Types of Aid

There are four basic types of financial aid you may receive at UC Santa Cruz:
grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships.

• Grants and Scholarships are Gift aid: they do not need to be repaid.
  
• Work-Study and Loans are Self-help aid: they must be earned or repaid.
  
  

Grants
Most grants are awarded based solely on financial need. The amount of grant you receive depends on your EFC (Expected Family Contribution), cost of attendance, and enrollment status (full-time or part-time). ACG and SMART Grants have additional eligibility requirements; recipients of these federal grants must meet strict academic and enrollment requirements. Unlike with loans, you do not have to repay grants unless you are awarded funds incorrectly or you withdraw from school.

Loans
Student loans are long-term awards that enable you to defer paying for your education until you are no longer a student. Interest rates, deferment options, and other terms vary from one loan program to another. Loans are available for students from all income levels; loans with the lowest interest rates are awarded to financial aid applicants with the most need. When you accept a student loan from the university or from the federal government, you are legally obligated to repay the loan according to the terms of the promissory note.

Work-Study
Work-Study is a federally-subsidized hourly wage job program which provides part-time employment for students both on- and off-campus. In order to apply for a work-study position, you MUST be receiving Financial Aid. Work-study earnings do not have to be repaid.

Scholarships

UCSC scholarships are generally awarded based on need as determined by the FAFSA. The major exception is the Regents Scholarships, which are awarded to undergraduates at the University of California in recognition of outstanding academic achievement.

We encourage all of our students to search and apply for scholarships from outside organizations. For more information and links to major scholarship search engines see our Private Scholarships page.