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Applying

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.

The First Step

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.

Student Jumping in front of library

Video Resources

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Videos focus on applying for financial aid and offer tips on other methods of financing your education.

UC YouTube Resources

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Higher Education videos for Financial Aid & Student Services.

FA TV