FAQ

  • How do I Apply for Financial Aid?

    To apply for Financial Aid, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or CA Dream Act Application (CADAA). Priority filing deadlines are March 2 of each year. Refer to How to Apply for more information.

  • Am I Eligible for Financial Aid?

    To be eligible for aid through the FAFSA, you must:

    To be eligible for aid through the CADAA you must:

    • Not be eligible to file the FAFSA
    • Be eligible for AB 540, as determined by the Office of the Registrar 
    • Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program

    The following students are not eligible for Financial Aid:

    • UCSB PACE (Formerly Extension)
    • Students who have defaulted on a prior student loan or who owe a repayment of aid to the U.S. Department of Education
    • Students who have been academically dismissed
    • Student who are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress

  • Can I Afford a UC Education?

    The University of California has provided a comprehensive explanation of the Financial Aid process at the University of California website.

  • How Much Does it Cost to Attend UCSB?

    The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships calculates the UCSB Cost of Attendance based on average nine-month academic year expenses that include both direct and indirect costs. These costs are established to determine financial aid eligibility and are intended as a guide to help plan and budget. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change and could be affected by increases or reductions in State funding, or other developments. To view the estimated cost attendance for undergraduate and graduate students at UCSB, please visit Cost of Attendance.



     

     

  • How is Financial Aid Determined?

    Financial aid is awarded based on an assessment of a family’s demonstrated financial need and accounts for the total cost of attendance and the family’s ability to cover that cost. UCSB Scholarship is made available by the University of California and is awarded to California resident undergraduate applicants who are considered to be On-Time and determined to have sufficient financial need. Our UCSB Scholarship Awarding Policy is designed to award students as fairly as possible with limited funding and guided by the goal of maintaining the affordability of the University.

    The cost of attendance will be met through a combination of the following:
    • manageable contributions from the student in the form of work and/or loan;
    • manageable parent contributions from family resources based on the family’s financial strength; and
    • grant & scholarship support from a combination of federal, state, university, and private sources.
    The chart below provides a general illustration of how students with different family income levels can cover their total costs.
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  • What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?

    The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a figure used to determine your student's Financial Aid. The Student Aid Index (SAI) replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting in 2024-2025. The calculation of the SAI is based on the information that you provided on your FAFSA or CADAA. It is considered to be a measurement of the family's financial strength, and is derived from the family's size, income, and assets. 

  • What Types of Aid Can I Receive?

    Financial aid is offered only for those quarters in which a student is enrolled. Your Financial Aid Award Letter (FAAL) indicates the amount of aid you are eligible to receive for each of those quarters. Types of aid for Undergraduate Students:
    • Gift Aid & Waivers Eligibility  - This section of your FAAL includes grants, scholarships, and other awards handled by our office, in coordination with federal, state, and university regulations. Gift aid will also include any scholarships or tuition/fee waivers that you receive from other campus departments or private agencies/organizations. Students are responsible for reporting outside scholarships to ensure their financial aid package is adjusted accordingly.
    • Work-Study Eligibility - This is a need-based financial aid award that is earning-based through employment on campus or through various approved off-campus agencies. For more information please visit the Work-Study section of our website.
    • Loan Eligibility - The loan section of your FAAL may include the following loans: UCSB Loan, Federal Subsidized & Unsubsidized Direct Loan, Federal Parent PLUS Loan, Dream Loan. For more information please visit the Loans section of our website.
    Graduate students please refer to the Graduate Students section of our website to find out about types of aid available.

  • How do I Accept my Financial Aid?

    Undergraduate grants and scholarships that are awarded by our department are automatically accepted, and will applied to BARC on a quarterly basis if all other criteria for disbursement are met.

    Loans for students and parents must be accepted on My Aid Status and all loan requirements must be completed in order for them to apply to the UCSB BARC account. To learn more about the requirements for loans, visit the Loans section of our website.

  • How do I Use My Work-Study?

    Unlike like other types of Financial Aid, Work-Study does not disburse to a student's BARC account. Instead, Work-Study is paid directly to the student through a bi-weekly or monthly paycheck from their employer. For more information, visit Work-Study.

  • How do I Apply for More Scholarships?

    UCSB uses a scholarship management tool called ScholarshipUniverse, which allows UCSB students to search and be matched with internal and external scholarships that they may be eligible for.
    We also encourage you to look for local scholarships within your local community (charities, clubs, organizations, businesses, employers, etc.), or search for more outside scholarships online.
    To learn more about available scholarships at UCSB, visit the Scholarships section of our website.

  • How Do I Receive My Financial Aid?

    Quarterly student fees are assessed by the Registrar’s Office and billed by the BARC (Billing, Account/Receivable and Collections) Office. Your approved financial aid will be disbursed to your BARC account on a quarterly basis (Fall, Winter, Spring). For example, if you had a $6,000 grant for the academic year, $2,000 of that grant would disburse to your BARC account before the beginning of each quarter.

    After your aid has been disbursed to your BARC account, university fees are then deducted from your Financial Aid. These fees include tuition, student services fees, health care, and housing if you live in University-owned/on-campus housing. If there is a credit remaining after these fees have been deducted, the remaining amount will either be sent via check your local address (as specified on Gold) or deposited directly to your bank account if you have enrolled in Gaucho eRefund.

    Remember that any excess Financial Aid sent to you is intended to pay for the remaining costs of college, including rent for off-campus housing (such as Tropicana Gardens or private apartments), books, supplies, transportation, and other personal expenses.

  • When Will I Receive My Financial Aid?

    Our office will begin crediting aid to student BARC accounts (and BARC will begin issuing refunds) no earlier than 10 days prior to the start of each quarter. For Financial Aid to disburse on time, students must ensure they have completed the following steps:

    • Complete a FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application
    • Submit all required verification documents by the deadline
    • If applicable, complete Cal Grant requirements, such as the HS Graduation Verification
    • Accept your loans and complete loan requirements
    • Enroll in at least 6 units (4 units for graduate students)

    • Remain in good academic standing with your college, and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid eligibility. 

  • What if My Financial Aid Doesn't Cover My Fees?

    If the Financial Aid in your BARC account does not cover your university fees and charges, then the remaining balance due is your responsibility. It is critical that you monitor your BARC account and check your UCSB email account regularly to ensure fees are fully paid (by some combination of financial aid and/or personal funds) by the due date each quarter.

    Those who still have outstanding charges and amounts due by the fee payment deadline may be assessed a $50 late fee and classes may be dropped due to nonpayment. Options for paying your BARC balance include entering into a quarterly payment plan with the billing office, or borrowing student or parent loans if needed.

  • What is the Parent PLUS Loan?

    The Parent PLUS loan is an unsubsidized loan that parents may borrow to pay for their student's expenses. For more information, please visit the Loans section.

  • Will I be Charged Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition?

    Most students who live in another state are considered "non-California resident" students, and will incur higher University fees. The amount of loans in a non-California resident's Financial Aid package will increase to cover their increased costs.

    However, under AB 540 legislation, students enrolled or in the process of enrolling at a University of California campus after January 1, 2002, who attended a high school in California for three or more years, and who graduated from a California high school (or attained the equivalent), may qualify for an exemption from the nonresident tuition. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are eligible to apply for this exemption. For more information, visit the Registrar's website.

  • How will the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships Contact Me?

    The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships communicates with students via the University email (Gmail) system. If you do not have a university email account, you must activate it at the U-mail website. Please check your email frequently to ensure you receive all important updates and notifications we send to you. Do not auto-forward emails sent to your University Gmail to other e-mail servers (yahoo, hotmail, etc.).

    In certain situations, our office may contact you via phone or SMS text message (if opted in). Please keep your telephone number and your local and permanent mailing addresses updated via GOLD.

  • Can a Parent Access the Student's Financial Aid Information?

    The confidentiality of student Financial Aid information is protected in accordance with the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 and UC Santa Barbara Policy and Procedure “Student Education Records – Disclosure of Information” issued March 2004 (available from the UCSB Registrar).

    Providing access to student Financial Aid records or information contained in these records to unauthorized persons is also prohibited. Your student’s information cannot be disclosed to third parties (parent, spouse, sibling, friend, landlord, associate, etc.) without their written consent.

    If your student wishes to grant access to you or another third party, they must complete the Student Consent to Release UCSB Financial Aid Information to a Designated Third Party form. This form must be completed each academic year and is accessed through My Aid Status.

  • What if Extraordinary Circumstances have Reduced My Ability to Pay for College?

    If a student or their custodial parent(s) have been adversely affected by extraordinary circumstances that have reduced their ability to pay for college expenses, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships can review those circumstances in order to recalculate the expected family contribution. This could potentially increase eligibility for need-based aid subject to the availability of funding. Please visit the Appeals section of our website for more information. Remember that these appeals are reserved for extraordinary circumstances only and will require the student or parent to provide additional documentation supporting these circumstances.

  • What if My Actual Educational Costs Exceed the Estimated Expenses?

    If you believe that any of the cost of attendance figures used in determining your maximum Financial Aid are too low, you may request an increase to your budget (and aid eligibility) with a Cost of Attendance Appeal. Due to limitations on grant funding, budget increases are typically only funded with additional loan eligibility.

  • Why Did My Financial Aid Award Change?

    The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is responsible for coordinating many different aid programs and ensuring that students are eligible for the awards they receive. Your aid may change at times during the course of the academic year, or it may change from one year to the next. Here are the most common reasons for a change in a student’s financial aid eligibility:

    • The student receives a new scholarship, external award, or other resource. Total financial aid cannot exceed the total cost of attendance, and so if you receive a new source of aid that was not included in your initial award letter, we will likely need to revise your overall financial aid award and a reduction to existing aid may occur.

    • The total cost of attendance changes. This may be as a result of submitting a student health insurance waiver, an appeal, or changes in your housing situation such as moving from on campus to off campus. The cost of attendance may also fluctuate from one year to the next, as some expenses are based on recent survey data and are adjusted for inflation.

