You may have a lot of questions about financial aid at UC Riverside and the opportunities available. We hope this information will assist you in understanding how financial aid can be used in meeting the costs of your UCR education. Below are some specific things an incoming independent and/or transfer student might find useful.
Independent Criteria for Financial Aid
To be considered an independent student you must meet one of the criteria below:
- was born before January 1, 1985 (for 2008-09)
- will be a graduate or professional student
- is married as of the date he/she applies
- has dependents other than a spouse
- is an orphan
- is or was, until 18, a ward/dependent of the court (Foster Youth: See California Chafee Grant section, below)
- is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or
- is currently serving on active duty for purposes other than training
If you answer “yes” to any question above, you are considered an independent student for FAFSA filing purposes and are NOT required to provide parental information. Your financial aid eligibility will be determined based on your (and your spouse’s, if applicable) income and assets (e.g., from 2007 for the 2008-09 school year).
If you answer “no” to all questions above, for FAFSA filing purposes, you are considered a dependent student and are required to provide parental information. If you have extenuating circumstances (abuse, abandonment, family alcohol or drug abuse, etc.) that can be documented by a third party that you would like considered, please contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if you would qualify for a Dependency Override. (Not being claimed on your parents’ federal income tax return is not grounds for a dependency override.)
Financial Aid Application Process
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed every year. Be sure to include UCR’s school code (001316) on the school section of the application. UCR’s FAFSA priority filing deadline is March 2nd of each year (e.g., March 2, 2008 for the 2008-09 school year) for on-time consideration. If you are not currently receiving a Cal Grant, you should also ask that the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form be completed by the last college you attended, by March 2nd. See “How to Apply” for more details. You will be notified via your MyUCR account if additional information is required after your FAFSA data is received by the Financial Aid Office. Pay close attention to this request as there is an additional deadline for the return of any requested documentation. All documentation must be received by the deadline, e.g., May 1, to retain on-time status. After we have your FAFSA and any required documents, you’ll be notified of your aid award, around the time you are admitted to UCR.
Cost to Attend UCR
Financial aid is awarded to cover the total Cost of Attendance minus any “Expected Family Contribution” from the FAFSA application. The following components comprise the standard Cost of Attendance:
- Tuition and Fees
- Room and Board (Housing)*
- Books and Supplies
- Transportation
- Personal Costs
*Off-campus housing allowances are included under Room and Board. Your financial aid award will include funds that could be used for your rent, groceries, and utilities.
Child care and other educationally related expenses not included in the standard budget may be added to your student budget by filing a request with the Financial Aid Office.
Financial Aid is disbursed quarterly, at the start of each academic quarter (Fall, Winter and Spring). Aid in excess of UC fees and any other UC charges (such as on-campus housing charges) will be “refunded” to the student to pay for books, transportation, and other personal costs. Students living in off-campus homes or apartments may receive an aid refund each quarter to assist with these living expenses.
California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth
The California Chafee Grant Program gives money to foster youth, and former foster youth to use for college courses. You don’t have to pay this money back as long as you are in school and you can use it for things like child care, transportation and rent. The Chafee Grant Program, also known as the Education and Training Voucher (ETV), is a federally funded program and is subject to the availability of federal funds each year.
To qualify, you must:
- Be eligible, or have been eligible for Independent Living Program (ILP) services, between your 16th and 18th birthdays.
- Not have reached your 22nd birthday as of July 1 of the award year.
Detailed information is available here.
Cal Grants for Transfer Students:
Current recipients - If you currently have a Cal Grant at another institution you can transfer it to UCR by submitting a school change with the California Student Aid Commission. This can be done online via the WebGrants for Students site. You must create an account to use this feature.
Community College Students
Community College Transfer Entitlement - High school students who graduated July 1, 2000 or after may receive a Cal Grant A to attend a four-year college. You are guaranteed an award if;
- you have at least a 2.4 community college GPA,
- meet the admissions requirements for the qualifying four-year college,
- meet the Cal Grant eligibility and financial requirements,
- apply by March 2nd of the award year you are planning to transfer to a four-year college,
- must transfer in the same academic year awarded
- and are under age 28 as of December 31 of the award year.
Students who received a Cal Grant within a year of graduating from high school are not eligible.
Community College Cal Grant A Reserve -California Community College students can apply for a Cal Grant A and have their awards held in California Community College Reserve status. The Cal Grant A award does not pay at a community college; it becomes available when you transfer to an eligible four-year college.
To activate your Cal Grant Reserve award complete the FAFSA and list the college you’ll be attending in the fall, e.g., UC Riverside. (The school you list will certify your Cal Grant eligibility.)
When you plan to transfer, be sure to update your school of choice on the WebGrants for Students site.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans are considered independent for financial aid purposes. You may be required to submit the Member 4 copy your DD-214 to verify your status. Veterans Benefits must be coordinated with any financial aid awarded. The monthly amount and the number of months you receive the following benefits must be reported on the FAFSA.
- Chapter 30 - Montgomery G.I. Bill
- Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation
- Chapter 32 - VEAP Contributory
- Chapter 35 - Dependents Educational Assistance (Spouse/Child)
- Chapter 1606 - Montgomery G.I. Bill for Selected Reserve
- Chapter 1607 - Reserve Education Assistance Program
- Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship
Although Veterans' educational benefits are not used in the EFC calculation; we do use these benefits and any other benefits, such as fee waivers, to determine your eligibility for aid. However, Montgomery GI Bill benefits are excluded in determining eligibility for the Subsidized Stafford Loan.
When you receive a financial aid award, review the amounts of these benefits carefully and report any discrepancy to our office.
Student Special Services is available to assist UC Riverside students in securing full and timely educational benefits to which they are entitled as a result of their own military service or the service-connected death or disability of a parent or spouse. You may apply for temporary assistance if your VA benefits are delayed or do not coincide with the fee payment deadline. Interest free Emergency Loans are available in our office to provide short term assistance. The Deferred Payment Plan (DPP) provides students with an opportunity to pay fees and tuition in three installments over an extended period of time. Click here for additional information.
Additional information can be found in the Veteran’s Affairs Handbook.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal regulations require that UC Riverside (UCR) monitor your progress toward completion of your degree or program as a condition of continued financial aid eligibility.
Transfer students: You must complete a minimum of 12 units per quarter and 36 units per academic year.
All quarters of attendance, including those in which you did not receive financial assistance, must be counted in total duration of financial aid eligibility. Your previous attendance at other post-secondary institutions is considered in determining the number of quarters in which you may be considered for financial assistance at UCR. The total number of units accepted as transfer credit by the UCR Admission Office is divided by 12 units. The result is rounded down to the nearest whole number and deducted from 18 quarters. This result is the total number of quarters of eligibility which you have upon entering UCR.
Click here for detailed information on this policy.