FUND
YOUR
FUTURE
INVESTING
IN YOUR FUTURE
Our mission is to provide students access to an excellent education. Students who
demonstrate the need for financial assistance may be eligible for scholarships,
grants, loans, and/or work-study.
• Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit combined with financial need.
• Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and do not need to be repaid.
• Loans are funds that must be repaid over a period of time, usually after you leave school and usually with interest.
• Work-study is funding awarded on the basis of financial need that you may earn by
working at a part-time job.
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS MAKE
US AN AFFORDABLE CHOICE
Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan - The University of
California Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan makes college
more affordable for California residents. This plan ensures
that system-wide tuition and fees are completely covered
by a combination of all sources of scholarships and grants
for California residents who have an annual family income
of less than $80,000 a year and who qualify for financial aid.
Students must meet all eligibility requirements and deadlines.
The Berkeley Middle Class Access Plan (MCAP) - Unique to
Berkeley, MCAP is an innovative program designed to make
the cost of an undergraduate degree more affordable for
middle-class families. For families whose total annual income
ranges from $80,000 to $150,000 and who have typical assets,
this groundbreaking plan provides scholarships to cap the
contribution parents make toward the annual cost of their
student’s education at 15 percent of their total income.
Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) - The Middle Class
Scholarship is for California resident undergraduates with
family incomes of up to $150,000. Scholarship amounts are
determined by the California Student Aid Commission and
are based on a sliding scale according to family income and
the other types of financial aid a student is receiving.
Are You Eligible for Aid?
To receive financial aid, you are required to:
FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS OFFICE
SEARCHING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
UC Berkeley Scholarships - The University will identify eligible students
based on the information they provide on the UC Application for
Admissions and Scholarships; no supplemental application is required. For
more information, visit: financialaid.berkeley.edu/scholarships
• Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarships - Awarded on the basis of academic
merit and financial need.
• Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarships - Highly prestigious, renewable
awards made to top entering freshmen and transfer students based on
outstanding achievements, regardless of financial need.
• Cal Opportunity Scholarships - Awarded to high-achieving students
from the Bay Area who have overcome challenging socioeconomic
circumstances.
Financial Aid Tips
• When applying for aid, include UC Berkeley school code 001312.
• Apply by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) or a California Dream Act Application. Priority deadline is
March 2. This will determine your financial need for most grants,
scholarships, subsidized loans, and work-study awards.
• Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) or CalSAR carefully to make sure the information you submitted is correct. If you need to make
changes or corrections, update your application online as soon as
possible. Keep a printed confirmation of your submission.
• Submit a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form to the California Student
Aid Commission by March 2.
• Submit requested documents by the deadlines specified on
MyFinAid.
• Be a U.S. citizen, an eligible noncitizen, or be eligible for California
Dream Act aid.
• Print your name and Berkeley Student ID (SID) number on all documents you submit. To ensure your sensitive information is proteced, please do not use your Social Security Number.
• Be registered with Selective Service (if required).
• Be enrolled in courses and working toward a degree or certificate.
• Be making Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal
educational loan.
• Check your email frequently as we will send you requests and updates via email. It is important that you follow any instructions sent
to you.
External Scholarships - UC Berkeley students are awarded more
than $10 million dollars annually in external scholarships. The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office strongly encourages every student
to find and apply for numerous external scholarships each year.
Thousands of external scholarships are awarded by schools, employers, private agencies, nonprofits, community, and professional
organizations. Scholarship awards can be based on various factors,
including academic achievement, artistic talent, intended career
field, and volunteerism.
You should report all external scholarships online via MyFinAid. To
ensure you maximize the combination of your federal and institutional gift aid with any external scholarships you have earned, the
Financial Aid and Scholarships Office typically reduces need-based
loans and work-study awards first. Start researching external scholarships early and meet all application deadlines to ensure you are
considered for every scholarship opportunity possible. For more
information, visit: financialaid.berkeley.edu/scholarship-search
CALIFORNIA DREAM ACT
STUDENT FINANCIAL AID
Students who are not eligible to file a FAFSA and who qualify for the
AB 540 Nonresident Supplemental Tuition exemption should apply for
aid by completing the California Dream Act Application available at:
caldreamact.org.
Priority deadline: March 2
California Dream Act students are
eligible to apply for Cal Grants, UC
Berkeley grants and scholarships,
UC Berkeley loans, work-study, and
external scholarships.
• If your circumstances change or if you need additional assistance,
contact Cal Student Central at 510-664-9181 or
studentcentral.berkeley.edu.
• Start your search for external scholarships early and keep track of
deadlines.
Visit financialaid.berkeley.edu for more information and tips!
financialaid.berkeley.edu
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY • DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
CONTACT US
Cost of Attending UC Berkeley
Financial Aid
and Scholarships Office
University of California, Berkeley
financialaid.berkeley.edu
Cal Student Central
510-664-9181
studentcentral.berkeley.edu
LIVING IN
APARTMENT
LIVING WITH
RELATIVES
$13,878
$13,878
$28,266
$13,878
$13,878
Rent, Food, and Utilities
$1,034
$9,764
$4,368
Books and Supplies,
Personal, and Transportation
$3,792
$4,110
$5,260
Total Cost of Attendance
$33,092
$27,752
$23,506
LIVING
ARRANGEMENT
RESIDENCE
HALL
Direct Costs Charged by UC Berkeley
Tuition and Fees
$13,878
Room and Board
$14,388
Total Direct Costs
Other Estimated Costs
Campus Safety: Pursuant to the Federal
Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security
Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, UC
Berkeley annually makes available to the public
statistics on reported occurrences of criminal
activity on and off campus at
safetycounts.berkeley.edu.
Nondiscrimination Policy: The University of
California, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and university policy, does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy,
physical or mental disability, medical condition
(cancer related or genetic characteristics),
ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed
services. The university also prohibits sexual
harassment, including sexual violence. This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access,
and treatment in university programs and activities. For more information, visit The Office for
the Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination
at ophd.berkeley.edu.
2015-16 estimated costs for undergraduate students. Optional health insurance add $2,580. Actual tuition, fees, and charges
are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by increases or reductions in state
funding or other developments. Please check financialaid.berkeley.edu for updated figures.
HELPFUL WEBSITES
fafsa.ed.gov – Apply for aid using the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA).
dream.csac.ca.gov – Apply for aid using California’s Dream Act
Application.
pin.ed.gov – Create a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to interact
with U.S. Department of Education websites (including electronically
signing your FAFSA).
myfinaid.berkeley.edu – Access and update your financial aid information, grant parent access, report external scholarships, and more on
MyFinAid using your CalNet ID to log in.
undocu.berkeley.edu – Learn more about the resources available for
undocumented students.
financialaid.berkeley.edu – Learn more about financial aid and use the
“Cal-culator” for a personalized estimate of your Cost of Attendance
and financial aid that might be available.
admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/glossary/blue-andgold – The University of California’s website about the Blue and Gold
Opportunity Plan.
registrar.berkeley.edu – Learn more about the Statement of Legal
Residence (SLR).
calgrants.org – The website for information about the Cal Grant
Program.
studentaid.ed.gov – The U.S. Department of Education’s website for
students.