Meeting the cost of an undergraduate education is a significant investment. At UC San Diego, we are committed to providing a comprehensive need-based financial aid program that makes it financially possible for admitted students to attend. Our admission program is need-blind, meaning, financial status will not affect the admission decision.
Prospective Students
As a first-year applicant, you must earn a high school diploma (or equivalent) and satisfy these requirements.
Current Students
Learn about the important dates that you'll encounter throughout the application process.
Special Cases
Our goal is to identify and admit students who are fully prepared to excel in our challenging academic environment.
UC 2024-25 Priority Filing Deadline
The California State financial aid deadline requires GPA submission by March 2, and FAFSA or California DREAM application by the May 2nd extended deadline.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
The first step to apply for financial aid is to submit the appropriate application, ideally by the priority deadline.
The FAFSA is available for US citizens and eligible non-citizens (ie, permanent residents).
The California Dream Act Application is available for undocumented students who qualify for the AB540 fee exemption.
If your financial circumstances have changed in 2023 compared to the 2022 year income information reported on your 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or CA Dream Act Application, there is a process to address these changes called the Special Circumstances appeal. Generally the form becomes available late Summer and is processed during the following Fall quarter. Once available, the form and instructions will be posted on our website at Forms (ucsd.edu) .
Net Price Calculator
Use this tool to see how much financial aid you may be eligible to receive for in the 2024-25 academic year.
UC YouTube Resources
Videos focus on applying for financial aid and offer tips on other methods of financing your education.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? Use this resource to find answers to all your frequently asked questions.