Financial Support

Financial Aid Office 2106 Student Services Building

• (951) 827-3878; finaid@ucr.edu; 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 October 1 for the upcoming academic year at fafsa.ed.gov. Undocumented students who meet the California high school attendance and graduation requirements of state law AB 540 who are ineligible to file the FAFSA should complete the California Dream Application available online at dream.csac.ca.gov. See chart for deadlines for financial aid.

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 FAFSA or Dream Applications are submitted after March 2.

An analysis of the FAFSA or Dream Application 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 or Dream Application, applicants for financial aid may also be required to submit supporting materials (such as income tax transcripts) that the Financial Aid Office uses to determine each student’s financial need.

The Deferred Payment Plan (DPP) offers students an opportunity to pay their quarterly fees and tuition in three monthly installments. For each quarter of participation, a new application must be submitted through rweb.ucr.edu, with a processing fee of $25. Visit sbs.ucr.edu/students/ deferred_payment_plan.html for more information.

Students who withdraw from all courses before the end of a quarter may be eligible to receive refunds for some fees. Go to http://registrar.ucr.edu/ registrar/tuition-and-fees/refund-table.html for more information on the refund schedule. A withdrawal petition must be obtained from myforms.ucr. edu or from the Graduate Division. In accordance with federal regulations, refunds to financial aid recipients are first applied to repayment of aid disbursed.

The effective date for determining a refund of fees is the date the student files an official notice of withdrawal with the university. It is presumed that no university services will be provided to the student after that date.

Beginning the second day of instruction, the Student Services Fee, tuition, UCR campus fees, Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition, and nonresident supplemental tuition are refunded on a prorated basis.

Course Material Fees and the Student Technology Course Material Fee are not refundable after the end of the add/drop period.

Refunds for health insurance vary. Consult the Student Health Services , Veitch Student Center, (951) 827-5683.

The Medical School Disability Insurance Fee is not refunded unless the student requests a prorated refund when withdrawing from UCR. Consult the School of Medicine at (951) 827-4333 for information about the refund of insurance benefits after withdrawal.

For details concerning fees and fee refunds, consult Fees and Enrollment at ucop.edu/operating-budget/.

Fee refunds for new students receiving Title IV federal financial aid are as follows:

Prior To and Including Day 1 Prior to and including the first day of instruction, the Student Services Fee is refunded except for the $100 Statement of Intent to Register deposit paid by undergraduates. Other eligible fees paid are refunded in full.

Day 2 and After Beginning the second day of instruction, the Student Services Fee is refunded on a prorated basis except for the $100 Statement of Intent to Register deposit. Refunds of other eligible fees are prorated as shown in the Schedule of Refunds table in this section.

New students receiving Title IV federal financial aid who withdraw during their first quarter at UCR receive a prorated refund if they withdraw by the end of the sixth week of the quarter.

Refunds for all continuing and readmitted students are as follows:

Prior To and Including Day 1 Prior to and including the first day of instruction, eligible fees paid are refunded in full. 37 / Finances and Registration

Students submit FAFSA or Dream Application 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 2 UCR Continuing Student Undergraduate Scholarship Application Entering students apply with the November 30 Application for Undergraduate Admission

and Scholarships Finances and Registration / 38 All undergraduate financial aid applicants must also apply for California State Grants (Cal Grant A and/or B) by completing the FAFSA or Dream Application, 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 finaid.ucr.edu.

The Federal Pell Grant program is federally funded and may provide awards up to a maximum of $5,815 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 or Dream Application.

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 $12,294 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 $13,964. To be eligible, applicants 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. Teaching credential students are limited to the $5,500 annual maximum for fifth year undergraduate students according to federal regulations. Graduate students are not eligible for subsidized stafford loans. 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 $20,500 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 $13,500, including amounts borrowed as undergraduates.

An origination fee of 1.069% is deducted from the amount of the loan prior to disbursement. The interest rate for new loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2016 is 3.76% for undergraduate Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford loans, and 5.31% for graduate Unsubsidized Stafford loans. Interest rates will be set annually for new loans and are subject to change. 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 ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/RepayCalc/dlindex2.html.

Graduate students may borrow Federal Grad PLUS Loans for up to the annual cost of education minus any estimated financial aid received. An origination fee of 4.276% is deducted from the amount of the loan prior to disbursement. A FAFSA application must be submitted for this loan. This loan carries a fixed interest rate of 6.31%, for new loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2016, which begins accrual immediately upon disbursement. The terms, including the six-month grace period, are otherwise the same as for Unsubsidized Stafford Loans.

Parents may borrow up to the annual cost of education minus any estimated financial aid received by the student from Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Parent Loans), regardless of financial need. A FAFSA application must be submitted for this loan. New parent borrowers awarded the PLUS loan will be instructed to complete a PLUS Loan Request form online, then a separate online loan promissory note. The application approval process includes a standard credit check for all parent borrowers. An origination fee of 4.276% is deducted from the amount of the loan prior to disbursement. This loan has a fixed interest rate of 6.31%, for new loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2016. Interest begins accruing on the PLUS loan after the first disbursement. The first payment of principal and interest is due approximately 60 days after the final loan disbursement for the year is made, but may be deferred while the student is enrolled.

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.

DREAM Loans are available to undocumented AB 540 undergraduate students. Applicants must complete a California Dream Application. The amount a student may borrow is determined by the Financial Aid Office based on annual allocations. Interest rates are subject to change annually and are the same as those for the Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan program (3.76% for loans disbursed on or after July 1,

• 2016).

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 39 / Finances and Registration

balance; repayment 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 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.

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 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.

Highlander Excellence Scholarship, an award offered to incoming freshmen with a distinguished high school academic record. The scholarship provides an honorarium toward college expenses. More information regarding the terms of the scholarship award and the amount of the honorarium are available on the Highlander Excellence Scholarship Terms that the recipient accepts on MyUCR when offered this award.

Chancellor’s Transfer Scholarship, a non-renewable award offered to incoming transfer students with a transfer GPA of 3.00 or above who have financial need.

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

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 oid.ucr.edu.

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