Undergraduate Expenses and Financial Resources

Expenses

In determining the cost of attending UCSC each quarter, students should consider both required fees and personal expenses. The figures below are provided to help you draw up a realistic personal budget. If you then conclude that you will need financial assistance in order to attend UCSC, you should read the Financial Aid section below. Fees and additional financial information for graduate students appear in the Fees and Expenses section. Tuition, fees, and other charges are subject to change without notice by the UC Regents. For the most current fee information, check reg.ucsc.edu.

Required Fees

Required fees are due and payable before the start of each quarter. At the beginning of each quarter, you will need sufficient funds to cover housing charges and book costs. For many financial aid recipients, however, fees and on-campus housing charges are paid automatically from approved student aid funds. If you are a financial aid recipient, please note that checks and direct deposits for scholarships, grants, and loans in excess of university charges are not available to you until after registration and enrollment each quarter.

The University Registration Fee funds student services that provide a supportive and enriching learning environment and that are complementary to, but not part of, the instructional program. Programs include, but are not limited to, services related to the physical and psychological health and well-being of students; social and cultural activities and programs;
services related to campus life; and educational and career support.

The Educational Fee helps support student financial aid and related programs; admissions; registration; administration; libraries; operation and maintenance of plant; the university’s
operating budget; and all costs related to instruction, including faculty salaries.

Santa Cruz campus fees help support a wide range of student services, including college and campuswide student government, extracurricular programs and recreation ­facilities, campus child care, community and public service projects, Educational Opportunity Programs and scholarships, and free-fare use of the local transit systems. Campus fees paid by graduate students are provided in the graduate studies section.

In addition, all students, including foreign students, are assessed a mandatory Health Insurance Premium. The Cowell Student Health Center provides the primary care services for the plan while a contracted insurance company provides major medical and hospitalization insurance. There is an annual deductible, with most expenses covered at 80 percent of the customary and usual charge. Coverage includes, but is not limited to, hospital stays; surgical services; physician visits; emergency treatment; outpatient care; and pregnancy. Dependent coverage is also available. Detailed information is on the web at www2.ucsc.edu/healthcenter/billing/insurance.shtml or contact the Student Health Insurance Office, (831) 459-2389.

Waivers from the mandatory health insurance premium are available if you can show that your private insurance provides coverage equal to or better than the student health insurance plan. Deadlines for applying for a waiver are listed in the Schedule of Classes.

Some courses charge an additional Course Materials Fee. These fees recover the cost of materials, supplies, equipment, and support services not covered by the normal instructional budget. The fees are reviewed and approved annually by the Miscellaneous and Course Materials Fee Advisory Committee. The list of specific courses charging fees in 2008–09 is available in the quarterly Schedule of Classes and on the web at reg.ucsc.edu/coursefees.html.

Nonresident Tuition

If you are a resident of a state other than California or of another country, you must pay nonresident tuition, the nonresident educational fee, and other required fees (university registration and Santa Cruz campus fees). The criteria for residency appear in Appendix A.
Non–U.S. citizens note: Regardless of how long you live in California, only U.S. citizens and holders of immigrant visas may become qualified for resident classification.

Late Fees

You may be assessed late fees if you fail to make university payments or enroll by the specified deadlines. For example, late fees are as­sessed on a graduated basis for each month there is an unpaid balance on your university account, and at $50 each for a late registration payment and/or late enrollment and $25 for a late housing payment. Deadlines are published in The Navigator (the undergraduate campus handbook) and the Schedule of Classes, both online at reg.ucsc.edu, and they appear on the Statement of Account.

Estimated Personal Expenses

The figures given for estimated personal expenses are for a single undergraduate living on campus. Expenses will be higher for married students, students with children, and graduate students. The information is as current and realistic as possible; however, expenses for students vary in accordance with lifestyles, priorities, and obligations.

Room and board (in college residences). Rates for room and board in the college residence halls are expected to range from about $9,500 to $13,275 per year, depending on the type of accommodation and meal plan. The room and board amount of $13,038 in the Undergraduate Budget table is based on the weighted average of on-campus contracts and includes an allowance for additional meals and phone service. Anticipated rates for college apartments are comparable once food and phone costs are added.

