Financial Aid Packaging Policy for Undergraduates

In the right place? If you're a graduate or professional student, see the Packaging Policy for Graduate Students.

Award packaging covers your financial need with a mix of different types of financial aid.

• "Need" is the difference between the UCSD budget (your estimated costs) and your expected family contribution, as determined by your FAFSA). Read more about how UCSD determines financial aid awards.
• If you're eligible for financial aid, your need will be funded by various sources on a first-come, first-served basis, based on fund availablity. Funds are distributed in the following sequence:
  1. Outside resources, including veterans benefits, college fee waivers, and ROTC funds
  2. Scholarships from UCSD and outside agencies
  3. Grants
     • Federal Pell Grant
     • Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant
     • Cal Grant
  4. Federal Stafford Loan/ Federal Parent PLUS loan
  5. Federal work-study and/or Perkins loan
  6. UC grants: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), opportunity grant (OG), and grant-in-aid (GIA)

You must file your FAFSA by March 2 to be eligible for work-study, Perkins loans, UC grants, or new Cal Grant awards.

See more information on all types of financial aid.

Questions? Contact the Financial Aid Office, (858) 534-4480.