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UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions
05/15/08 :: 52°F

Financial Aid & Scholarships

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 At UC Davis, we want to make a college education affordable for all students regardless of their families' financial situations. While you and your parents will be expected to contribute a certain amount toward your fees and cost of living, we have a number of financial aid and scholarship resources available to assist you in meeting your expenses.
 Financial Aid and Scholarship

Who Receives Financial Aid and Scholarships?

Approximately 64% of all UC Davis undergraduates received some form of financial aid, including scholarships.

UC Davis undergraduates were awarded over $6 million in scholarships to undergraduates during the 2007 academic year, and over $3 million in scholarships was awarded to UC Davis students by outside agencies.

What Types of Aid are Available?

The following types of need-based financial aid are available at UC Davis:

  • Grants are available from the federal government (Pell Grants, ACG/SMART Grants and Supplemental Opportunity Grants), the State of California (Cal Grants) and from the university (UC Grants). They are awarded in cases of exceptional financial need and coursework, and do not need to be repaid.
  • Loans allow you to defer the cost of your education by borrowing money while in school and repaying it after graduation. Subsidized and unsubsidized loans are available. The federal government pays the interest on subsidized loans while you are still in school. Entrance Loan Counseling, informing you about your rights and responsibilities as a borrower, is required the first time you take out a student loan.
  • The Federal Work-Study program program provides work experience for undergraduates with financial need. You'll gain valuable work experience while you help meet the cost of your education.

How do I Apply?

To be considered for any form of need-based financial aid or scholarships, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) between January 1 and March 2 of the year for which you are applying. In most cases, this means that you will submit your FAFSA before you receive notification of your admission from the schools where you’ve applied. Save time and effort! Fill out and submit the FAFSA online.

Many scholarships, including prestigious awards such as the Regents Scholarship, are awarded based on merit, not need. This means that even if you do not qualify for need-based aid because of your family’s income level, you may be eligible for a scholarship. Find out more about merit-based scholarships at UC Davis.

To apply for scholarships, complete the scholarship portion of the UC application for admission and scholarships. The application instructions describe scholarships for which you may qualify.

Am I Eligible for Financial Aid?

We award financial aid based on the following formula:

  • Cost of Attendance minus Expected Family Contribution equals Need.

Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined by the U.S. Department of Education. You can estimate your EFC with this online calculator from the College Board.

Based on your need, determined using the formula above, you may be eligible for state or federal grants. The amount remaining after subtracting your eligibility for federal and state grants is called your Remaining Need.

You are expected to contribute to the cost of your own college attendance by working during the school year or summer. After your expected contribution is subtracted from your remaining need, you may be eligible for UC Grants to meet all or part of the remaining cost.

Financial Aid's Student Employment Center offers extensive employment opportunities on campus and in the surrounding communities. Search for a job online at jobs.ucdavis.edu or stop by Dutton Hall for assistance.