Financial aid is available from a number of souces other than UCR and the Federal and state government. These include various private foundations and community organizations as well as all branches of the military.
A variety of scholarships are available through various companies, civic groups, and clubs. Residents of other states may be eligible for a scholarship or grant from an agency of their home state. For information, consult a high school counselor, school library, the local Chamber of Commerce, or write directly to a donor for applications and deadline information. Beware of scholarship scams that request you to pay any fee for a scholarship application. Free scholarship search information is available through many organizations on the Internet. For scholarship search organizations, click here.
Veterans' Benefits. Veterans, reservists, and dependents of veterans whose death or disability was service-connected may be eligible for educational benefits through the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. Such dependents may also qualify for exemption from most University fees. Applications and further information are available in the Special Services Office, 125 Costo Hall, (951) 827-3861.
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Grants. Full-time students who possess at least 25 percent Native American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut heritage, as recognized by a tribal group, may apply for grant assistance. Awards may be based on financial need and availability of funds. Applications are available at BIA area offices and must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office for processing. The FAFSA must be completed before the BIA Grant Application can be processed.
GRE Fee Reductions. A small number of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) fee reduction applications are available for senior financial aid recipients with extremely limited resources other than financial aid. The GRE Board has established three requirements for eligibility, and all three must be met. A student must be: (a) a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident or resident alien; (b) a senior receiving financial aid through an undergraduate institution or a returning unenrolled college graduate (who has applied for financial aid and has a need analysis report on file) in the United States, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. Territory; and (c) one whose financial need report indicates a parental contribution of not more than $1400 for a dependent student for the senior year and a student contribution of not more than $1,800 for an independent student for the senior year.
NOTE: The GRE Fee Reduction Certificate will be applied toward 50% of the test fee; the applicant will be required to pay the other 50% of the full test fee.
Interest-Free Emergency Loans. Emergency loans of up to $500 are available in the Financial Aid Office for registered students on a first-come, first-served basis. You may borrow no more than three times during an academic year. A student photo ID is required for identification and current quarter fees must be paid. Repayment is due within 30 days or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. For additional information regarding eligibility and emergency loan policies, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
Tax credits for 2009 and 2010 for tuition/fees, books and supplies. Detailed information on tax credits can be found at:
www.sbs.ucr.edu/student_services.html
http://www.nasfaa.org/redesign/taxbenefitsguide.html
http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=177996,00.html
For tax years 2009 and 2010, the following changes have been made to the Hope credit. The modified credit is also referred to as the American opportunity tax credit.
1. The maximum amount of the Hope credit increases to $2,500 per student. The credit is phased out (gradually reduced) if your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) is between $80,000 and $90,000 ($160,000 and $180,000 if you file a joint return).
2. The Hope credit can now be claimed for the first four years of post-secondary education. Previously the credit could be claimed for only the first two years of post-secondary education.
3. Generally, 40% of the Hope credit is now a refundable credit, which means that you can receive up to $1,000 even if you owe no taxes.
4. The term "qualified tuition and related expenses" has been expanded to include expenditures for "course materials." For this purpose, the term "course materials" means books, supplies, and equipment needed for a course of study whether or not the materials are purchased from the educational institution as a condition of enrollment or attendance. For more information, see chapter 2 of Publication 970.
For 2009, the amount of your lifetime learning credit is phased out (gradually reduced) if your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) is between $50,000 and $60,000 ($100,000 and $120,000 if you file a joint return). You cannot claim a lifetime learning credit if your modified AGI is $60,000 or more ($120,000 or more if you file a joint return). For more information, see IRS chapter 3 in Publication 970.