California Dream Loans

California Dream Loans

Award amount and term: $4,000 per year

Aggregate Limits: $20,000

Need-based/subsidized?: Yes. No interest accrues during in-school, grace, and authorized deferment periods. You begin paying interest after you leave school, or when your grace/deferment period ends.

Awarded and disbursed by: UC San Diego

Interest rate: 5.50% for July 2024 to June 30, 2025

Loan fees: None

Repayment of principal and interest begins 6 months after your full-time or half-time enrollment ends.

To borrow the California Dream Loan:

1. File your California Dream Act Application and provide any requested documents before the deadlines.

2. Enroll in at least 6 units (half-time)

3. UC San Diego determines who is offered a California Dream Loan which is displayed and can be accepted in the “Selection” column within the Manage Awards drawer of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Student Portal.

4. If accepted, additional requirements pertaining to this type of loan are handled directly between the borrower and Heartland ECSI.

5. Once all of the requirements have been completed the turnaround time for Heartland ECSI to notify UC San Diego is approximately 3 to 5 business days.

6. Loan funds will be credited to your UC San Diego student account (read more about how you get your money).