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 TIAA-CREF Funds does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

This report on Form N-CSR of the College Retirement Equities Fund (the “Fund”) (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 Funds.

Dated: February 19, 2013	By:	/s/ Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.
		Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.
		President and Chief Executive Officer
		(principal executive officer)
Dated: February 19, 2013	By:	/s/ Virginia M. Wilson
		Virginia M. Wilson
		Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
		Officer and Principal Accounting Officer
		(principal financial officer)