Financial Aid Timeline Prospective Undergraduates

Register for your FSA ID from the Department of Education so you can electronically sign your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You and your parents must each register for your individual FSA ID.

NOTE for 2025-26:

For 2025-26: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) are scheduled to be available on December 1, 2024. For updates on availability visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa or https://dream.csac.ca.gov for CADAA information.

Generally the 2024-25 California Dream Act Application (CADAA) is available at the same time as the FAFSA. For updates on the 2024-25 CADAA visit https://dream.csac.ca.gov.

• You'll automatically be considered for any UC San Diego first year scholarships or transfer scholarships when you apply for admission.

• You may also qualify for outside agency scholarships. Review these lists, follow the application instructions for each scholarship, and add all deadlines to your personal calendar.

• The FAFSA and CADAA are scheduled to be available. Make sure to list UC San Diego school code 001317 on the application, so UC San Diego will receive your information.

  • • Learn more about the FAFSA.

    • Students who have a Social Security Number must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students should not complete both applications.

    • The Dream Act Application is an application for state and university aid. It is not an application for federal financial aid. The application is for:

      • AB540 eligible students.
      • Students who cannot file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
      • Students who attended at least three full years in a California public or private high school.
      • Graduated from a California High School or attained the equivalent prior to the start of the college term.
      • If without lawful immigration status, have or will file an affidavit with the college or university they are attending stating that they have filed an application to legalize their immigration status, or will file an application as soon as they are eligible to do so. This affidavit is filed with the college they attend.

• Once you filed your Financial Aid Application:

  • FAFSA Filers: Verify Your FAFSA is Complete and Accurate.
    • If you've submitted a FAFSA, confirm that it's complete with the Department of Education.
    • If necessary, correct your FAFSA online.
    • Next, review your FAFSA Submission Summary carefully to ensure:
      • UC San Diego's school code (001317) is included
      • Your personal information (name, date of birth, and Social Security Number) matches exactly with your UC Admissions application
        • If you find any errors, make corrections online as soon as possible to avoid delays in processing your financial aid.
    • Important: If your FAFSA or CADAA indicates you are 'Provisionally Independent', please note that you will still be required to submit a Dependency Appeal to the UC San Diego Financial Aid and Scholarships Office after you've been admitted. This additional step is necessary to verify your dependency status. For guidance on the appeal process and requirements, please contact our office for more information: https://fas.ucsd.edu/contact.
  • CADAA filers: Verify that your CADAA is Complete and Accurate.
    • Confirm that you submitted your CADAA application through the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) website.
    • After submitting your application,
      • wait for an email from CSAC with your unique 9-digit Dream ID number.
      • Check your spam/junk folders if you don't receive the email. Keep your Dream ID number in a secure location, as you'll need it for future reference.
      • Review your CADAA application for accuracy and ensure that UC San Diego's school code (001317) is listed.
        • If you find any errors, make corrections online through the CSAC website.
    • By following these steps, you'll ensure that your CADAA application is complete and accurate, and that you can complete any future financial aid processes.

• FAFSA deadline is March 3, 2025 midnight Central Daylight Time: Submit your FAFSA online to be considered for priority financial aid.
  • If you're mailing your FAFSA, make sure it's postmarked by March 3, 2025.
  • If you file after March 3, 2025, you'll only be considered for Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, renewal Cal Grant, and Pell Grant.
• California Dream Act Application (CADAA) deadline is May 2, 2024, midnight Central Daylight Time: Submit your CADAA online to be considered for priority financial aid.
  • If you're mailing your California Dream Application, make sure it's postmarked by March 3, 2025.
  • If you file after the March 3, 2025 deadline, you may not be eligible for all forms of funding.

• Cal Grant GPA verification deadline is March 3, 2025: Mail the Cal Grant GPA Verification to the California Student Aid Commission to be considered for the California State Grant (Cal Grant). Make sure it's postmarked by March 3.

  • Learn more about grants

• If you included UC San Diego (001317) on your FAFSA or CADAA and have been admitted to our university, you can expect to access your personalized UC San Diego Financial Aid Estimate (also known as a College Financing Plan) online through the Applicant Portal once we have processed your financial aid application. Your official financial aid offer will follow late in the summer, after you've responded to your Offer of Admission.

• Your official financial aid offer will be available in the summer, after you've submitted your UC San Diego Offer of Admission.

• Admitted first year students: Log onto the Financial Aid tool for notification of UC San Diego scholarships once available.

• If your FAFSA Submission Summary indicates you've been selected for verification and you accept your offer of admission, you will be notified via email  to submit any required documentation online to the UC San Diego Financial Aid and Scholarships office.

• Admitted transfer students: Log onto the Financial Aid tool for notification of UC San Diego scholarships. 

• Set up your UC San Diego e-mail account as soon as possible, and check your e-mail in-box often for important communications from the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. These messages may include requests for additional information to complete your application or to view and accept your official financial aid offer.

• After your UC San Diego Offer of Admission is received, you can access your financial aid status and official financial aid offer using the Financial Aid tool.

• UC San Diego’s Offer of Admission deadline for admitted transfer students is June 1: Secure your spot at UC San Diego by accepting your Offer of Admission online.

• Continue to check your ucsd.edu e-mail account often for important e-mails from the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.

• Begin saving money for expenses you'll need to pay before you receive your fall quarter financial aid. For more information visit our page on Financial Literacy.

• 2025-26 Additional documents/actions deadline is July 1: 

  Complete any outstanding financial aid tasks by the deadline to maximize your aid eligibility. Check the Financial Aid tool for a list of required documents, which may include verification worksheets, tax transcripts, and resolving FAFSA holds.

• Beginning late July, students can expect to receive an email to their UC San Diego email address once financial aid packages are available in Tritonlink.

• If you've accepted a Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan, and/ or a Parent PLUS loan: Complete a separate promissory note for each program.

• If you've accepted a Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan:

  • Complete the required online loan counseling.

  • Learn more about loans.

• Continue to review outside agency scholarships so you can meet application deadlines. Many require references, essays, and application forms that take time to complete. Carefully follow the instructions listed for each scholarship.

• Enrollment begins for entering students

• Familiarize yourself with undergraduate enrollment requirements to make sure you take the minimum number of units for the quarter.

• After you've enrolled in classes and have completed the Financial Aid offer Acceptance using the Financial Aid tool, your financial aid will be credited to your UC San Diego student account.

  • Learn more about how financial aid funds are paid to you.

• Enroll in direct deposit by the first week of September. As soon as university charges are taken from your account, any remaining award funds will be deposited directly into your bank account.

  • Learn more about direct deposit.