduates stay in the area after college to give back to their community.”
The district will begin providing supports to students this summer. The class of 2025 will be eligible to apply for admission to CSUM under the compact.
More than 17,000 students are currently enrolled at CSUSM in 43 undergraduate programs, 24 master’s programs, 11 teaching credentials, and one joint doctoral program.
Students Who Enroll Full-Time at a California Community College Can Qualify for the Student Success Completion Grant (up to $8,000)
The Student Success Completion Grant is a financial aid program that encourages community college students to enroll full-time by offering up to $8,000 in financial aid, so they can work less, focus on classes more, and graduate, begin careers and start earning money as soon as possible. The amount of money students receive is dependent upon the number of classes they take. Students can get up to $2,596 per year for taking at least 12 units per semester, and that amount more than triples to up to $8,000 per year for taking 15 or more units. This means if current students are enrolled in 12 units, they could receive much more financial aid if they take just one more 3-unit class.
The Student Success Completion Grant is an incredible opportunity for current and prospective community college students to secure additional financial aid for being a full-time student. And it does not have to be repaid.
Who is eligible?
Community college students are eligible for the Student Success Completion Grant if they:
- Enroll in 12 or more units per semester (and with 15 or more units they get additional aid)
- Apply for financial aid (such as the FAFSA and CADAA) and are awarded a Cal Grant B or C
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress requirements, including a 2.0 GPA or higher. Contact a local community college financial aid office for more information about eligibility.
How to apply?
Complete the FAFSA or the CADAA and the appropriate community college financial aid office will determine eligibility and automatically award this grant.
Financial aid applications are being accepted now! Be sure to encourage students to complete their application as soon as possible to see if they are eligible to receive the grant. Current and prospective students can visit ICanGoToCollege.com for direct links to the FAFSA or CADAA, and to enroll at their local community college.
Students who have already completed the FAFSA or CADAA for the 2024-25 academic year do not need to re-apply. They will be notified if they are eligible and are awarded the Student Success Completion Grant as part of the financial aid application process.
Learn more about the Student Success Completion Grant and other community college financial aid opportunities and support services by visiting ICanGoToCollege.com.