The road to financial assistance starts here
Almost everyone needs help paying for their education, and everyone’s journey starts one of two ways: with FAFSA or CADAA. Once you submit your financial aid application, you’re well on your way to finding the scholarships, grants, or loans that you qualify for.
Visit the links to the left to learn more about which application you should complete.
How do I check my UCI financial aid?
Please go to www.ofas.uci.edu/som and log onto “My Aid” to check: Status of your financial aid application: “My Aid Application Status” Your financial aid package: “My Aid Award”
Now awarding the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (also known as ‘HEERF’) provides emergency grants to assist students with economic hardships related to disruptions caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Learn more
Scholarships at UCI
UCI students can explore their passions with our robust scholarship programs.
Our Mission Statement
To support the University of California, Irvine and its diverse, talented, and ambitious student body by cultivating scholarship opportunities to further individual growth and interests that meets the societal needs. Through engagement with students, as well as collaboration with campus and community partners, the Scholarships Unit strives to support access to a world class education.
UC Irvine offers many scholarship opportunities for current undergraduate students through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships’ annual online scholarship application.
Learn More About Applying For Scholarships
Are you ready to apply for financial aid?
Understand your eligibility, the types of financial aid available to you, and financial aid requirements.
Am I eligible for financial aid?
In order to receive financial aid you must meet the basic eligibility:
- Be eligible to apply for the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application
- Be registered with [Selective Service], if required
- Attend a participating school
- Be 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
- Have financial need (except for Unsubsidized Direct and Federal PLUS Loans)
Determining aid eligibility
Aid Eligibility is basically how much money you may be eligible to can receive. Your financial aid eligibility will be covered with a mix of different type of financial aid awards.
We will take the cost of education, subtract your expected family contribution, and the remainder is your aid eligibility.
The expected family contribution is determined using the information you provided on the FAFSA.
Your eligibility for some grants are dependent on filing your aid application and all required documents by the priority deadlines.Watch a Video: After the FAFSA
What types of financial aid can I receive?
Most students receive a financial aid award that includes a combination of funds–some that require demonstrated financial need, others that don’t.
These funds fall into four general categories:
- Grants: Require financial need and do not have to be repaid
- Student Loans: Must be repaid with interest, usually after graduating or withdrawing from college
- Scholarships: Awarded based on grades and other achievements
- Work-Study: Aid earned through part-time employment
Note for non-CA residents:
Effective for Fall 2016 Admits, the University is unable to provide university grant or scholarship support to Non-California Residents. Federal Pell Grant, Work-Study, and student loans are available to assist with education costs.
What if I don’t qualify for need-based aid?
There are awards that aren’t based on financial need, like an Unsubsidized William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan or the Federal Direct PLUS Loan. So, it’s important to complete your financial aid file, even if you or your family don’t require [need-based] financial aid.
Selective Service Requirements
To be eligible to receive financial aid, some students are required to register for Selective Service. The Financial Aid Office may require verification of registration or confirmation of exemption to registration. You are only require to submit confirmation of registration or exemption, if asked.
Who is required to register? Male student who are ages 18–25.
Currently, all U.S. citizens, Permanent Residents and Undocumented students whose birth assigned sex as male must register within thirty days of their eighteenth birthday.
To register, fill out the form available Selective Service website or the paper forms in United States post offices and U.S. embassies. You can also print the forms directly from the Selective Service website.
Where to Start
There are several steps to the FAFSA process.
Gather your information
You’ll need a few things handy to complete the FAFSA. If you don’t have everything you need, don’t worry. You can always start the FAFSA application, save it, and finish at a later time.
To paint an accurate picture of your financial situation, you will need your social security or alien registration number, federal tax information, records of untaxed income, bank account balances, and investment information.
The FAFSA collects information from prior-prior year, for example your 2026-22 FAFSA you will need to use income from your 2026 Federal Income Tax form.