Exhibit 12(b)

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

     Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of the College Retirement Equities Fund does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

The annual report on Form N-CSR of the College Retirement Equities Fund (the “Fund”) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 (the “Form N-CSR”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Fund.

Dated: February 23, 2009	By:	/s/ Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.
		Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.
		President and Chief Executive Officer
		(principal executive officer)

Date: February 23, 2009	By:	/s/ Georganne C. Proctor
		Georganne C. Proctor
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
		(principal financial officer)