Top 5 Questions of the Week
Based on inquiries by phone and email, below are the top five topics of the week.
- I am a newly admitted nonresident undergraduate student, and I have some questions about my financial aid.
We offer non-resident undergraduate students the maximum for which they are eligible in federal aid, including Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans.
To help guide non-resident students, below are additional aid options:
- Outside Scholarships for additional funding possibilities.
- Work-study Students can receive work-study funds. However, they are responsible for finding a job. Students can search for a job through Handshake.
- Additional Loans: If a student’s parent is unable to obtain a PLUS Loan and can provide proof of the denial to our office, along with the Unsubsidized Direct Loan Request form.
- Private Loans for additional funding possibilities.
- How can I apply for scholarships as a newly admitted undergraduate student?
- The UC Application served as your application for campus-based scholarships at UC Davis and merit-based scholarships were sent out alongside admission decisions. We recommend checking out our webpage for Outside Scholarships and the Cal Aggie Scholarships webpage if you would like to apply for additional opportunities.
- I have been selected for financial aid verification for 2025-26; what do I need to do?
- Students will be notified during the aid application filing process if they have been selected for federal verification. To see if you have been selected for verification, go to the Requirements section of MyAwards. If you are selected for verification, you will see "Verification Requirements" under Incomplete Requirements. From there, you will be automatically redirected to StudentForms, our application used to collect documents.
- How can I apply for summer financial aid and how does it work?
To be eligible for summer financial aid, you must:
- be enrolled in at least 6 units for the session (units can be combined; for example, you can take 3 units in SSI and 3 units in SSII)
- have a 2024-25 FAFSA or CADAA on file with UC Davis School Code 001313
- have not filed to graduate for spring quarter 2025
And meet one of the following requirements:
- be in a degree-seeking program at the time of enrollment for spring 2025
- be on an approved PELP program for spring 2025
- be a newly admitted freshman or transfer student for fall 2025
Summer financial aid funding is limited and will be given on a first-come first-served basis. Continuing UC Davis students attending summer sessions on our campus or participating in summer abroad through our campus do not have to submit a Summer Application. Your registration serves as your application for summer financial aid. Students will be packaged in the order that they register for classes or turn in their summer financial aid application. It is up to the student to inform our office of any unit adjustments, as it may affect their financial aid eligibility. You can notify our office by submitting a Summer Change in Aid form.- I’m considering different types of housing for next year. What can I expect to receive for financial aid?
For a breakdown of the differences between on-campus housing and off-campus housing for this academic year, please visit the Cost of Attendance for your cohort. Pay close attention to the estimated amount for Housing and Food.
Since off-campus housing is less expensive than on-campus housing, your budget (and consequently, your financial aid) would be adjusted to reflect the lower housing cost.
Summer Estimator
The Summer Abroad Financial Aid Estimator is now available. The Estimator can be used for these 2025 programs:
Federal Updates
A federal updates page on the University of California website tracks evolving federal policy shifts and provides resources as they become available. This resource includes a student financial aid section.