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 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 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.