To apply for financial aid, submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA every year no later than March 2nd.  This is the only application you need for all types of aid including grants, scholarships, loans and work-study.  If necessary, you may provide estimated income information and correct it later. 

Before you start your FAFSA, it is helpful to complete a FAFSA Worksheet. 

You and your parent must establish a PIN before you submit a FAFSA. Apply at the U.S. Department of Education's PIN site.

The School Code for UC Santa Cruz is 001321.

After you complete the FAFSA, return to the FAFSA website to check the status of your FAFSA. You may be required to make corrections to your data. 

• If your FAFSA is in a rejected status, we will be unable to offer you financial aid. If this happens, read the comments and follow the instructions to resolve a rejected application.
• If you used estimated income data when you first submitted the FAFSA, you must update your FAFSA with data from tax returns you and your parents file with the IRS.

For help with your FAFSA, call 1-800-4FEDAID (1-800-433-3243); Mon–Fri: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 midnight Eastern Time or Sat: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Or, you may contact our Financial Aid Advisers.

If you are not eligible to submit a FAFSA but you think you will qualify to be considered for the AB540 Non-Resident Tuition Waiver, apply for UC grants and scholarships using the California Dream Application.  In 2012-13, applicants will be considered for UC scholarship aid for fall quarter and UC grant aid for winter and spring quarters. 

Beginning in 2013-14, students will be considered for UC grant and scholarship aid for all 3 quarters (fall, winter and spring).