Indicator 3.2Net cost of attendance by income, Universitywide, 1999-2000 to 2009-10
The net cost of attending UC has increased for many students since 1999-2000, yet the net cost of attendance for students from low-income families (families earning less than $50,000 annually), has actually declined since 2004-05.
A general measure of the University's affordability is its average net cost of attendance. This represents the actual cost of attending the University for undergraduates after taking into account scholarships and grants.
Scholarships and grants reduce the net cost of attending UC for students at all income levels, but especially for students from low- and middle-income families and students who, under federal guidelines, are considered to be financially independent from their parents.
The availability of scholarships, grants, student financial aid and the Blue and Gold program has mitigated the impacts of cost increases on students from families earning below $99,000.
Since 2004-05, net cost for students with family incomes below $50,000 has fallen. Net cost for students with family incomes between $50,000 and $99,000 has leveled off.
Between 1999-2000 and 2009-10, increases to gift aid kept the average increase in inflation-adjusted net cost for low-income students to about $1,200, compared to about $6,500 for students in the highest income category. The average increase in inflation-adjusted net cost for all UC undergraduate students was approximately $4,300 during this time period.
Data provided by UC Institutional Research Unit. Source: UC Corporate Student System. Net cost is defined as each student's full cost of attendance less any grants, scholarships, and fee exemptions. Students were assigned to constant-dollar parent income categories based on the income they reported on either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the UC Application for Undergraduate Admission, or imputed based on the parents' demographic profile. Net costs and incomes are expressed in constant 2009 dollars. Inflationary adjustments relied on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage-earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).