UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 13F

                             FORM 13F COVER PAGE

Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: September 30, 2002

Check here if Amendment [   ]; Amendment Number:
This Amendment (Check only one.):
  [   ] is a restatement.
  [   ] adds new holdings entries.

Institutional Investment Manager Filing this Report:

Name: College Retirement Equities Fund
Address:  730 Third Avenue
          New York, NY 10017-3206

13F File Number:  28-01603

The institutional investment manager filing this report and the person by whom
it is signed hereby represent that the person signing the report is authorized
to submit it, that all information contained herein is true, correct and
complete, and that it is understood that all required items, statements,
schedules, lists, and tables, are considered integral parts of this form.

Person Signing this Report on Behalf of Reporting Manager:

Name:  Richard Schlefer
Title: Senior Managing Director
Phone: (212) 916-4021

Signature, Place and Date of Signing:

/s/ Richard Schlefer            New York, NY                November 8, 2002



Report Type (Check only one.):

[   ] 13F HOLDINGS REPORT. (Check here if all holdings of this reporting manager
       are reported in this report.)
[ X ] 13F NOTICE. (Check here if no holdings of this reporting manager are
       reported in this report, and all holdings are reported by other reporting
       manager(s).)
[   ] 13F COMBINATION REPORT. (Check here if a portion of the holdings for this
       reporting manager are reported in this report and a portion are reported
       by other reporting manager(s).)

List of Other Managers Reporting for this Manager:

No.  13F File Number     Name
01   28-03194            TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC