Financial Aid

We want every student we admit to be able to attend, regardless of their financial circumstances. Nearly two-thirds of our undergraduates receive some financial assistance — including grants, loans, work study and scholarships — with an average award of around $14,000.

Grants

Because they don't have to be repaid, grants directly lower the cost of UC for many undergraduates. Our students receive grant awards through many programs:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Cal Grant
• UC Grants

The Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan establishes a minimum amount of support for eligible students. Under the plan, UC will ensure your systemwide fees are covered by scholarships or grants for four years (two years if you're a transfer student) if you're a California resident with financial need and your family's income is less than $70,000 a year. Many students qualify for additional grant aid to help pay for books, housing and transportation.

Like most colleges and universities throughout the country, we use a federal formula to award grants. The calculation is based on financial information you and your parents supply when you apply for aid (see How to Apply for Aid). Our goal is to provide enough grant money so you have to work only part-time while you're in school and you can keep loans within reasonable limits.

Net Cost=Your Share

The expenses left over after your grants are taken into account is your net cost — the portion you and your parents have to pay. Some families use a combination of current earnings and savings to cover their share. For many families, though, the combination of savings and earnings isn't enough to cover all their net costs. In these cases, families can avail themselves of student and parent educational loans. The chart below illustrates how four California-resident students with different financial resources met their expenses.

Loans

Several loan programs are available to help you and your parents pay for the portion of your expenses that isn't covered by grants. Education loans are available to families at all income levels. To get them, you have to apply for financial aid — even if you don't think you'll qualify for grants.

The best loans are from federal programs that charge competitive interest rates and delay the start of repayment until six months after you stop attending school. Students at all income levels can borrow from the unsubsidized loan program, and there is a federal loan program (PLUS) for parents.

Student loans are usually limited to amounts that make repayment manageable. The average debt of a UC undergraduate is about $15,000 at graduation, with an average monthly payment of about $200 — less than most car payments.

Employment

Many students put earnings from summer jobs toward their education costs. In addition, part-time jobs are available on and off campus during the school year. Most UC students earn between $8 and $12 an hour.

Your financial aid package may include work study. Federal work-study funds help employers pay for part of the salaries for student workers, but jobs are available whether or not you are awarded any work-study funds.

Scholarships

In addition to grants, we offer a number of scholarships. Some are based on need; others are honorary. Scholarships can contribute significantly to reducing the costs of attending UC. If you are a prospective undergraduate student, read more about available scholarships and their requirements and application procedures before you apply for admission.