Financial Aid
The UCSC Financial Aid and Scholarships Office is committed to helping admitted students attend and graduate from UCSC regardless of any economic circumstances.
Financial aid helps students and their families pay for college by covering higher education expenses, such as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. There are several types of financial aid: grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal or private loans. Students must meet eligibility requirements to apply and receive financial aid. The video below will provide you with information on the costs of attending UCSC, how to apply for financial aid, and the types of aid available to pay for college. Additional financial aid video resources are available to assist with the how-to and next steps of the financial aid process.
Note: Some or all instruction for all or part of the Academic Year may be delivered remotely. Tuition and fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event that instruction occurs remotely for any part of the Academic Year. Figures for tuition and fees represent currently approved amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California as determined to be necessary or appropriate. Final approved tuition and fee levels may differ from the amounts presented.
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The number one question we get is how do I pay for college? This video will provide you with information on the costs to attend UCSC, how to apply for financial aid, and types of aid available to pay for college.
How do I pay for college? There are several ways including financial aid and family support. Financial aid is funding available through state, federal, university & private sources. Family support includes family gifts, personal savings, and college savings accounts.
How much does it cost to attend UCSC? College expenses include direct and indirect costs. These expenses are based on actual costs and survey data. Direct costs are the charges billed to the student account. These include Tuition & Fees, On-Campus Housing and Health Insurance if a waiver is not submitted or approved. Indirect Costs vary and are not charged to the student account. These include Books & Supplies, Transportation, and Personal Expenses.
How do I apply for Financial Aid? To be considered for financial aid, students must complete their FAFSA or Dream Application by March 2nd. To apply or for information on the eligibility requirements visit the URLs on the screen. Some application tips to consider: Apply early! Applications become available early October for the upcoming academic year.
Re-apply every year Submit your application by March 2 for priority consideration. Include the UC Santa Cruz Code: 001321. Select the correct aid year on your financial aid application when applying. Submit any requested financial aid documents to our office by June 2 for new and continuing students, and July 1 for transfer students. Check your myUCSC “To-Do List” on your student portal to make sure you submit any requests or clear any FAFSA issues. We recommend using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to update your FAFSA with your actual tax numbers. You may need to verify your tax information with an IRS Tax Transcript if you are eligible, but do not use the data retrieval tool.
How much aid will I receive? We design a financial aid offer to meet your financial needs. Many students receive a financial aid offer composed of grants and loans or loans only depending on your expected family contribution. To calculate your eligibility for need-based aid, we use the following formula: you take your cost to attend the university and you subtract your expected family contribution and any other resources such as scholarships to find your financial aid need.
What are the different types of financial aid? There is Gift Aid and Self-Help aid. Gift aid includes grants, scholarships, and other benefits such as veteran benefits.These do not need to be repaid. Self-Help Aid includes loans and work study.
These must be repaid or earned. A list of all financial aid programs available can found on our website by clicking on the Types of Aid drop down menu.
Thank you for watching. For more information visit our website at: https://financialaid.ucsc.edu/index.html
