Student working on a laptop at the AB540 Center

Important Updates

  • The 2024-25 FAFSA and CADAA applications will open in December 2023. Visit FAFSA Simplification for details.
  • UC Davis students who are victims of the Maui Fires may be eligible for funding. Visit Basic Needs for details.
  • If you have been selected for verification, please complete the requirements as soon as possible. For details, visit Verification.
  • For California Middle Class Scholarship updates, please visit MCS.

Grants

Available Grant Awards

Grants are need-based awards that do not need to be repaid as long as the student maintains eligibility. For certain funds (Pell and Cal Grants), disbursement is dependent on enrollment status. For information on disbursement rates, please refer to the chart on our Disbursement and Direct Deposit webpage. For these funds, enrollment status is determined by the number of units registered; waitlisted units do not count towards enrollment status. If a student meets full-time enrollment status at the beginning of the term and falls below after the funds are disbursed, the student may be billed for any excess aid received.

Admitted or continuing students must log in to MyAwards to view their aid package and requirements. The package may include some of the grants listed below.

Orientation Grant

The Orientation Grant is awarded to students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) below $6,656. The amount of the grant will vary and will be based on the orientation fee charge and current housing status. Eligible students will be awarded the Orientation Grant once orientation fees are posted, generally before the fall fee payment deadline of September 15.

University Grants

A variety of university grants are awarded to undergraduates who have grant eligibility according to the UC Education Financing Model. University grant funds are limited and awarded to eligible students based on their need and their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) filing date (priority deadline is March 2). Students must also continue to meet all funding criteria and ensure that any required documentation is completed and submitted in a timely manner. Awards are based on the availability of funding at the time a student’s completed file is processed. This includes awards covered by the UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan. University grant funding is not available to cover nonresident supplemental tuition. If you receive additional gift aid, your University Grant award may be reduced. 

Summer Grants

A variety of summer grants may be awarded to undergraduates with grant eligibility according to the UC Education Financing Model and are enrolled in a minimum of half-time status during the summer. Summer grant funds are limited and awarded to eligible students based on both need and summer enrollment. Students must also continue to meet all funding criteria and ensure that any required documentation is completed and submitted in a timely manner. Awards are based on the availability of funding at the time a student’s completed file is processed. If a student receives additional gift aid during the summer, summer grants may be reduced. For additional information, please visit Summer Financial Aid.

Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grants are for undergraduates with demonstrated need who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree, and who are enrolled at least half-time. The Department of Education determines the student's eligibility for Pell Grant by reviewing their Free Application for Student Federal Aid (FAFSA) information, which produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC), as indicated on the Student Aid Report (SAR). The amount of Pell Grant the student receives is based on the current year's EFC, the cost of attendance, whether the student is attending full-time or part-time, and whether the student attends school for a full academic year or less. Please note that students may not receive Pell Grant funds from more than one school at the same time.

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds you may receive over your lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the amount of a scheduled Pell Grant award you can receive each award year is equal to 100 percent, the six-year equivalent is 600 percent. Visit Federal Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU).

For information on disbursement rates based on enrollment status, please refer to the chart on our Disbursement and Direct Deposit webpage. More information on Pell Grants is available on the Federal Student Aid website.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is gift aid awarded by the university to qualified undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Priority is given to federal Pell Grant recipients.

Cal Grants A and B

Students apply for Cal Grant when they submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA). First-time Cal Grant applicants are required to submit a GPA Verification form directly to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) as part of the application process. CSAC determines eligibility and notifies the student by sending a California Aid Report (CAR). Cal Grant disburses each quarter based on enrolled units. Please refer to the chart on our Disbursement and Direct Deposit webpage for more information. After disbursement, if a student is deemed ineligible for Cal Grant, they will be required to repay the funds received. If students receive additional gift aid, the Cal Grant award may be reduced. 

  • Cal Grant A and B fee awards are only applied toward tuition.
  • Cal Grant B Access awards can be used to cover costs including living expenses, transportation, books, and supplies.
  • For more information regarding Cal Grant eligibility, refer to the CSAC website.
  • A Cal Grant may be in estimated status until confirmed with CSAC, which typically occurs in August.
  • Transfer students may not have their Cal Grant awards posted to MyAwards until eligibility is confirmed with CSAC. Confirmation typically occurs during the fall quarter. If determined to be Cal Grant eligible, the Cal Grant may replace a student's University Grant eligibility up to the award amount of the Cal Grant.
  • Your final amount will be determined after we have verified your eligibility.

California Chafee Grant

The California Chafee Grant Program gives money to current or former foster youth to use for career and technical training or college courses. Students do not have to pay this money back as long as they are in school. The Chafee Grant Program, also known as the Education and Training Voucher (ETV), is a federally funded program and is subject to the availability of federal funds each year. Students can obtain more information about the Chafee Grant and apply online at the CSAC website.

Native American Opportunity Plan

The Native American Opportunity Plan ensures that in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees are fully covered for California students who are also enrolled in federally recognized Native American, American Indian, and Alaska Native tribes. This plan applies to undergraduate and graduate students. Eligibility criteria and details can be found at Native American Opportunity Plan.

California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program

The California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program (DSIG) encourages California Dream Act Application (CADAA) students with a Cal Grant B award to perform community or volunteer service. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will award up to $3,000 per academic year (up to $1,000 per quarter) to 2,500 eligible students. The grant will be available to the student for up to 12 quarters while they have an active Cal Grant B award. Students must also meet Satisfactory Academic Progress and complete any necessary verification for their Cal Grant B award. For more information, visit AB540 and Undocumented Students.

California Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant 

The Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) program provides grants to dependents and spouses of California peace officers (Highway Patrol, marshals, sheriffs, and police officers), Department of Corrections and California Youth Authority employees, or permanent/full-time firefighters employed by public entities that were killed in the line of duty.  Students can obtain more information about the LEPD program and apply online at the CSAC website.

Students with Dependent Children Grant

The University Grant for Students with Dependent Children is awarded to students with children under 18 years old who they support more than 50% and have not received full Cal Grant access for Students with Dependents. The amount of the grant can be up to $6,000 for the year and will be based on financial need, units enrolled, meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress, and completed financial aid requirements. To be eligible for the full-time amount, students need to be enrolled in 12 units for the term.

Note: Failure to submit the documentation requested for this process could result in the student being selected for verification to correct information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).