The Ultimate Guide
to Navigating
Financial Aid at
UC Berkeley
Funding
Your Future
3.
ACCEPT AND MANAGE YOUR
AWARDS IN CALCENTRAL
Monitor your balance
on CalCentral
Fulfill tasks for any loans
you accept
Enroll in direct deposit
If receiving work-study,
start looking for a position
Request a Cost of
Attendance Adjustment
(if needed)
2.
UNDERSTAND YOUR OPTIONS
AND AWARD OFFER
View your financial aid
offer in CalCentral
Learn the conditions of
any gift aid, work-study,
or loans
Calculate Your Refund or
Balance Due Worksheet
Submit Verification
(if selected)
File an Expected Family
Contribution Appeal
(if needed)
Meet with a financial aid
representative about
any questions
1.
APPLY EVERY YEAR, AS
EARLY AS POSSIBLE
File your FAFSA
or CADAA
Submit Cal Grant GPA
Verification Form (first
time students)
Apply for scholarships
Create Cal Net ID (first
time students)
Financial Aid
Application
Checklist
Track your finan
cial aid application
process with this
quick reference
checklist.
SUPPORTING YOU FROM START TO FINISH
A
t UC Berkeley, you build
a financial wellness plan
for life and plant seeds of
opportunities for your career. Our
team of financial aid professionals
are eager to guide you through your
aid options and co-create a strategy
to fund your education. Support for
you and your family starts with the
programs below.
UC TUITION
Mapping a plan for your education is easier
when you know what to budget.
That’s why UC Tuition sets a flat tuition rate,
including nonresident supplemental tuition, for
undergraduates at the time they first enroll at
UC Berkeley. UC Tuition allows you and your
family to plan without worrying about tuition
increases from year to year.
Your tuition stays at the same amount until
you graduate (up to six academic years).
Covers degree-seeking freshmen and
transfer undergraduates by yearly cohorts.
Includes tuition and other required system-
wide fees.
Campus based fees have a separate process
and can vary from year to year.
For graduate students, tuition will be adjusted
annually based on inflation, remaining
essentially flat.
Additional Student Benefits:
UC Tuition supports funding for financial
aid programs.
Funds will improve overall student experience
by reducing class sizes, updating facilities, and
enhancing student support services.
EXPECTED FAMILY
CONTRIBUTION APPEALS
We’re always mindful of your future, so
if financial changes become a roadblock,
we’re ready to help.
You can request an
Expected Family
Contribution Appeal (EFC)
if
:
Your family is experiencing extenuating
financial circumstances.
Your family’s current income becomes
substantially less since submitting your
FAFSA or California Dream Act Application.
This will allow you to provide a written state-
ment and documentation of your circumstances.
Our office reviews appeals and documentation,
and makes appropriate adjustments to financial
aid offers when possible. The amount of support
you could receive will depend on the change in
your EFC (cannot be reduced below $0).
Changes Generally Considered
F
Reduction
or loss of employment or benefits
F
Change
in marital status after aid application
was completed
F
Reduction
or loss of untaxed income
F
One-time
, lump sum payment that did not
happen in prior years
F
Out-of-pocket
medical expenses, tax liens,
or K–12 private school tuition
F
Expenses
related to a natural disaster
Your journey to financing a world-class
education is beginning. Our goal is to support
you with comprehensive financial aid and
include you
in the
two-thirds of students
receiving over
$750 million in aid
every
year. The Financial Aid and Scholarships
Office welcomes you to your future!
SYSTEMWIDE TUITION
and fees may increase
for a student due to
unexpected changes in
the University’s budget.
Any such increase would
require approval by the
Board of Regents.
Berkeley
You Are
You Are
Out-of-State Students
Financial aid from the State of California
and need-based institutional grants are not
available to nonresidents (students whose
parents live outside the state).
Obtaining residency can be challenging.
We encourage families to develop a multi-
year financial plan and understand
residency requirements and all
funding options.
PLANNING YOUR
FINANCIAL AID
JOURNEY
We are here to guide you through
the steps in your financial aid
journey.
1. APPLY EVERY YEAR,
AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE
Start by filing a Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream
Act Application (CADAA) every year.
Priority deadline is
March 2
.
Berkeley’s school code is
001312
.