Rates are paid quarterly. The rate ranges listed above do not cover periods of academic recess, nor does the budget above. Housing charges are normally payable at the beginning of each quarter. However, students may arrange with the Campus Housing Office to pay monthly.
More detailed information on room and board expenses for the individual colleges appears in a brochure distributed as part of the admission process or available from the Campus Housing Office, 104 Hahn Student Services Building, (831) 459-2394.

Miscellaneous. This budget item covers a broad range of expenses including clothing, laundry, personal grooming, recreation, and health maintenance. It also covers minimum expenses for modest travel to visit family.

Fee Refunds

Students who cancel their registration before the first day of instruction in a given quarter are refunded all required fees minus a $10 service charge. New undergraduate students who cancel their registration before the first day of instruction are entitled to a refund of all required fees except the nonrefundable $100 undergraduate acceptance of admis­sion fee (applied toward the university registration fee).

Once the quarter has begun, students must petition for withdrawal. The percentage of fees refunded is determined by the effective date of the withdrawal, according to the schedule at the left, in which day 1 is the first day of instruction. A student is not eligible for university
services after the effective date of withdrawal.

A student entering the armed forces before the sixth week of the quarter is entitled to a full refund of the university registration fee—provided no course credit is received.

More detailed information on withdrawal and refund procedures is included in the quarterly Schedule of Classes and The Navigator, both online at reg.ucsc.edu, and in the Graduate Student Handbook (graddiv.ucsc.edu). Information on refunds of room and board charges is contained in the campus housing contract, provided to all applicants for on-campus housing. For more information on how withdrawing affects your financial aid, refer to Your Guide to Financial Aid or contact the Financial Aid Office.

Deferred Payment Plan

The Deferred Payment Plan (DPP) provides an alternative method of budgeting and paying registration fees. It allows these fees, to the extent not covered by scholarships, loans, or other financial aid, to be paid in monthly installments. Students have a choice of applying for a three-month plan for individual quarterly fees, or, at the beginning of the fall quarter only, for a nine-month plan to be used for the fall, winter, and spring quarters. A nonrefundable application fee of $25 for the three-month plan, or $60 for the nine-month plan, is required. Any student in good financial and academic standing may apply for DPP. Students receiving financial aid sufficient to cover registration fees in full are not eligible for this plan. For more information about how to apply for DPP, application deadlines, and campus policies regarding the program, contact the Office of Student Business Services, 203 Hahn Student Services Building, (831)
459-2107, e-mail oarinfo@ucsc.edu, or visit the web site at sbs.ucsc.edu.

Financial Aid

For undergraduate students who require financial assistance, the university maintains a broad-based financial aid program of grants, scholarships, loans, and part-time employment. Administered by the Financial Aid Office, these resources help bridge the gap between the cost of education and what parents and students can reasonably contribute.

If you are a dependent student, the amount of the contribution expected from you and your parents is determined through a careful analysis of your family’s financial strength, considering such variables as income, number of dependents, allowable expenses, and assets (excluding the home you live in). Federal, state, and university procedures and campus policies are used in the evaluation. The same ­policies apply to married and independent students.

Application Deadlines

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may be filed beginning on January 1 preceding the academic year in which you wish to enroll. The deadline for applications is March 2 of the preceding academic year for which you are requesting aid. The FAFSA can be filled out online and filed electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. A “FAFSA on the Web Worksheet” is available in high school guidance and college financial aid offices throughout the country. You can also download and print a FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Prior-year FAFSA applicants can use their PIN number to access their information and to complete their FAFSA on the web.

In some cases, the Financial Aid Office will require additional information from applicants. These applicants will be sent an e-mail instructing them to log onto the student portal at my.ucsc.edu and view their “To Do List,” which will specify the required documents (e.g., copies of student and parent tax returns or other forms). These are mandatory requirements with a due date for each requested item on the “To Do List.” Please be sure to keep your e-mail address current at my.ucsc.edu.

Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed after those received on time have been processed. Late applicants will be considered on a funds-available basis.

The admission notification date is the financial aid application deadline for students seeking to transfer to UCSC during the winter or spring quarter of the following academic year. Required supporting documents must be submitted by December 20.

First-year student applications will be processed first, and every effort will be made to provide frosh with an aid offer by May 1. The earlier the FAFSA is submitted after January 1, the earlier you will receive an offer. All other applicants will be notified as applications are processed after that date. If you are applying for winter or spring quarter, you will receive notification of your award as soon as possible after you are admitted and your aid application file is complete.

Types of Aid

If you apply for financial aid and you meet the application deadlines, as outlined above, you are considered for all the types of assistance described below. Depending on funds available and your financial need, your financial aid package may include a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and work opportunities.

Grants

The following grants are available to undergraduates.

The Cal Grant A program, open only to California residents, will provide a maximum award of $7,126 in 2008–09 to help offset mandatory registration fees for the academic year. Students are selected on the basis of academic achievement and financial need.

The Cal Grant B program, designed for California students from low-income families, will provide an annual living stipend of $1,551 to all eligible freshman students in 2008–09. In 2008–09, to help offset mandatory registration fees and aid with annual living expenses, this grant will provide $8,677 to students at the sophomore level and above.

All California residents seeking financial aid must apply for a Cal Grant by submitting a FAFSA by March 2 and listing a California college in the information-release section of the FAFSA. New applicants for the Cal Grant must also file a GPA Verification form directly to the California Student Aid Commission by March 2. More information is available at www.csac.ca.gov.

Federal Pell Grants will provide a maximum of $4,731 during 2008–09.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are available to students with substantial financial need. The grants range from $100 to $4,000.

Federal Academic Competitiveness Grants provide up to $750 for first-year college students and up to an additional $1,300 for second-year students. To receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant, freshmen and sophomores must be Federal Pell Grant–eligible and have completed a program of rigorous high school course work as defined by their state (all regularly admitted UCSC students meet these criteria). In addition, sophomores must have earned a 3.0 GPA by the end of their freshman year. Visit federalstudentaid.ed.gov for more details.

Federal National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants provide up to $4,000. To receive a SMART Grant, juniors and seniors must be Federal Pell Grant–eligible majoring in designated science, technology, math, or critical foreign languages, and maintain a 3.0 GPA each term during the year. Visit federalstudentaid.ed.gov for more details.

UC Santa Cruz Grants are designed for students with substantial financial need. Funds for this grant program come in part from the educational fees paid quarterly by students at all campuses of the university.

Scholarships

A variety of scholarships, ranging from $250 per year to an amount that covers full financial need, are available to undergraduates. Funding comes from many sources—private donors, corporations, professional associations, alumni, and the university itself.

The amount of the scholarship award is generally based on the student’s demonstrated financial need. In cases where the student’s established financial need exceeds the amount of the scholarship, the award may be supplemented by other types of financial aid.

Merit scholarships are awarded competitively on the basis of high academic achievement and potential. Other scholarships are restricted to students from particular geographic areas or family backgrounds or are limited to students in particular majors, classes, or colleges. The donors have different reasons for giving, and their varied interests are reflected in the wide range of scholarships available. Merit and restricted scholarship awards range up to $1,500. Regents Scholarships are awarded for periods of four years to entering frosh and for periods of two years to continuing or transfer students beginning their junior year at the university. These awards are based on academic achievement and promise, irrespective of financial need. For freshmen, the Regents Scholarship is $20,000 paid over four years. For entering junior transfers, the Regents Scholarship is $10,000 paid over two years. For continuing students, the amount varies based on grade level and year appointed.

Entering UCSC students apply for scholarships using the University of California Application for Undergraduate Admission. When filling out your UC application, answer the questions in the scholarship section. Your application essay will serve as your scholarship essay.

All continuing students will be automatically considered for UCSC scholarships based on cumulative GPA. Notifications will be e-mailed in August.

