Scholarships & Financial Aid

Scholarships

Shereen Paff Special Education Scholarship

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Paff endowed this scholarship in memory of their daughter Shereen. Shereen Paff earned a master’s degree in early childhood education in 1971 from San Francisco State University and spent 25 years working and teaching in the field of special education. She specialized in supporting children with visual impairments and special education needs in elementary schools and dedicated her life to helping children.

Basic eligibility includes:

  • CAD-Early Childhood Concentration student; OR Graduate College of Education student with a concentration/major in Early Childhood Education
  • Senior status (90 cumulative units or more); OR current graduate student
  • Enrolled in 12 units (undergraduat); OR 4 units (graduate/credential)
  • Cumulative (overall) GPA 3.5 or above
  • Completed, or in-progress of completing,18 hours of course credit in the Special Education program at SF State; OR have Special Education declared as their minor

We highly encourage all eligible students to apply! The application deadline is October 15th. Awardees of the Paff Scholarship are eligible to receive up to $4,000, which can be used towards their education at SF State! If you would like to apply or know more about this scholarship, please log onto Academic Works. Please note, if you never logged onto Academic Works before there will be a few intake questions you will need to answer first.

Academic Works

San Francisco State University’s official scholarship website is Academic Works. Current SF State students can log on to view and apply to scholarships. Please note, if you never logged onto Academic Works before there will be a few intake questions you will need to answer first.

For resources, tips, and workshops on applying for scholarships, please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website.

Financial Aid

San Francisco State University students can visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website for information and support with eligibility, awarding and disbursement of financial aid.

Other Financial Opportunities

HOPE Crisis Fund
To help students manage unexpected crisis situations, SF State has established the SF State HOPE Crisis Fund (HOPE = Help, Opportunity & Pathway to Empowerment), a fund that assists students with financial support when they need it most. This fund supports students who are undergoing a crisis that leaves them in a situation that is beyond their control.

The San Mateo County Early Learning and Care Teacher Stipend Program
The goal of the program is to support early learning and care (ELC) professionals, including both those who work in center-based and home-based settings, as they advance along career pathways through degree and Child Development Permit attainment, and build their skills through continuous professional growth and development activities. By providing stipends, the ELC Career Development Initiative seeks to incentivize ongoing, intentional professional growth, and to reward professionals who stay in the field of ELC.

Fellowships Office
The Fellowships Office is available to assist undergraduate, graduate students and recent alumni in applying for nationally competitive fellowships, scholarships and grants, as well as system-wide awards offered by the California State University system.

CSME Teacher Fellowship
Each year, CSME supports a cohort of STEM majors and credential students interested in being K-12 teachers. Fellows join a community of aspiring teachers and gain experience in the field. The Fellows receive extra mentoring, special seminars and access to a dedicated study center. Fellows who commit to a minimum number of hours of public service receive stipends. CAD students who wanted to become K-12 teachers have participated!