The Office of Financial Aid

Financial Aid Tips

• File Your Financial Aid Application Every Year

  File your FAFSA or Dream Act Application every year (even if you don't think you'll qualify)! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

• Finding Scholarships

  UCR students have access to Scholarship Universe – a scholarship matching tool that matches you to scholarships that best suit you!

  The more questions you answer in your personalized portal, the more scholarships you're matched with. It takes all of the searching out of your scholarship search! 

  UCR students can log in to ucr.scholarshipuniverse.com using their UCR NetID and password.

• Sending Your Outside Scholarship Check

  If you are sending the Financial Aid Office your outside scholarship check, please ensure that the scholarship check has the Student Identification number (SID) located on the check, the student's name, and made payable to REGENTS UC.  

  Please mail your scholarship checks to the UCR Student Business Services office at:

  UCR Main Cashiers Office 900 University Avenue Student Services Bldg, Rm 1111 Riverside, CA 92521

  Alternatively, you may drop off scholarship checks using the Cashier's Drop Box located on the east side of the Student Services Building.

• Summer Aid

  In order to be offered a summer financial aid award, you must:

  • Submit a FAFSA or CADAA.
  • Submit all documents required to complete your financial aid application. 
  • Enroll in a minimum of 6 units for Summer Sessions.
  • Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or above. 

  Summer financial aid offers are prepared and emailed to students who have met the requirements in late May.

  If you are an undergraduate student, you may be eligible for grant funds. The Summer Financial Aid Estimator will be available on April 15 on Summer Sessions to calculate the amount of summer financial aid you may qualify to receive in grant aid.

• Loan Exiting Steps for Seniors

  12 Tips to Pave the Way for a Graceful Exit

• Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan

  UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan will ensure that you will not have to pay system-wide tuition and fees out of your own pocket if you are a CA resident whose total family income is less than $80,000 a year (and you qualify for financial aid).

  You don't need to fill out a separate application to qualify for the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan. You will receive the benefits automatically if you meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Submit a FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by April 2
  • Be a California resident or have AB 540 status
  • Demonstrate total family income below $80,000 and financial need, as determined for federal need-based aid programs
  • Be in your first four years as a UC undergraduate (first two for transfer students)
  • Meet other basic requirements for UC grant aid (for example, be enrolled at least half-time during the academic year, meet campus academic progress standards, not be in default on student loans, etc.)

  What's covered?

  If you're eligible, your system-wide tuition and fees will be fully covered by scholarship or grant money. The plan combines all sources of scholarship and grant awards you receive (federal, state, UC and private) to go toward covering your tuition and fees. Students with greater financial need can qualify for even more grant support to help defray other educational expenses (like books, housing, transportation, etc.).