UCI’s Financial Aid Program Explained

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UCI’s Financial Aid Program From A to Z

It’s no wonder that students consider the University of California-Irvine (UCI) the best-value option among public universities when:

  • 72% of students receive grants and scholarships
  • 57% of students don’t pay tuition

For not-so-fortunate students, though, a year at UCI means spending between $13,000 and $43,500 annually on tuition. Are you applying for UCI next semester and need financial aid? Have you already applied, but the amount of support the University offers is not enough, or you got rejected? This guide covers everything from how to apply for UCI’s financial aid program to how to !

To get started, check out all types of financial aid the University of California-Irvine offers:

  1. Scholarships
  2. Loans
  3. Grants

UCI Financial Aid—Scholarships

UCI offers the following scholarships:

  • Community Leadership Scholarships
  • Innovation Scholarships
  • Academic Excellence Scholarships
  • Anteater Scholarships
  • UCI Distinguished Scholarships

UCI Financial Aid—Loans

UCI accepts federal and private student loans, and you can contact the UCI financial aid office if you need advice.

UCI Financial Aid—Grants

Grants are usually a go-to choice for students because, in most cases, they don’t have to repay them. Applying to UCI means you’re eligible for:

  1. Federal government grants
  2. State grants
  3. School-specific grants

Federal Government Grants

Federal government grants include:

Grant NameThe Grant Is ForAid AmountMore Details
Federal Pell Grant
  • Undergraduate students with exceptional financial need and without a degree
  • Students enrolled in a postbaccalaureate teacher certification program (in some cases)
Up to $6,495
  • You can receive a Pell Grant for a maximum of 12 semesters
  • You are eligible for a larger Pell Grant if you lost a parent that served the military or was a public safety officer
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)Undergraduate students with exceptional financial need and without a degreeUp to $4,000 a yearThis grant prioritizes Pell Grant recipients and depends on your school’s available funds
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) GrantStudents enrolled in programs that prepare them to teach on an elementary- or middle-school levelUp to $3,772Students agree to spend four years teaching in a school that enrolls low-income students, and they must do so within eight years of completing their program
Iraq and Afghanistan Service GrantFor students whose parent or guardian died serving the U.S. military in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11Up to $6,124.79Students must:
  • Be ineligible for a Pell Grant
  • Have been younger than 24 at the time they lost their parent or guardian

State Grants

The State of California offers the following grants:

Grant NameThe Grant Is ForAid Amount
Cal GrantDepending on the award category:
  • Transfer students
  • Current high school seniors, recent graduates, etc.
From $4,000 to $6,000
Chafee Grant for YouthStudents that are 16–18 years old and spent at least one day in foster care$5,000
Middle Class ScholarshipStudents and undergraduates pursuing a career in teaching with a total annual family income of up to $184,000Up to $184,000 per scholarship
California Military Department GI Bill Award ProgramMembers of the:
  • Naval Militia
  • State Military Reserve
  • California National Guard
Up to 100% of tuition and fees
Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant ProgramSpouses and dependents of employees who died or became disabled while serving:
  • Firefighters
  • Law Enforcement
  • Tribal Firefighters
  • Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
  • Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice
$12,192
John R. Justice (JRJ) ProgramNonelected prosecutors and public defendersUp to $10,000 per year but not more than $60,000 in total
Golden State Teacher Grant ProgramStudents currently enrolled in a teacher preparation program who agree to commit four years to teaching within five years of program completionUp to $20,000

School-Specific Grants

UCI offers grants to students for a maximum of five years, and the amount varies depending on the specific case. You do not have to repay a UCI grant under any circumstances.

Do I Have To Repay Other Grants?

While you usually don’t have to repay grants, you may have to if you:

  • Quit school before you finish the enrollment period
  • Receive a TEACH grant and breach the Agreement to Serve
  • Change your enrollment status in some way that influences your need for financial support—for example, going from full-time enrollment to part-time
  • Receive other scholarships and grants that lessen your need for financial aid

How To Apply for UCI Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid, you need to complete a FAFSA form. The form contains information regarding your family income, marital status, and more and serves as criteria to determine whether you need financial aid and how much.

The financial aid application deadline at UCI is March 2.

Check out our guide to see who qualifies for financial aid.

Did UCI Reject You or Reply to Your Application With a Low Offer? Write a Financial Appeal Letter With DoNotPay!

If you feel like UCI’s response wasn’t adequate, you can complain and negotiate to try and get more financial aid by writing a financial aid appeal letter. We can help you generate one in two minutes! To get started:

  1. in any web browser
  2. Type in Appeal for More Financial Aid in the search bar
  3. Answer a few questions about your financial aid application, such as the college you’re planning to attend, your financial situation, and any difficulties you’re experiencing
  4. Submit your request

We will generate a custom appeal letter that we can mail to UCI directly or send the letter to you via email to print out and submit yourself.

Learn more about how financial aid works with our guides on:

Looking for Other Options? Check Out Other Universities We Wrote About

If UCI rejects your application or negotiation doesn’t bear fruit, you can always explore other options. Some of them are:

University of California San Diego Financial AidRutgers University Financial AidStanford University Financial Aid
New York University Financial AidUniversity of California, Los Angeles Financial AidUniversity of California, Davis Financial Aid
Cornell University Financial AidPrinceton University Financial AidUniversity of California, Santa Cruz Financial Aid
MIT Financial AidUniversity of California, Berkeley Financial AidColumbia University Financial Aid
Harvard University Financial AidPurdue University Financial AidYale University Financial Aid

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