Financial Support

Financial Aid Office 2106 Student Services Building

• (951) 827-3878;

finaid@ucr.edu; financialaid.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 mid December for the upcoming academic year at studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. 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.

Financial Aid Deadlines 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

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 Loan in the financial aid package from UCR.

In order to maintain eligibility to receive financial aid, students must re-apply every year, meet all posted deadlines, enroll in sufficient units, not default on any federal loans or owe repayments on any federal grants, clear all holds, and make satisfactory academic progress. More information on eligibility requirements is available on the UCR Financial Aid website at financialaid.ucr.edu/apply/stay-eligible.

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.

School Certifying Official Highlander One Stop Shop, Student Services Building

• (951) 827-4921;

vasco@ucr.edu; financialaid.ucr.edu

The Financial Aid office hosts the School Certifying Official, who is the liaison to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for students who are eligible for VA educational benefits as a result of their own military service or that of a parent or spouse. It’s the student’s responsibility to report to Financial Aid any change in status that may affect benefits. The Certifying Official can be directly contacted at vasco@ucr.edu.

Children and spouses or registered domestic partners of veterans whose death or disability (at any percentage) was service-connected may also be eligible for exemption from most university fees under provisions of the California Educational Code. Application may be made to any California county veterans services office. Claims or fee exemptions should be presented to the university during the academic year for which the claim applies. Retroactive approval can be granted only in situations in which students applied for the exemption in a timely manner but approval was delayed by the VA’s processing of an original or reopened service-connected disability compensation or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation claim; a copy of the initial denial letter from the California Department of Veterans Affairs or county services office is required to document such circumstances.

The Federal Pell Grant program is federally funded and may provide awards up to a maximum of $7,395 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 School of Education. Students apply for the Pell Grant by filling out the 2023-2024 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 $13,752 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 $15,408. To be eligible, applicants must be California residents and must demonstrate financial need. The awards are for students from disadvantaged families.

Middle Class Scholarships (MCS) are awarded by the California Student Aid Commission to on-time FAFSA or DREAM Applicants undergraduates and teaching credential students who are California residents or eligible for AB 540 nonresident tuition exemptions to students who meet MCS income and asset ceilings. In order to ensure consideration for the MCS award, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application by March 2nd each year. MCS amounts are tiered based on family income and are calculated by the California Student Aid Commission. Final amounts are determined after all Federal, State, Institutional or outside scholarship aid is finalized and may differ from initial estimates based on changes in the student’s cost of attendance, grant and scholarship awards, number of terms enrolled in the award year, enrollment on a less than full time basis, change in residency status, and/or state appropriation amounts. MCS award amounts may be reduced at any time during the academic year if a recipient receives any additional federal, state, institutional or private funding after the MCS has already been awarded. UCR Grant awards are offered to undergraduates with the greatest financial need whenever guidelines and funding levels permit.

The USHIP Fee Grants are offered to eligible undergraduate students who meet all financial aid deadlines and financial eligibility requirements to help cover the cost of undergraduate student health insurance fees. Students who elect to waive USHIP fees are not eligible to receive the USHIP Fee Grant.

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 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 loans.

In addition to these amounts, under the Federal Direct Unsubsidized 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 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 Loans, of which no more than $23,000 can be from Subsidized Loans. Independent undergraduate and teaching credential students may borrow an aggregate of $57,500 in combined Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans of which no more than $23,000 can be from Subsidized Loans, and graduate students may borrow a combined aggregate maximum of $13,500, including amounts borrowed as undergraduates.

An origination fee of 1.057% is deducted from your loan before the funds are sent to your school. For loans taken out for the 2023-2024 school year, undergraduate students receive a 5.50% interest rate and graduate students receive a 7.05% interest rate. 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 https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment.

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 4.228% is deducted from the loan prior to disbursement. For Direct PLUS Loans first disburse on or after July 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2024, the interest rate is 8.05%. This is a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan, which begins accrual immediately upon disbursement. The terms, including the six-month grace period, are otherwise the same as for Unsubsidized 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 4.228% is deducted from the amount of the loan prior to disbursement. For Direct PLUS Loans first disburse on or after July 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2024, the interest rate is 8.05%. This is a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan, which begins accrual immediately upon disbursement. 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. DREAM Loans are available to undocumented AB 540 undergraduate and graduate 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 Loan program (5.50% for loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 for the 2023-2024 academic year).

University Loans are offered to eligible undergraduate students by the campus to pay for the annual cost of attendance, less any financial aid received. The University Loan has a 5% fixed interest rate. Repayment begins 9 months after full-time or half-time enrollment ends

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.

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.

Regents Transfer Scholarship, a renewable award offered to incoming transfer students with a transfer GPA of 3.95 or above who have financial need.

Chancellor’s Scholarship, an award offered to incoming first year undergraduate students 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.

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.

UCR Achievement Scholarship, an award offered to incoming first year and transfer recipients must be classified as a Non-Resident student as determined by the University for purposes of assessing tuition charges. The UCR Achievement Scholarship is designated to pay non-resident tuition. Should a recipient receive another source that is specifically for non-resident tuition (i.e. a non-resident tuition waiver or a non-resident scholarship), the UCR Achievement Scholarship will be cancelled. UCR Achievement Scholarship recipients are required to enroll full time in a minimum of 12 units to receive their scholarship disbursement per the eligibility provisions in the terms of their merit scholarship awards which they receive at the time of their initial offer. 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.

Student grant awards may be available from the student’s department or college, or through the office of Undergraduate Education. For more information visit ssp.ucr.edu.