Based on inquiries by phone and email, below are the top five topics of the week. For more questions and answers, visit Frequently Asked Questions.

• When will I know if I qualify for the Cal Grant award?
• Cal Grant eligibility is determined by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). In August, CSAC sends Financial Aid and Scholarships a list of students who are eligible for Cal Grant. If a student’s name appears on that list, the Cal Grant award will be posted to their financial aid package. Please keep in mind that the Cal Grant is often interchangeable with the University Grant, meaning if a student is offered a University Grant, receiving the Cal Grant will not give the student additional funding. Instead, it will swap the source of the funds received. Students expecting to receive the Cal Grant but who have not yet been awarded can log in to CSAC’s grants web page to check for any pending requirements.
• As an incoming student, how do I apply for scholarships?
• When a student applies to UC Davis, they are automatically considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible. To maximize scholarship opportunities, it is recommended that students visit Outside Scholarships to explore all opportunities.
• When am I able to submit my FAFSA for the next school year, 2021-22?
• The 2021–22 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form will become available on Oct. 1, 2020, for the 2021–22 award year, which runs from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. A student can submit the application any time until the end of the award year to apply for federal aid. However, the deadline to submit a FAFSA on time is March 2, 2021. Students who submit the FAFSA after the March 2, 2021, priority deadline, may only be eligible for federal aid and we cannot guarantee any institutional grant funds.
• What are the requirements to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) throughout the academic year?
• Students who plan to receive financial aid for the next academic year must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in the current academic year. These standards include receiving a cumulative 2.0 GPA and passing 67% of attempted units. Financial Aid and Scholarships calculates whether a student is meeting SAP standards at the end of every academic year in July. For more information, visit Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards.
• When will I know if I qualify for additional aid to help pay for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) if I decide not to waive out of it? 
• Students who do not waive out of SHIP may be eligible for an increase in aid, which can be in the form of loans and/or grants. If a student does not waive out of SHIP, and is eligible for additional aid, their financial aid package will be readjusted in October to help cover the cost of SHIP.