Cal State Campuses Get $5M Federal Fintech Grant
Students at CSUN and Cal State LA gain access to new financial technology training backed by a five-year federal award.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Financial Aid
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California State University, Northridge and Cal State Los Angeles received a five-year, $5 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to train students in financial technology. CSUN's David Nazarian College of Business and Economics will receive $3 million of the award, with Cal State LA receiving the remaining funds.
Why it matters
The grant aims to build a pipeline of students trained in fintech, a field that combines finance with technology, and the universities plan to help hundreds of students earn a certificate related to it. Both campuses are Hispanic-serving institutions with significant numbers of first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients, so the funding targets students who often face the greatest barriers to advanced training.
The five-year, $5 million federal grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education's Strengthening Institutions Program, with $3 million going to CSUN's David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. Both universities are Hispanic-serving institutions with significant numbers of first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients.
The players
California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
A large public university in the San Fernando Valley and a Hispanic-serving institution serving many first-generation and Pell Grant students.
California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA)
A large public university in East Los Angeles and a Hispanic-serving institution serving many first-generation and Pell Grant students.
U.S. Department of Education
The federal agency that funds the Strengthening Institutions Program, which supports colleges that serve large numbers of low-income and minority students.
The details
The Department of Education awarded the funding through its Strengthening Institutions Program after the universities submitted a joint application in June. CSUN established the Center for Fintech Innovation and Policy in May to anchor the work, and the campus plans a grand opening for its Fintech Center in 2027. Students in the program are expected to earn a fintech-related certificate, with the universities aiming to help hundreds of learners complete it.
Timeline
May: CSUN established the Center for Fintech Innovation and Policy.
June: The universities submitted their grant application.
September: The federal funding was awarded.
November 2, 2026: The universities announced the grant.
2027: CSUN plans a grand opening for its Fintech Center.
Education Landscape
Federal Strengthening Institutions Program grants are designed to expand capacity at colleges that enroll large shares of low-income and minority students, a longstanding goal of federal higher-education policy. This California award shows how such funds are being directed toward workforce-oriented credentials in high-demand fields rather than only traditional degree programs.
Students at CSUN and Cal State LA may see new fintech certificate opportunities as the grant-funded programs develop, with CSUN's Fintech Center slated to open in 2027. Students interested in these programs should ask each campus's financial-aid or admissions office how the certificate is funded and what it costs to enroll.
The takeaway
Federal grants through programs like the Strengthening Institutions Program are one way campuses expand training in growing fields without raising tuition directly. If you are considering a certificate program, ask the financial-aid office whether grant-funded programs are eligible for aid.
Further reading
For background on the aid programs that shape campus budgets like these, explore our Financial Aid coverage.
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