There are many different types of UCSB financial aid available to current and future students. Applying for one or many of the different types of grants or scholarships is really quite easy, and should not take more than a few minutes of your time to complete online. There are also loans and work study type programs available for students who are may not be eligible to receive financial aid.
The types of UCSB financial aid given to any particular student is based upon a number of factors. Mainly, it is determined by comparing the Estimated Family Contribution (this is the dollar amount that your family might be able to contribute) and the Cost of Attendance (the dollar amount that attending UCSB is expected to be for any particular school year.) Generally speaking, if your Estimated Family Contribution is less than the Cost of Attendence, then you can expect to be eligible for more types of financial aid, including grants.
How to apply for financial aid:
Normally, to apply for UCSB financial aid you need to complete a FAFSA form or Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Here are some of the things you should remember when applying for UCSB financial aid.
- A PIN number is required for you to fill out a FAFSA. You can obtain this PIN on the FAFSA website.
- You need to complete a new FAFSA for each year. Even if you completed one the year prior.
- Make sure that you complete the FAFSA before the deadline, otherwise you’ll only be considered for the Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans.
- Also, don’t forget to list UCSB’s school code (#001320) in the school selection area of the application, to ensure that you correctly apply for UCSB financial aid.
You are eligible for financial aid as long as you are a U.S. citizen, and are enrolled in a qualified degree seeking program. Financial aid is NOT available for UCSB Extension programs, and for students who have failed to repay a prior student loan.
GPA Requirments
In addition there are some GPA requirements that you must meet if you wish to receive some sort of financial aid. Undergraduate students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Graduate students requesting financial aid must have a GPA of at least 3.0. Students that become ineligible to receive aid because of unsatisfactory GPA will be placed on financial aid suspension. Special circumstances such as death of a family member or serious medical illness will be taken into consideration if the student chooses to appeal the suspension.
Drug Violation
If you have been convicted of any offense involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance, federal law mandates that you will not be able to receive any sort of financial aid for a specific amount of time based on the type of offense and frequency of the offense.
Types of Financial Aid:
Cal grant:
This is a grant awarded by the state of California to California residents. No additional application is required to obtain this award beyond the FAFSA application.
Scholarships:
UCSB gives a limited amount of scholarships to students every year. The is no separate or additional application required to potential obtain one of these scholarships. A student may also persue other scholarship opportunities which do require additional application requirements however. To learn more about scholarships, visit our scholarships page.
When will you receive your financial aid:
- Financial aid is distributed to your BARC account at the beginning of each quarter. To ensure that your payment is made on time, you must have met the following criteria:
- You must complete your FAFSA
- If necessary, you must complete all you Cal Grant requirments
- Turn in any additional documents required by the “RAD” (Request for Additional Documents)
- Accept the loan terms and agree to the requirments
- Enroll in 6 units or more
What if the cost of education exceeds the estimated expenses?
If you believe that the cost of attendance will be greater than the amount that you are receiveing through UCSB financial aid, you may request a budget increase. However, due to funding limitations, such increawses will be funded with additional loan eligibility.
Where to get more information
You can find out more about UCSB financial aid by visiting the official website at www.finaid.ucsb.edu