Finances & Financial Aid
For prospective students and their families, budgeting, costs and how to pay for college can seem complicated. UC San Diego offers information and advising to help you understand the big picture and the bottom line.
Undergraduate Applicants
Planning ahead
- Budgets and costs of attendance: Estimates for all education costs: registration fees, non-resident tuition, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and a health care insurance fee (or health care allowance)
- Types of financial aid
- Eligibility requirements for undergraduates
- Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
- How to apply for financial aid
- Financial aid forms and resources
- FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- How financial aid awards are determined
For veterans and military service members
Financial aid timeline
California residency for tuition purposes
- Living at a California address does not mean you automatically have resident status in terms of tuition. The financial independence requirement makes it extremely difficult for most undergraduate students whose parents are not California residents to qualify for classification as a resident at the University of California.
- This includes students from community colleges and other post-secondary institutions within California.
- Transfer students who were classified as residents of California at their previous school should not assume that they will be classified as residents at UC San Diego.
- See the Registrar's Office webpages for more information on California residence for fees and tuition.
If you are admitted and accept UC San Diego's offer of admission
Admitted students can review their financial aid estimate on the application status site MyApplication.
After you enroll
- Registration fees
- Ways to pay your bill
- Triton Cash: Use your Campus Card to make purchases at select locations on and off campus
- Student employment
Financial Aid Office
Financial aid advisers are available to answer your questions
Find out about the types of financial aid
Get help with forms and deadlines
Visit our website for information and office hours
Campus Office
UC San Diego Campus Profile includes information about fees and financial aid, and a financial aid estimator
Glossary of Terms
Useful terms and phrases for understanding financial aid
Glossary of College Terms explains common college application terms