Financial Support

Financial Aid Office 2106 Student Services Building

• (951) 827-3878; finaid@ucr.edu; www.finaid.ucr.edu

The Financial Aid Office assists students with meeting educational expenses that cannot be met from personal resources. To obtain financial aid students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the Financial Aid Office yearly. FAFSAs are available online beginning January 1 for the upcoming academic year at www.fafsa.ed.gov. See chart for deadlines for financial aid.

New Students All Receiving Federal Other Days Financial Aid Students

Percentage Refunded Before first day of instruction 100 100 1st day of instruction 100 100 2-7 90 90 8-14 80 50 15-18 70 50 19-21 70 25 22-28 60 25 29-35 50 25 36-42 40 0 43 or more 0 0 34 / Finances and Registration

Students applying for other grants, loans, and work-study should apply as early as possible. Applications are accepted year-round, with awards to late applicants based on fund availability. Funding cannot be guaranteed to students whose FAFSAs are submitted after March 2.

An analysis of the FAFSA is required to determine the amount that a student’s parents, the student, and/or the student’s spouse can be expected to contribute toward the cost of the student’s education. The university expects the student and parent (if the student is dependent), or spouse (if the student is married), to contribute toward the educational costs to every extent possible. In addition to filing the FAFSA, applicants for financial aid may also be required to submit supporting materials (such as income tax returns) that the Financial Aid Office uses to determine each student’s financial need. All undergraduate financial aid applicants must also apply for California State Grants (Cal Grant A and/or B) by completing the FAFSA and GPA Verification Form and submitting them by the March 2 filing deadline. If the California Student Aid Commission determines that a student is ineligible for a Cal Grant A or B award, the grant may be replaced with a Federal Direct Stafford Loan in the financial aid package from UCR.

International students are expected to have the necessary funds to cover their entire period of study. The Financial Aid Office does not have funds available to offer assistance to international students. Assistance is not available to students on “limited” status or to those enrolled in UCR Extension. An exception is made for students admitted on “limited” status who must take required prerequisite course work for full admission into the Graduate Division. Students who fall into this category must submit documentation from the Graduate Admissions Office confirming that they are taking prerequisite course work for graduate admission. For information on graduate student support, see Financial Support under Graduate Studies in this catalog.

Students who receive financial aid may receive funds from one or more of the following sources: grants, loans, employment, and scholarships. These sources are described briefly in the following sections; more detailed information regarding eligibility criteria, fund disbursement rules, and enrollment requirements can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office and on the financial aid website at www.finaid.ucr.edu.

The Federal Pell Grant program is federally funded and may provide awards up to a maximum of $5,550 for the academic year. To be eligible, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, must be enrolled as an undergraduate, and must not have previously received a bachelor’s degree. An exception is available for eligible students enrolled in the teaching credential program in the Graduate School of Education. Students apply for the Pell Grant on the FAFSA.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants are federally funded, need-based grants available only to U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizen undergraduate students who have not previously received a bachelor’s degree. The grants range from $100 to $4,000 per year. The State of California–Cal Grant A and B Program The Cal Grant A program provides awards ranging from $100 to $11,124 for the academic year. To be eligible, new applicants must be California residents. Awards are based on academic achievement and financial need. The Cal Grant B program provides awards ranging from $100 to $12,675. To be eligible, appli- cants must be California residents and must demonstrate financial need. The awards are for students from disadvantaged families.

UCR Grant awards are offered to undergraduates with the greatest financial need whenever guidelines and funding levels permit.

Normally, one or more types of loans are included in each combination of aid offered to a student. Borrowers must be aware of their repayment obligations.

Federal Direct Stafford Loans are available to both undergraduate and graduate students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. The maximum amount that may be borrowed under this program is $3500 per year for students in their first year of undergraduate study (0–44 quarter units), $4,500 per year for the second year of undergraduate study (45–89 quarter units), and $5,500 per year after reaching junior status (90 or more quarter units), up to an aggregate undergraduate maximum of $23,000. Graduate students may borrow up to $8,500 per year up to an aggregate maximum of $65,500 for combined undergraduate and graduate borrowing. Teaching credential students are limited to the $5,500 annual maximum for fifth year undergraduate students according to federal regulations.

In addition to these amounts, under the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program dependent students may borrow up to $2,000 per year, and independent students may borrow $6,000 for the first or second year of undergraduate study (0–89 quarter units), or $7,000 for the third or fourth year of undergraduate study (90 or more quarter units), or $7000 for teaching credential study, and $12,000 for graduate study. Interest on a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan accrues immediately and must be paid while in school or added back to the principal amount borrowed.