    • The student's SAI changes. This may be as a result of submitting verification documentation, an appeal, or just normal year-over-year changes to you or your parent's income, family size, or asset values that are reported on a subsequent financial aid application.

    • Changes in available funding. Award amounts are subject to change from year to year depending upon changes to available federal, state and institutional funding.

    • The student drops below full-time enrollment. Pell Grants, Cal Grants, MCS, and some other aid sources require full-time enrollment (12 units for undergrads) at census date. If you drop below below full-time status your aid may be reduced. Please see our Census Date Policy for more information.

    • The student withdraws from the university. If you withdraw from a quarter then you may not be eligible to keep all of the aid that was disbursed for that term. It is important to discuss potential financial aid repercussions with our office when you are considering withdrawing from school. Please see our Withdrawing section of our website for more information.
     
    If an award revision occurs, our office will notify you via email. You will be prompted to log on to My Aid Status to review your revised aid eligibility.
     

  • How Do I Receive My Graduate Student Aid?

    Loans processed by our office are disbursed directly to your BARC account on a quarterly basis (Fall, Winter, Spring), so yearly awards are split into three quarterly disbursements. This may or may not match with the disbursement schedule of funding from other sources.

    The disbursement method of fellowships and extramural funding depends on the type of assistance. For more information, please visit the Graduate Division Financial Support website.

    After your aid has been disbursed to your BARC account, university fees are then deducted from your Financial Aid. These fees include tuition, student services fees, health care, and housing if you live in University-owned/on-campus housing. If there is a credit remaining after these fees have been deducted, the remaining amount will either be sent via check your local address (as specified on Gold) or deposited directly to your bank account if you have enrolled in Gaucho eRefund.

    Remember that any excess Financial Aid sent to you is intended to pay for the remaining costs of college, including rent for off-campus housing, books, supplies, transportation, and other personal expenses.

  • What Happens if I Receive Additional Assistance as a Grad Student?

    The combination of Graduate students' loans, work-study, fellowships, fee remissions, and health insurance awards cannot exceed the "Budget" listed on their Financial Aid Award Letter.

    In other words, if a Graduate student has received an award letter containing loans and then receives a fellowship from their department, their loan eligibility will be reduced to accommodate the fellowship. If the student has already taken out their loans, they may be billed for a portion or all of the loan funds already disbursed to their BARC account.

    Information about additional financial assistance for Graduate students—including fellowships, fee remissions, and heath insurance awards—is reported to our office periodically throughout the academic year. Thus, in many cases an award may not be reported to our office until late in the academic year. Graduate students should review their award letter for any types of assistance that have not been reported and then plan for changes in Financial Aid that may occur throughout the academic year.

  • Can a Grad Student Still Receive Loans if Studying In Absentia?

    Students studying In Absentia are still enrolled at UCSB, and are considered to be UCSB students. So long as you are enrolled in at least 4 units, you are still eligible to borrow your Direct Loans.

    As students studying In Absentia receive a tuition discount, their loans are reduced accordingly when their In Absentia status is reported to our office. Students should take this tuition discount into consideration when deciding how much to borrow.

  • As a Grad Student, Does a "Leave of Absence" Affect Loan Repayment?

    When a Graduate student is on an approved "Leave of Absence," they are not considered to be enrolled at least half-time. As a result, your Direct Loans will no longer be in deferral, and you will enter your grace period. The Federal Student Aid will contact you regarding the repayment of your loan.

    After you return to UCSB and are enrolled at least half-time, you are once again entitled to your student status deferment. However, you will not regain the amount of time deducted from your grace period during your leave of absence.

    For more information about loans, including information about deferment and grace periods, visit Graduate Loans.

  • What Financial Resources are Available for International Students?

    Please visit these web sites for additional information:

    For more information about scholarships for international students, visit Scholarships.

  • Where Can I Find More Information on State & Federal Aid?

    California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)

    CSAC is the principal California state agency responsible for administering the state’s Financial Aid programs for students attending public and private universities, colleges, and vocational schools in California. Its central mission is to make education beyond high school financially accessible to all Californians.

    Please visit their website for a thorough explanation of the Financial Aid programs CSAC administers, especially the Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship programs. You’ll also find information about the California Chafee Grant Program for eligible foster youth and former foster youth. Finally, explore their WebGrants for Students, a CSAC website created just for students. This website provides students with the resources, information, and tools needed to assist them with the college financial aid process.

    Federal Student Aid

    This is the U.S. Department of Education's site for free information on preparing for and funding education beyond high school. Whether you're in elementary or high school, a parent, or a counselor, this site offers a wealth of information and publications. The information provided on this website will help you make informed decisions regarding all phases of a college, technical, or trade school education, and career choice.

  • I Am Going Through a Financial Emergency; Can I Get Help?

    If you are experiencing a financial emergency, please contact the Financial Crisis Response Team by emailing financialcrisis@sa.ucsb.edu. This team assists students who are facing a financial crisis or urgent financial need that jeopardizes their path to graduation.

  • What Happens If I Need to Withdraw from School?

    Students sometimes find that they need to withdraw from school. Please go to the Withdrawals section of our website for more information on the impact to your financial aid.