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.
Better FAFSA, Better Future
Learn about the upcoming 2024-25 changes to Federal Financial Aid .
Calendar
Office Closed: Veterans Day
Fall 2024 earned 100% Federal Financial Aid
Office Closed: Thanksgiving Holiday
Winter 2025 Billing statement available on TritonPay. (eBill available continuing students)
Fall 2024 Instruction ends
Fall 2024 Finals week
Winter 2025 Registration fee payment deadline
Winter Campus Closure
Financial Aid begins disbursing to student billing accounts
Winter 2025 First day of classes
News
2024-25 Middle Class Scholarships: will begin posting to TritonLink in mid-November and continue through the end of the Fall 2024 quarter.
2024-25 Special Circumstances - Student Aid Index (SAI) Appeals: UPDATE: Special Circumstances Appeals are now being processed and will continue to be processed through fall quarter.
Cal Grant eligible but no Cal Grant on Tritonlink? Log into Webgrants 4 Students to confirm or change your school of attendance to UC San Diego (school code 001317).
For information on Housing and Financial Aid visit: Housing and Your Aid (ucsd.edu)
2025-26 FAFSA and CADAA application release: The Department of Education and State anticipate the 2025-26 FAFSA and CADAA applications to be released beginning December 1, 2024. Depending on which application you are filing, for the latest information and important updates on the application release please visit FAFSA or CADAA.
Monitor your ucsd email for important updates.
UC 2025-26 Priority Filing Deadline
If the FAFSA and CADAA are released as planned, the State and Institutional priority deadline for the 2025-26 academic year will be March 3, 2025.
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 since you submitted your 2023 income information on the 2025-26 FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, you may be eligible to submit a Special Circumstances appeal to UC San Diego. The appeal form will be available in late summer of your admitted year.
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 San Diego is committed to using the Principles & Standards of the College Cost Transparency Initiative in its student financial aid offer.
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.