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.
FAFSA
- UC San Diego School Code: 001317
If your financial circumstances have changed compared to the 2021 income information reported on your 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or CA Dream Act Application, you can file a Special Circumstances appeal with UC San Diego. Please visit Forms (ucsd.edu) for details.
Financial Aid Estimator
Use the UC San Diego financial aid calculator to find an early estimate of your full-time cost of attendance and financial aid.
REVIEWING YOUR COLLEGE FINANCING PLAN (CFP)
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.