In these bleak budget times with rising student fees, the University is working harder than ever to ensure that a UC education is affordable for all qualified students. Efforts include:
Project You Can
In late October, UC launched Project You Can, a campaign to raise $1 billion for student scholarships over the next four years. That's double the amount privately donated to scholarships, fellowships and other gift aid in the previous five years.
"Our message today is simple," Yudof told an assembly of students at Sunnyside High School in east Fresno. "If you can earn the grades, you can get into the University of California. And if your family needs help, you can get financial aid.
"We're in the opportunity business, and even in hard fiscal times we are going to be doing everything we can to preserve one of the greatest attributes of the university - its rare combination of world-class education and research and its high proportion of students from low-income families."
Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
The Blue and Gold Plan guarantees that California residents whose families earn less than $70,000 a year and who qualify for financial aid will pay no systemwide fees to attend a UC. At their November meeting, the Regents increased the family income limit to its new, higher level. Students with sufficient financial need also qualify for more grant aid, to further reduce their costs.
Paying for UC videos
To help families navigate the financial aid process, UC has produced a series of videos to explain grants, loans and other tools for financing a UC education. Don't know what a FAFSA is? These videos explain the jargon in simple terms and the many types of financial aid available.