The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office office provides "financial aid information for prospective undergraduates, continuing undergraduates, grad/professional students, parents, and veterans and their families." The different types of aid includes grants, scholarships, loans, work-study, military tuition assistance, ROTC funds, aid for summer session/study abroad/exchange programs, and more. Consultations are free and available during weekly business hours. The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office website it linked HERE -- we encourage you to explore it as you complete this module.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available for US citizens and eligible non-citizens (i.e. permanent residents). FAFSA is based on the previous year's tax return.
To be considered for financial aid, students must file a FAFSA every year. The U.S. government, California, and San Diego based financial aid are awarded based on FAFSA. The FAFSA should be filed no later than March 2nd to recieve priority funding and a Student Aid Report (SAR).
The California Dream Act is for undocumented students who qualify for the AB540 fee exemption. Like the FAFSA, the Dream Act is based on the previous year's tax returns. To receive priority funding, students should file California Dream Act Application no later than the May 2 extended state deadline.
Students should file the California Dream Act every year. State and UC San Diego financial aid can be awarded based on the Dream Act.
Documents should be submitted by May 21st to receive a Student Aid Report.
Most students get loans, grants, and scholarships because without them, many students would not be able to afford attending university. When helping students in need, make sure to convey the importance of filling out FAFSA or California Dream Act as early as possible so they can get priority funding. Additionally, educate students on the differences in types of aid.
The Financial Aid & Scholarships website has many great resources that we recommend students check out to build their financial literacy and learn how to fund their cost of attendance. The website offers financial aid options for students from various backgrounds - whether they are undocumented, military-affiliated, Hope Scholars, international, students with dependents, or more. They also break down basic terminology related to aid and financial literacy, as well as sharing different options to fund your college experience. The Basic Needs Resource Center offers resources and support as described in further sections. However, students struggling with a complex case related to their financial aid package are highly recommended to drop into their Virtual Zoom hours or visit the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office for a walk-in. It is important for students to persist in advocating for themselves due to the high volume of cases that the office faces.
Loans are self-help aid that typically must be repaid with interest. There are three types of loans: federal subsidized loans, federal unsubsidized loans, and alternative loans. Note that subsidized loans do not accumulate interested until six month after you graduate. However, unsubsidized loans start accumulating interest the moment you take it out. Remember that since loans can affect future credit, students should only borrow what they need.
Grants are gift aid that students do not need to repay. There are three types of grants: federal, state, and university. Grants are awarded to students based on financial need. Examples of grants include The Pell Grant, The Cal Grant, Opportunity Grant, Grant-In-Aid, UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and the Native American Opportunity Grant.
Scholarships are gift aid awarded for either academic merit only, or merit and additional criteria such as major of interest, leadership, or financial need. There are many scholarships available through UCSD that you can find through the FAS website, as well as independent sites such as FastWeb.
Work-study is subsidized employment for eligible undergraduates. You earn this self-help financial aid, so you don't have to repay it. The state or federal government, your hiring department, and the work-study program share the cost of your earnings. Students can find on-campus jobs through Handshake and apply their work-study award to the position.
Cost of attendance is broken down into 2 parts: direct costs and indirect costs. Direct costs will usually include maintenance fees related to university facilities, technology, health services, and room and meal. Indirect costs include internet service, gas, public transportation fees, etc. Paying for the cost of attendance can be done through the methods mentioned above, and this video gives a more in-depth detail on the different forms of financial aid.