Group of students on campus

Federal funding

Student financial aid and support programs

You emailed. You called. They listened.

In March 2024, Congress passed the annual education funding bill, providing money for the federal student aid and support programs that help make college and graduate school more accessible and affordable.

In a tight budget year—when the House of Representatives was considering eliminating funding for programs such as Federal Work-Study—our advocacy helped ensure that there weren’t any cuts for the:

  • 77,000+ UC students who are Pell Grant recipients.

  • 17,800+ UC students who receive Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.

  • 9,400+ UC students who participate in the Federal Work-Study program.

  • Colleges and universities—including UC—that receive federal funding to help offset the cost of reliable and affordable on-campus child-care services through the Child Care Access Means Parents in School program.

Looking to the future, we know we'll need to continue to advocate for these programs – but for now, knowing that in the next school year, students at UC and across the country won't see the anticipated funding cuts to these student aid and support programs in part because of our work is a win we can all celebrate.

Federal Partnership

Every day UC creates groundbreaking research, develops new health care solutions, and opens doors for students. None of it would be possible without federal funding.

See how we work together

California Partnership

When UC and California come together, we make our communities better. Public higher education is key to California’s prosperity.

Find out why