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.

• Nonresident undergraduates are ineligible for state and university need-based funding. However, need-based federal financial aid is available and we offer nonresident undergraduate students the maximum for which they are eligible in federal aid including Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans.

  To help guide nonresident students, below are additional aid options:
  
  Scholarships: A student’s UC application for admission is what Financial Aid and Scholarships uses as a scholarship application for UC scholarships. If a student receives a UC scholarship, they will be contacted by our Undergraduate and Prestigious Scholarships Office. Scholarships are offered throughout the summer.

  Outside Scholarships: Our office maintains an extensive list of outside scholarship opportunities, which are based on the area of interest. Please search Outside Scholarships to discover additional funding possibilities.

  Work-Study: Eligible first-year undergraduate students can utilize work-study funds beginning this fall. Students can search for a job through the student employment portal Handshake and can visit the Internship and Career Center for help. 

  Additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: The first-year undergraduate annual loan limit for a dependent student is $5,500. 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, we can increase the student’s unsubsidized loan up to $6,000 (depending on the student’s eligibility). Students can learn more at Undergraduate Loans.

  Private Loans: Private education loans are an option for financing your education. StudentAid.gov provides a federal and private loan comparison. You can also visit Private Loans for important information, and refer to the UC Private Lender List link at the bottom of that webpage for access to available lenders.

• 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?
• Financial aid packages for continuing students will be available starting in the summer, so we are unable to provide an exact amount of your aid for the next academic year at this time. 
  
  If you choose to live off-campus, please note that housing is less expensive than on-campus housing, so your budget (and consequently, your financial aid) would be adjusted to reflect the lower housing cost. 
  
  For example, switching from an on-campus apartment (approx. $46,872) to an off-campus apartment (approx. $40,394) results in a $6,478 reduction in your overall budget, leading to a corresponding decrease in your grants and loans.
  
  For a breakdown of the differences between on-campus and off-campus housing for the current academic year, please visit the Cost of Attendance for your cohort.