On October 7, the University of California Newsroom published “10 tips on financial aid at the University of California,” stating that 52 percent of California undergraduates pay no tuition and that California students receive an average of $24,000 in grants and scholarships. Irvine families submitting a UC application before November 30 can estimate their costs with the official calculator at the same time.
Who Is Affected by the UC Financial Aid Facts
California students and families planning to apply to the University of California. The figures in the article follow.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| California undergraduates receiving grants and scholarships | 67 percent |
| California undergraduates paying no tuition | 52 percent; for most in-state students with household income of $100,000 or less, tuition is zero |
| Class of 2025 graduating without student loans | 63 percent (UC estimate) |
| Middle Class Scholarship | Available to families with annual incomes up to $250,000 |
| Average grant and scholarship for California students | $24,000, including about $6,500 beyond tuition for food, housing and living expenses |
| Grants that need not be repaid, 2024-25 | $1.25 billion from UC, $1.4 billion from the State of California and $650 million from federal and private sources, a total of $3.3 billion |
On tuition, UC’s Tuition Stability Plan means the amount a first-year student pays is likely to stay the same through senior year. The article states that students need not wait for an admission offer to apply for aid: they file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) first, while undocumented students and students holding a U visa, Temporary Protected Status or DACA file the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). For 2027-28, students from mixed-status families may file either form. The article does not address international students.
What to Do Now About UC Financial Aid
Run the official calculator first. UC’s systemwide Financial Aid Calculator estimates grants and scholarships before the FAFSA is filed. Families earning $100,000 or less and families earning up to $250,000 fall into the zero-tuition and Middle Class Scholarship ranges respectively.
File the FAFSA alongside the application. The 2027-28 FAFSA is open; the California state deadline and Cal Grant requirements are in the EDUBUS brief FAFSA Is Open, California Deadline Is March 2. The CSS Profile that private universities also require is covered in the EDUBUS brief CSS Profile Opens; Early Deadlines in November.
Compare aid figures across the college list. UC and private universities structure aid differently, so the net cost of every school on the list should be compared side by side. College list and application plan guidance is available through the EDUBUS College Admissions Planning service.
Sources
- University of California Newsroom: 10 tips on financial aid at the University of California (accessed October 8, 2026)
- Caltech REA Closes November 1, Five EssaysCaltech REA closes November 1; materials are due November 6 and testing by November 30. This brief covers the five STEM essays, the AI rules and the UC exception.
- DHS Proposes $70,000 Fee per Student for OPTA DHS proposed rule would charge schools $70,000 before recommending an F-1 student for initial OPT and $30,000 for each later OPT; comments are due November 9.
- How UC Reads Applications, Fall 2026 NumbersUC republished its account of how applications are read, with Fall 2026 data such as 205,431 first-year applicants. It covers review models, readers and PIQ rules.
- Columbia Early Decision Due November 1Columbia Early Decision closes November 1; testing is optional this cycle and required again next cycle. This brief covers deadlines, binding terms, and supplements.
