An unexpected expense can throw your entire semester off track. If you’re a student at California State University, Northridge and a sudden financial emergency is making it harder to stay enrolled, there’s a grant that may be able to help.
The MataCare Emergency Grant provides eligible CSUN students with $50 to $700 for qualifying unexpected emergencies.
Even better, applications for Fall 2026 are open right now. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so the program could run out of money before the official deadline.
What Is the MataCare Emergency Grant?
MataCare is an emergency grant administered through CSUN’s Financial Aid & Scholarship Department.
It’s designed to help students dealing with an unexpected and immediate financial emergency that could interfere with their ability to continue their education.
This isn’t general financial assistance for regular monthly expenses. The program is intended for sudden circumstances that create an immediate financial need.
How Much Could I Get?
MataCare awards typically range from $50 to $700.
The amount you receive depends on factors including your qualifying emergency, supporting documentation, available funding and your existing financial aid package.
MataCare is a grant, not a loan, so approved assistance doesn’t need to be repaid.
Students can receive only one MataCare Emergency Grant per academic year.
Who Is Eligible?
For Fall 2026, students generally need to meet MataCare’s enrollment and financial aid requirements.
Half-time enrollment means at least:
- 6 units for undergraduate and credential students
- 4 units for graduate and certificate students
Students should also have the appropriate 2026–2027 FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) on file, subject to the program’s current eligibility rules, including provisions for students with an approved AB540 exception.
International students aren’t eligible for MataCare.
CSUN’s current Fall 2026 FAQ also says that Tseng College students enrolled in federally approved programs may be eligible regardless of their financial aid status. If you’re a Tseng College student, confirm that your particular program qualifies before applying.
What Kinds of Emergencies Can Qualify?
MataCare isn’t intended to cover ongoing expenses simply because they’re difficult to afford.
Instead, CSUN looks for an unexpected event that created an immediate financial emergency.
For housing-related requests, examples may include circumstances such as:
- Facing eviction after a sudden loss of income
- Needing emergency relocation after a roommate unexpectedly leaves
- Facing an urgent utility shutoff following a recent financial hardship
- Experiencing a sudden rent increase related to a lease restructuring
- Needing temporary housing after unexpectedly losing your housing
- Being forced to relocate because your housing became unsafe or uninhabitable
Regular rent or utility bills without a recent triggering emergency generally aren’t enough on their own.
Other unexpected emergencies may also be considered depending on the circumstances and documentation.
Documentation Is Important
You’ll need to explain what happened and provide documentation supporting your request.
The documentation should directly relate to the emergency you’re describing. Depending on the situation, that could include bills, notices, estimates or other records showing the unexpected expense or hardship.
For Fall 2026, CSUN instructs applicants to combine their supporting documentation into one PDF.
Don’t skip this step. CSUN says incomplete applications or applications without relevant supporting documentation can be denied.
MataCare decisions are final and can’t be appealed, so it’s especially important to make your initial application complete and accurate.
Your Financial Aid Package Can Affect the Award
Even if your emergency qualifies, the amount you can receive may be affected by your overall financial aid package.
MataCare assistance is coordinated with your existing financial aid. If your aid package can’t accommodate the full amount requested, your grant could be reduced or your request could be denied.
In other words, the $700 maximum isn’t guaranteed.
How Do I Apply?
Apply through CSUN’s current MataCare Emergency Grant application.
You can start with the official MataCare Emergency Grant page, which provides current program information and access to the application.
Be specific when describing:
- What unexpected event occurred
- When it happened
- What expense resulted from it
- How the emergency is affecting your ability to continue your education
Then include documentation that supports what you’ve described.
How Quickly Could I Receive the Money?
If your application is approved, CSUN says MataCare funds are typically processed within 14 business days of approval.
Students enrolled in eRefund can receive their disbursement electronically. Otherwise, payment may be issued by paper check using the address CSUN has on file.
Processing time isn’t the same as guaranteed delivery time, so don’t count on the money arriving on a particular day when dealing with an immediate bill.
What If My Emergency Involves Housing?
MataCare isn’t the only CSUN resource available if you’re struggling with housing or other basic needs.
CSUN’s Basic Needs services, including resources available through HEART, may be able to connect students with additional support for housing insecurity and other essential needs.
It’s worth contacting Basic Needs even if your MataCare request doesn’t cover everything you’re facing.
Is MataCare Open Right Now?
Yes.
The Fall 2026 MataCare Emergency Grant application is currently open.
The official deadline is:
December 10, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
However, don’t treat December 10 as a reason to wait. CSUN says funding is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until available funds are depleted for the semester.
That means the opportunity could effectively end earlier if the available funding runs out.
Relief Recap
If you’re a CSUN student dealing with a sudden financial emergency, the MataCare Emergency Grant could provide $50 to $700 to help you get through it.
This isn’t general assistance for ordinary ongoing expenses. You’ll need to show that you’re dealing with an unexpected and immediate emergency, and documentation is an important part of the application.
Fall 2026 applications are open now, with an official deadline of December 10 at 5:00 p.m., but funding is first-come, first-served.
If you need help, don’t wait until the deadline to apply.
