FAQs

Your student's financial aid is an important aspect of their college success, but it isn't always easy to understand. There is a lot of information throughout our website, and we've picked out some of the more frequently-asked topics below. Visit our FAQ Page for additional information.

• How does my student apply for financial aid?
• To apply for financial aid, submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) between October and March 2 of the previous academic year (extended to May 2 for 2024-25). These applications will determine your eligibility for federal, state, and university financial aid.
• What is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Student Aid Index (SAI)?
• Through 2023-24, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount of money your family is expected to contribute to pay for college. The EFC is based on the information provided by you and your college-bound student as reported on their financial aid application. The EFC will be replaced in 2024-25 by the Student Aid Index (SAI). Here is the Financial Aid Estimator.
• How is financial aid calculated?
• A simple formula determines the student’s eligibility for financial aid. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI)* is subtracted from the Cost of Attendance, which includes tuition, fees, housing and food, and other living costs. The result is the student’s financial need.
  
  University Grant eligibility is determined by the student’s need minus Pell and Cal Grants as well as Student Self-Help, which is the amount that an undergraduate student may expect to contribute toward their education using a combination of loans, work options, scholarships, and/or summer savings. 
  
  You may meet this expectation with loans, scholarships, or earnings from employment. Here is a detailed explanation of these terms.
  
  *Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA and California Dream Act Application (CADAA), the EFC will be replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI).
• What is the Federal Pell Grant?
• The Federal Pell Grant is gift aid provided by the federal government to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and have a Student Aid Index value (formerly Expected Family Contribution) below a certain threshold. The Federal Pell Grant amount is prorated based on enrollment status for eligible students who are enrolled at least half-time. Visit Federal Student Aid for more Pell Grant information.
• What is the Cal Grant?
• Cal Grants A and B are only applied to tuition costs, but Cal Grant B Access awards can be used for other educational expenses. First-time Cal Grant applicants must submit a GPA Verification form to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) between October 1 and March 4. CSAC uses the student’s financial aid application and GPA Verification to assess eligibility. For more Cal Grant information, visit CSAC.
• Loans for Parents
• If you are the parent of an undergraduate student attending UC Davis, you may be eligible to apply for and receive a Parent PLUS Loan. A parent is not guaranteed to receive the PLUS Loan. Upon application, the Department of Education (DOE) will evaluate your credit and approve or deny your application based on your credit score and history.
• Tuition Assistance Programs
• The Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, UC Davis Aggie Grant Plan, Middle Class Scholarship, and the UC Native American Opportunity Plan are all programs to help eligible students and families pay for tuition and fees at UC Davis.
• UC Davis Scholarships
• Incoming students automatically apply for campus-based scholarships with their UC Application for Admission and Scholarships. Continuing students can apply for UC Davis Scholarships from October to January. Outside Scholarships have varying requirements and due dates and are scholarships not affiliated with UC Davis.
• Student Account and Disbursement
• Students can track their account and disbursement on their MyBill account. Students can check their balance, make secure payments, view payment history, and provide permission to parents to pay bills.
• What is Verification?
• Students are randomly chosen for verification, a process conducted to ensure that the information submitted on the financial aid application is correct. During the verification process, students may be asked to submit various types of documents: Parents’ Marriage/ Divorce Certificate, 1040 Forms, citizenship documents, and others. Financial Aid and Scholarships cannot disburse financial aid until verification is completed.
• Appealing Financial Aid
• You may request a Family Contributions Review for Parental and/or Student Contribution* if your family has undergone extenuating circumstances such as unemployment, divorce, or out-of-pocket medical costs that would change the student’s SAI. If your expenses are higher than the standard budget, complete the Cost of Attendance Appeal after October 1. This and other forms can be found at Undergraduate Forms and Appeals. If you believe you have made a mistake on your financial aid application, you can either directly edit the application or request verification from Financial Aid and Scholarships.
  
  *This review/appeal will be replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI) Calculation Appeal for 2024-25. It will be available in July 2024.

• Financial Aid Handbook (PDF)
• Financial Aid FAQs
• Guide to Paying for Education from CashCourse
• Loan Comparison Guides
• Financial Aid Estimator 

For more information or assistance, please contact us