Need-Based Loans

Student loan funds are administered by UC in accordance with the regulations of the federal government. There is no interest on need-based student loans as long as the student is enrolled in college at least half-time. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a degree program and demonstrate financial need. To apply for these loans, students must submit the FAFSA.

Through the Federal Perkins Loan Program, students who demonstrate financial need may borrow up to $20,000 for undergraduate study. Repayment begins nine months after graduation or withdrawal from higher education. The interest rate is 5 percent per year.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loans are administered by the UCSC Financial Aid Office. Students must demonstrate financial need, and annual limits for dependent students are $3,500 for first-year students, $4,500 for second-year students, and $5,500 for all other undergraduates. The annual limit for graduate students is $8,500. Students may borrow up to $23,000 for undergraduate study and up to $65,500 for undergraduate and graduate study combined. Students pay an origination fee of up to 2.0 percent. Repayment begins six months after graduation or withdrawal from higher education. The interest rate is 6.0 percent fixed on all loans made in 2008–09.

Non-Need-Based Loans

William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans are administered by the Financial Aid Office. These loans are available to students who do not qualify for the subsidized loans (above), and students must first be determined ineligible for a Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loan. Interest is charged on unsubsidized loans from the date the loan is made. The interest rate is fixed at 6.0 percent on all loans made in 2008–09.

The borrower must pay an origination fee of up to 2.5 percent, which is deducted from the amount of the loan. Eligibility is calculated by subtracting any financial assistance awarded the student from the cost of education as defined by the Financial Aid Office (see Undergraduate Budget, page 19). Dependent students may borrow $2,000 in Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans in addition to the annual subsidized loan limits. The aggregate total loan limit for undergraduate study is $31,500.

Independent students have higher combined Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loan limits than do dependent students. The annual limits for independent students are as follows: $9,500 for first-year students; $10,500 for second-year students; $12,500 for other undergraduates; and $20,500 for graduate students. Students may borrow up to $57,500 for undergraduate study and $138,500 for undergraduate and graduate study combined.
Students may begin repaying principal and interest on Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans immediately, pay only interest immediately, or defer both principal and interest until they are no longer enrolled in school at least half-time.

Through Federal Direct Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students, parents may borrow up to the full cost of education as defined by the UCSC Financial Aid Office, less any financial assistance the student receives. Parents must demonstrate creditworthiness for loan approval. Borrowers pay an origination fee of up to 4 percent, which is deducted from the loan amount. Loan payments begin 60 days after the last disbursement. The interest rate is fixed at 7.9 percent on all loans made in 2008–09.

Other loans. The UCSC Financial Aid Office provides information about other privately sponsored education loans at www2.ucsc.edu/fin-aid or upon request.

Further Information

For more information about applying for financial aid, deadlines for filing applications and supporting documents, and campus policy regarding refunds of overpayments, contact the Finan­cial Aid Office, 205 Hahn Student Services Building, (831) 459-2963, e-mail fin_aid@ucsc.edu, or visit www2.ucsc.edu/fin-aid, where you may download and print the publication Your Guide to Financial Aid.

Veteran Services

The Veteran Services staff acts as a liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs and students who, as veterans, veterans’ dependents, or reservists, receive education benefits. The staff also assists with the California Department of Veterans Affairs’ college fee-waiver program for children of veterans who have service-connected disabilities or who have died from service-related causes. Students who are California residents apply for the college fee-waiver program through their home county Veterans Services Office.

Students who are veterans or veterans’ dependents should contact Veteran Services as soon as they receive notification of admission to UC Santa Cruz to ensure timely processing of their benefit claims.

Veteran Services staff members are located at 160 Hahn Student Services Building. An appointment may be arranged by calling (831) 459-2709 or by e-mail at registrar@ucsc.edu.
During their transition to the university and while they are enrolled as UCSC students, military veterans are provided a broad range of academic and support services by Services for Transfer and Re-Entry Students (STARS). The main STARS office is located in room 216A of the Academic Resources Center. Contact staff at (831) 459-2552, or visit the STARS web site, stars.ucsc.edu.