Dependent undergraduate students may borrow an aggregate of $31,000 in combined Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, of which no more than $23,000 can be from Subsidized Stafford Loans. Independent undergraduate and teaching credential students may borrow an aggregate of $57,500 in combined Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford loans of which no more than $23,000 can be from Subsidized Stafford Loans, and graduate students may borrow a combined aggregate maximum of $138,500, including undergraduate borrowing, of which no more than $65,500 can be from Subsidized Stafford Loans.

An origination fee of 1.5% percent is deducted from the amount of the loan prior to disbursement. The interest rate for new loans is a fixed rate of 3.4% on Subsidized Stafford Loans and 6.8% on Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. Minimum monthly repayment of $50 per month begins 6 months after students cease to be enrolled at least half-time. Borrowers can choose a repayment plan based on their financial circumstances with repayment periods ranging from up to 10 years for standard fixed monthly repayment, to up to a period of 12 to 30 years under alternate repayment options. Information on repayment plans is available at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/RepayCalc/dlindex2.html.

Federal Perkins Loans are available to undergraduate students. These loans are awarded to students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. The amount a student may borrow is determined by financial need but may not exceed $4,000 per year and $20,000 for undergraduates. Repayment may be extended over a 10-year period. Interest is 5 percent on the unpaid balance, beginning 6 months after students cease to be enrolled at least half-time.

University Loans A limited number of University Loans are available to undergraduate students for up to $5,500. Awards are made subject to the availability of funds. The amount a student may borrow is determined by financial need. Interest is 5 percent on the unpaid balance; repayment

Students submit FAFSA March 2 for the upcoming year New Cal Grant applicants March 2 submit GPA Verification Form to California Aid Commission Scholarships Continuing undergraduates submit March 1 UCR Continuing Student Undergraduate Scholarship Application Entering students apply with the November 30 Application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarships Finances and Registration / 35 may be made over a period of not more than 10 years, beginning 6 months after the date on which the borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. Co-signatures are required.

Emergency Student Loan Fund In addition to the long-term loans from financial aid programs mentioned above, UCR has an emergency student loan fund. This loan, which does not bear interest, is of a short-term nature to cover emergency needs of up to $500. Students may borrow up to three times a year.

Federal Work-Study is awarded to students with demonstrated financial need. Work-study awards enable students to reduce the amount of loan indebtedness they may incur while attending the university.

Various work opportunities are available through the UCR Career Center, online at www.careers.ucr.edu, in either on-campus or off-campus jobs at nonprofit and community services agencies.

Scholarship awards are based on a student’s academic achievements and, except for honorary scholarships, on need. Scholarships are considered gift assistance.

Most scholarships available through the Financial Aid Office are based on financial need. Other undergraduate scholarships are offered to entering and continuing undergraduates who show evidence of high scholastic attainment. Applicants must meet all priority deadlines for consideration. Non-need based scholarship awards, including Alumni Scholarships, are available to undergraduate students. Financial need is not required. Awards range from $100 to $5,000.

Chancellor’s Scholarship, an award offered to incoming freshmen with a distinguished high school academic record. The scholarship provides an honorarium applied toward student fees. More information regarding the terms of the scholarship award and the amount of the honorarium are available on the Chancellor's Scholarship Terms that the recipient accepts on MyUCR when offered this award.

Regents Scholarship, one of the highest honors conferred upon UC students, is awarded on the basis of academic excellence and exceptional promise, without reference to financial need. Students are eligible upon graduation from high school. The appointments run for four years for students entering from high school. Regents Scholars receive an honorarium each year of appointment.

Chancellor’s Performance Awards Information on Chancellor’s Performance Awards may be obtained from the departments of Art, Creative Writing, Dance, Music, and Theatre.

Engineering Scholarships Information on scholarships in Engineering may be obtained from the Bourns College of Engineering Student Affairs Office.

Natural and Agricultural Scholarships Information on scholarships in the natural and agricultural sciences may be obtained from the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Student Affairs Office.

Departmental Scholarships Some scholarships are available through academic departments. For more information, students should contact their department.

Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships For information on graduate fellowships and assistantships refer to the Graduate Studies section of this catalog or contact the Graduate Division. Undergraduate Research Grants As a research university UCR encourages the tradition of student and faculty engagement in research. UCR provides grant support for students to deepen their knowledge and skills in cutting edge research, field work, and other creative activities under the close guidance of a faculty mentor. Student travel for the purpose of presenting research work at a scholarly conference is also supported through these funds. Grants are available on a quarterly basis. All awards support the costs of conducting a project and cannot be used as a student salary or scholarship aid. Student grant proposals may be initiated directly by students after approaching a faculty member for sponsorship or by faculty suggesting projects to undergraduates. For details on grant opportunities visit the Office of Instructional Development Web site, at www.oid.ucr.edu.

More information regarding scholarship opportunities available to UCR students is available at http://www.scholarships.ucr.edu/.