1. Financial Aid at the University of California
Spring 2014

2. UC is affordable! It costs less than you think.
Most families pay less than the full price of attending UC.
50% of undergraduates pay no tuition at all.
Over two-thirds of students receive grants and scholarships, with an average award of around $16,300.
All students should apply for financial aid.
This is the only way to guarantee consideration for every type of aid possible, regardless of income level.
There are lots of ways to finance a UC education.
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3. Financing a UC education is a partnership between the student, his or her parents and UC.
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4. Students
UC expects students to cover part of the cost of attendance through working and borrowing.
Parents
UC expects parents to contribute based on their financial resources and circumstances as reported on the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. UC
UC covers the remaining costs with gift aid from a variety of sources. Each campus determines a student’s total grant eligibility and meets it using federal, state and UC’s own gift aid programs.
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5. UC Cost of Attendance (2013-2014)
Living on campus: $32,400
Average commuter budget: $24,000 w/ $4,500 room and board allowance.
Average off-campus budget: $29,200 w/ $9,700 room and board allowance.
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6. NET COST is the key to comparing different college prices.
Estimates of annual share of UC net cost for:
Single independent students
$10K-$12K
Dependent students in a family of four with one in college:
$9K-$10K for family earning $20K
$11K-$13K for family earning $40K
$14K-$16K for family earning $60K
$19K-$21K for family earning $80K
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7. Our Blue + Gold Opportunity Plan will cover systemwide tuition and fees for students who qualify.
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8. How does it work? How do students apply?
The Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan gives California families who qualify for financial aid the assurance that they won’t have to pay UC’s systemwide tuition and fees if their total income is less than $80,000.
Qualified students must be in their first four years of attendance (first two for transfer students).
How do students apply?
Students must file the FAFSA or the California Dream Act application and Cal Grant GPA Verification form by March 2 of the year they plan to enter UC.
No separate application is needed; students will receive benefits automatically if they qualify.
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9. The Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan provides a minimum amount of grant money students can receive.
Students with sufficient financial need can qualify for even more grants to cover other educational expenses, such as room and board, books and transportation.
UC currently provides grant and scholarship assistance averaging over $16,000 per student to more than half of undergraduates.
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10. Starting in the academic year, California’s Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) program will provide scholarships to undergraduate students with family incomes up to $150,000.
How does it work?
There are no separate forms required to apply for the MCS, but students will need to apply for financial aid every year by March 2.
Students may receive a partial scholarship to help pay UC tuition if they:
Are a California resident and apply for financial aid on time (March 2) and
Have a total family income under $150K per year.
Eligible students will be notified of the actual scholarship amount by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and the UC campus financial aid office.
What should students expect?
The program will phase in over four years.
In , when fully phased in, the maximum scholarship amount will be:
40% of systemwide tuition and fees for students whose family income is up to $100K, and
Between 10% and 40% of systemwide tuition and fees for students whose family income is up to $150K per year (based on a sliding scale).
The maximum award for UC students in will be $1,707 (subject to state funding).
Things to keep in mind
MCS award amounts are determined after a student is awarded any federal Pell grant, Cal Grant and UC need-based grants.
A student will be awarded a scholarship only if these awards, taken together, do not exceed the amount that the student is entitled to under the MCS program.
The final award amount will be based on the number of eligible students statewide and the funding allocated for the program by the State Budget.
The MCS award is a minimum level of grant and scholarship assistance. Many students with financial need will qualify for UC grants or Cal Grants that are worth even more than the amount provided by the MCS program.
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11. Nearly all UC students seeking financial aid will be expected to work or borrow.
The student share is about $9K-$10K for dependent students and about $10K-$12K for independent students.
Exceptions include students with large scholarships (a few athletes), veterans benefits, or foster youth benefits, etc.
UC expects that a student will work fewer than 20 hours per week when enrolled and full-time when not enrolled.
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13. Typical undergraduate at UC
Enrolls full time and graduates in 4.2 years
Works fewer than 20 hours per week
Borrows while enrolled
Obtains employment within 4 months after graduation
Earns an average of $37K with liberal arts BA and $44K for science and math BS upon graduation
Has monthly student loan repayments of around $230/month reflecting loans from UC (based on current interest rates and a 10-year term—lower monthly payments are available)
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14. Financial Assistance for Specific Populations
Former foster youth
Undocumented students
DACA-eligible students
Families with changed circumstances
U.S. military veterans
Student parents
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15. For more information: Paying for UC Ask UC
Ask UC
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