Students do not need to come from low-income families to qualify for financial aid. However, those who apply for need-based aid—including grants, loans, work study, and some scholarships—must demonstrate financial need, which is defined as the difference between the cost of attending UCLA and the amount that they and their families are able to contribute.
Financial aid is not available for international students.
Students attending UCLA summer sessions, summer travel programs, summer institutes, or UC cross-campus summer programs and in need of financial aid must submit a summer financial aid application in addition to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA). Summer applications are available on MyUCLA (in the Finances and Jobs section).
To qualify for aid, students must also comply with Financial Aid's standards for satisfactory academic progress.
To evaluate financial need, all U.S. citizen and permanent resident students who apply for aid must provide financial information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If students are financially independent according to the federal financial aid guidelines, their own financial circumstances are analyzed individually rather than inclding their parents financial information as well. UCLA expects that students and their families bear as much of the cost of a student’s education as their circumstances permit.
The information reported on the FAFSA is used to be considered for all federally funded programs, funds administered by UCLA, and the Cal Grant program administered by the California Student Aid Commission. Loans that are not need based are also available to all students who complete the FAFSA. Students should complete the FAFSA online by March 2nd (due to delays by the Department of Education, the priority application deadline for the current year is May 2nd). To ensure that UCLA receives FAFSA information, students should enter the UCLA federal school code (001315) in the appropriate search field.
Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents but who are eligible for Assembly Bill 540 nonresident fee waivers may be eligible to qualify for scholarships, UCLA grant aid, and additional state aid if they complete a California Dream Act application. The priority filing deadline for the Dream application is March 2nd (due to delays by the Department of Education, the priority application deadline for the current year is May 2nd).
In addition to using the FAFSA and Dream Act application to apply for aid, prospective students who apply to UCLA with the UC Application for Admission and Scholarships may use the admission application to apply for undergraduate scholarships. Once admitted, students may fill out the Financial Aid and Scholarships undergraduate scholarship application to broaden their scholarship opportunities.
Continuing students can access and submit the annual Financial Aid and Scholarships undergraduate scholarship application. Students are able to submit the application year round, although early submission is advisable. Resources to help with a thorough search for outside scholarships are available from the Center for Scholarships and Scholar Enrichment.
