Filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
A variety of aid is available for all income levels. Whether or not you think you are eligible, we encourage you to apply for financial aid each year. The annual priority filing deadline for State and University grant consideration is March 2 (extended to May 2 for the 2024-25 academic year). Applying begins with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The information provided on your FAFSA is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for 2023-24. The EFC is used by UC Davis to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
The following tools are available to assist you in estimating your financial aid eligibility:
- To explore how much federal aid you may be eligible for, try the Federal Student Aid Estimator.
- For a detailed description of how the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated, visit the EFC Formula Guide website.
- To estimate financial aid for those considering UC Davis, the UC Davis Financial Aid Estimator can be used.
FAFSA Application Tips
- File the FAFSA each year by March 2 for priority consideration. Upon successful completion of your financial aid application, you may receive a confirmation notice that your application has been properly submitted.
- Include UC Davis School Code 001313 and a housing code on your application.
- Immediately respond to any requests from Financial Aid and Scholarships.
- Accuracy is important when you apply for financial aid. All information is subject to verification according to state and federal regulations. False statements or misrepresentations may be cause for the reduction, cancellation, denial, or repayment of financial aid.
- It is crucial to file the FAFSA by the March 2 priority filing date. If you filed a 2021 tax return, use information from your return to complete the 2023-24 application.
For those who have not filed a tax return:
- If you did not and are not required to file a 2021 tax return, use your financial information such as 2021 W-2s or final pay stubs, and current bank statements.
- FAFSA provides a tool that allows parents and students to directly access tax information from a secure IRS website. Look for this feature when completing your FAFSA online, as it is highly recommended to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
- Parents of dependent students will need to provide their income information and electronically sign the student's FAFSA. StudentAid.gov can help you determine your dependency status, which applies to both federal and state financial aid applications.
- For general information on financial aid at the University of California, view the Paying for UC video on YouTube.
Important Things to Remember
- Apply early! Submit your application by the March 2 priority deadline each year for full aid consideration.
- You can submit your FAFSA starting in October for the upcoming academic year.
- "Prior-Prior Year" allows students and their families to use income and tax information from one year earlier than previously required. This means that 2021 data will be used in 2023-24.
- Include the UC Davis School Code: 001313.
- Select the correct aid year on the FAFSA when applying (i.e., 2023-24 for the current academic year, 2024-25 for fall 2024 admission).
- For help filing the FAFSA, contact FAFSA at 1-800-433-3243.
- Keep copies of your tax returns and other documents in case they are needed.
- For information on when you can expect your financial aid package, please visit our entering or continuing student web pages.
- Reapply every year.
Common FAFSA Mistakes
If the name, date of birth, and/or social security number you reported on the FAFSA does not match the school record you will need to resolve the discrepancy before we can review your application and financial aid eligibility.
Action Required:
Compare the information you entered on the UC Application and FAFSA to your social security number. Make sure they are an exact match.
- If your name, date of birth, and/or social security number are incorrect:
- You’ll need to complete a new FAFSA.
- You'll also need to submit a correction with Admissions.
- If your name, date of birth, and/or social security number are correct:
- Contact the Social Security Administration to ensure that the discrepancy is resolved.
What to Expect After Filing
- Once completed you may receive an email confirmation, that you have successfully submitted your financial aid application.
- You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor. To check the status of your application, visit Federal Student Aid.
- The SAR provides you with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Financial Aid and Scholarships will use the EFC to determine the types of aid you may receive.
- You can submit corrections to your application online through FAFSA.
- Students with a valid SAR will be directed to log in to MyAwards to view their personalized UC Davis aid package and requirements. First-year and transfer students can access their information shortly after receiving admission notification. Continuing students will receive an email when their aid is available – typically by late May.
Questions About Applying?
- Federal Student Aid Information Center (for FAFSA)
- 1-800-4-FED-AID (433-3243)
- https://studentaid.gov/
- https://studentaid.gov/help-center/contact
- California Student Aid Commission (for Cal Grants)
- 1-888-224-7268
- calgrants.org
- UC Davis Resources
Grants & Scholarships
Applying for Cal Grants
Continuing students: If you are already a Cal Grant recipient, there is no need to submit a GPA verification form. Your eligibility for Cal Grant is evaluated annually. You can verify your renewal through WebGrants4Students.
Students apply for a Cal Grant when they submit the FAFSA. Cal Grant applicants are also required to submit a GPA Verification form directly to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) by March 2 as part of the application process. Students can access the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form from the CSAC website. Be sure to select the appropriate form based on which application you filed.
CSAC determines eligibility and notifies the student by sending a California Aid Report (CAR). You can monitor and manage your Cal Grant account on the CSAC website.
Applying for Scholarships
Entering freshmen and transfer students apply for scholarships when they complete the UC Application for Admissions and Scholarships. Current UC Davis undergraduates can apply for scholarships by completing and submitting the Continuing Undergraduate Scholarship Application once it becomes available in October through the early January deadline. Detailed information about the application process is available at Undergraduate Scholarships.
2024-25 FAFSA and CADAA
Both the FAFSA and CADAA for 2024-25 are now open. The priority filing date has been extended to May 2, 2024, for both applications.
CADAA filers will not see changes to the application process, but FAFSA filers will experience the changes resulting from the FAFSA Simplification Act which provides an easier, more streamlined application process for applying for federal financial aid. For more information and resources, visit