Applying for Financial Aid at a UC

Here’s a tip not everyone follows and they should:  Apply for financial aid, even if you don’t think you qualify.

There are lots of options out there. The UC financial aid program takes the pressure off students paying for their studies, and there’s plenty of help available for students from all walks of life.

The first step is to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). The priority deadline is March 2. Students should apply for financial aid as it’s the only way to guarantee they’ll be considered for every type of aid possible, regardless of income level. More than half of UC undergraduates pay no tuition and 71 percent receive grants and scholarships, and it all starts with submitting the FAFSA or CADAA.

Students and families may have questions about the cost of attendance. UC’s new Tuition Stability Plan helps students and families budget for a UC education by keeping systemwide tuition and fees stable and predictable and providing new resources for financial aid.

UC’s Blue and Gold Opportunity Program fully covers systemwide tuition and fees for California residents whose total family income is less than $80,000 a year. The Middle Class Scholarship Program will cover up to 40 percent of systemwide tuition and fees for California residents whose total family income is less than $191,000 per year. The maximum scholarship amount will vary depending on family income, assets, and other financial aid awards.

Each campus provides net price calculators to help students and families estimate the amounts and types of financial aid they might receive. While the values produced in these calculators are not the actual amount students may receive, they are helpful.

For information, tips, resources, and helpful links on cost of attendance, applying for financial aid, how aid works, and more ,consider spending time exploring the UC Tuition and Financial Aid website.