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 can both register for an FSA ID.

NOTE for 2024-25:

For 2024-25 the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is scheduled to be available in December 2023. For updates on availability visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

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.

• File the University of California Admission and Scholarship Application for the next academic year, which begins the following September.

• You'll automatically be considered for any UC San Diego freshman scholarships or UC San Diego 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: Ensure that your FAFSA is complete with the Department of Education.
    • Review the FAFSA Submission Summary for accuracy, and make sure the UC San Diego school code 001317 is listed and the name, date and SSN on your UC Admissions application matches the information on your FAFSA.
    • If necessary, correct your FAFSA online.
    • Note: if your FAFSA is submitted as “Provisionally Independent” you will still need to submit a Dependency Appeal with the UC San Diego Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. For more information on the appeal process please visit https://fas.ucsd.edu/forms-and-resources/forms or contact our office: https://fas.ucsd.edu/contact.
  • CADAA filers: Ensure that you submitted your application through the California Student Aid Commissions (CSAC). After the initial successful submission of your application, the CSAC will send you an email with your nine-digit Dream ID number. If you haven’t received an email from us, be sure to check your spam/junk folders. Keep this number in a safe place; you will use your Dream ID number.
    • Review your application for accuracy and make sure the UC San Diego school code 001317 is listed.
    • If necessary correct your CA Dream Act Application online through CSAC.

• Cal Grant GPA verification deadline, March 2, 2024: 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 2.

  • Learn more about grants

• If you listed UC San Diego on your FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and you've been admitted to UC San Diego, once UC San Diego receives and processes your financial aid application, your UC San Diego Financial Aid Estimate will be available online through the Applicant Portal. Your Financial Aid Estimate includes the College Financing Plan. Your official financial aid offer will be available in the summer, after you've submitted your UC San Diego Offer of Admission.

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

• EXTENDED FAFSA deadline, May 2, 2024 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 May 2, 2024.

  • If you file after the May 2, 2024 deadline, you'll only be considered for Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, renewal Cal Grant, and Pell Grant.

• EXTENDED California Dream Act Application deadline, May 2, 2024, midnight Central Daylight Time: Submit your California Dream Application online to be considered for priority financial aid.

  • If you're mailing your California Dream Application, make sure it's postmarked by May 2, 2024.

  • If you file after the May 2, 2024 deadline, you may not be eligible for funding.

• If your FAFSA Submission Summary indicates you've been selected for verification: If 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.

• UC San Diego’s Offer of Admission deadline for admitted freshmen, May 15: Accept admission to UC San Diego by submitting your UC San Diego Offer of Admission.

  • 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.

• 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, June 1: Accept admission to UC San Diego by submitting your UC San Diego Offer of Admission.

• 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.

• 2024-25 Additional documents/actions deadline, July 1: Check the Financial Aid tool for additional documents or required actions. Submit any additional documents by the deadline to qualify for the best financial aid offer. Additional documents/actions may include verification worksheets, tax return transcripts, and resolving FAFSA processing holds indicated on your FAFSA Submission Summary.
• 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. A majority of the 2024-25 financial aid offers are scheduled to be released by the end of August for completed 2024-25 FAFSA and CADAA applications.

• 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.

• A majority of the 2024-25 financial aid offers are scheduled to be released by the end of August. Keep an eye on your UC San Diego email for important updates.

• 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.