Applying for financial aid seems like a daunting task, but the Office of Financial Aid is here to help.
Eligibility for Aid
The amount of financial aid you can receive depends on several factors, which can include things like your level of enrollment, whether you live on- or off-campus, and if you have financial need.
The FAFSA
The application process for financial aid begins with the submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA helps ֱ determine a student’s eligibility for grants and loans by asking for income and asset information for the student, their parents or spouse (if applicable).
- Create a FSA ID
If you're new to FAFSA, you will first need to . The FSA ID is used to login to the FAFSA web portal, as well as all other federal student aid websites. - Complete the FAFSA
For the 2024/25 academic year, students can now submit their FAFSA. The FAFSA must be submitted before April 2 in order for students to be eligible for several types of financial aid. You will complete this form through the or the myStudentAid app. Download the app in the Apple or Google app store. ֱ's school code is 001196.
Please note — you should never pay a fee to file a FAFSA or pay someone to submit a FAFSA on your behalf. There are no costs associated with filing a FAFSA.
California Dream Act
Much like the FAFSA, the helps ֱ determine a student’s eligibility for grants and loans by asking for income and asset information for the student, their parents or spouse (if applicable).
Important Dates
| Dec. 1 | FAFSA and CA Dream Act submission for the 2025/26 academic year begins. |
| Mar. 2 | For the 2025/26 academic year only: ֱ's FAFSA priority deadline. Cal-Grant and California Dream Act Application deadline. |
Applying for Aid
After submitting the FAFSA or CA Dream Act, you will receive a College Financing Plan, this will be sent via email and details the amount of financial aid for which you are eligible. Once you have received your college financing plan, you will need to follow these steps:
- Visit your which can be found in the College Financing Plan email.
- Log into your (make sure you are in the correct award year).
- Check for missing documents under the “Documents and Messages" tab.
- Complete missing documents and upload to your .
- If you are taking out loans, please Accept or Decline them. You can find loan information under the “Accept Awards” tab.
- If you are borrowing federal loans, please complete your and .
Graduate Federal Unsubsidized Loans
Most graduate students are eligible for up to $20,500 each academic year in Federal Unsubsidized Loans and are eligible to apply for additional loans if needed. To apply, please complete the or .
Learn more about specific loan types on the Graduate Loans page.
Financial Aid Resources
The following resources can help you through the financial aid process:
Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Cal Grant recipients can manage their Cal Grant profile here.
Students who are undocumented, DACA, or have U Visa or Temporary Protected Status can apply for aid from the State of California.
Estimate your net cost to attend ֱ University of California.
Complete documents and learn more about federal student aid programs.
Securely upload requested aid documents and forms.
The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education's central database for federal student loans.
