Certain criteria must be met for a student to be accepted as an official MESA Scholar and to receive program benefits.

MESA Scholars must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Must not hold a Bachelor’s degree in any field, AND
• Must declare as their official major a STEM field that requires calculus, AND
• Must intend to transfer to a four-year institution, like a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) school, AND
• Must complete an educational plan (SEP) (before or after joining MESA), AND
• Must participate in our MESA Program Activities and signs the student contract.

MESA Scholars must meet ONE of the following educational criteria:

• Be a first-generation student (meaning neither of your parents have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, in any subject or from any country), OR
• Have attended a high school with low or very low graduation and math performance rates, as identified by the California School Dashboard.

MESA Scholars must meet ONE of the following financial criteria:

• Receive the California Promise Grant (formerly Board of Governors fee waiver), a federal Pell Grant, a Cal Grant Award, state aid through the California Dream Act Application, Federal Work Study, CalFresh, GI Bill benefits, or other need-based, subsidized Financial Aid, OR
• Participant in EOPS, CARE, NextUp, or CalWORKs, OR
• Live with a household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, OR
• Be a recipient of TANF (or have a parent or guardian who receives TANF).

How do I apply to become a MESA Scholar?

Complete the Moorpark College MESA Program Interest Form. A MESA Program representative will follow up with more information and next steps in the consideration process.