You
automatically apply
for all UC, state, and
federal grants and scholarships
when you file
.
California residents applying for the first time
must also submit a Cal Grant GPA Verification
Form by
March 2
.
—
fafsa.gov
dream.csac.ca.gov
Application Tips:
Double check for duplicate information on
your financial aid applications.
We strongly encourage you to also apply for
outside scholarships.
Remember to report all external scholarships
to ensure an accurate aid offer.
Aid eligibility is determined yearly and can vary
based on funds available and changes in your
application, residency status, or housing.
2. UNDERSTAND YOUR OPTIONS
AND AWARD OFFER
We offer programs and tools to help you
learn and strategize.
Learn about any conditions of your gift aid
(scholarships and grants) and work-study
options.
Take time to understand and ask questions
about budgeting and any financial
commitments like loans and fees.
Use the Estimate Your Refund or Balance Due
Worksheet to see how much financial aid you
could receive.
If financial circumstances change, file an
Expected Family Contribution Appeal.
Gift Aid Award Offers
Gift aid is awarded according to merit and/or
need (based on your application). Gift aid
is automatically accepted for you and no
repayment is required.
Scholarships
|
Awarded on the basis of aca-
demic merit and financial need. Will vary
in amount, duration, and requirements.
Grants
|
Awarded from federal, state, and
university funds according to your
financial need.
Loans and Work-Study Aid Offers
Eligible students can receive support from loans
and work-study jobs.
Loans
|
Funds that you borrow and repay over a
period of time with interest, usually after you
graduate. Low-interest federal student loans
and flexible payment options are available.
Accept all or part of any loan(s) in CalCentral
with tasks that lead you through all needed
steps.
It is important to understand the terms and
conditions of loans and your responsibilities
as a borrower. Learn more online.
—
financialaid.berkeley.edu/loans
Work-study
|
Awarded on the basis of need
and allows you to earn money by working
a part-time job.
Like any job, you apply for a position, get
hired, and are paid directly based on the
employer's pay schedule.
Accept your work-study award as soon as it
is offered to you if you plan to use it during
the year.
—
workstudy.berkeley.edu
3. ACCEPT AND MANAGE YOUR
AWARDS IN CALCENTRAL
Use CalCentral to access and update
your financial aid information.
Key features to make your life easy:
F
View Awards
under the “My Finances” link.
F
Delegate Access
to allow a family member
or supporter to help manage your student
account.
F
Complete Required Tasks
as early as
possible to ensure funds are ready by the
start of the term.
F
Enroll in Direct Deposit
to expedite refunds.
F
Financial aid funds
will pay your bill directly
on CalCentral.
—
Access CalCentral via the
MAP@Berkeley application
portal or your
CalNet ID
.
ONCE YOU HAVE CHOSEN BERKELEY
CALCULATE YOUR
REFUND OR BALANCE
DUE WORKSHEET
W
hat balance can you expect after financial
aid is applied? Compare your charges to
your financial aid: the total is your expected
balance (refund or amount due) after financial aid has
been disbursed to cover tuition, fees, and other costs
of attendance.
We want to help you plan and discover the financial
avenues available to you. Share this worksheet with a
representative from the Financial Aid and Scholarships
Office. We’ll answer your questions and guide you
through your options.
1.
CALCULATE YOUR TOTAL
CHARGES FOR THE TERM
FILL IN this column with your
actual charges for tuition, SHIP, New
Student Programming, and on-campus
housing (residence halls or on-campus
apartments). Add the amounts and
write the total under “Total Charges
for Term.”
Note:
Charges will appear on your
account about a month before the start
of the term. You may not have every
type of charge on your billing statement.
UC TUITION – CA RESIDENT
$
NON-RESIDENT SUPPLEMENTAL TUITION
$
CAMPUS FEES
$
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN (SHIP)
$
NEW STUDENT PROGRAMMING FEE
$
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING
$
TOTAL
CHARGES
FOR TERM
$
1
ALL ESTIMATED VALUES are subject to the
availability of funding. Some applicants may be
asked for more detailed information through
our verification process, which could impact
the estimated financial aid. Register at berkeley.
verifymyfafsa.com if selected for verification.
TEAR-OFF
Moving forward with your
education at UC Berkeley will be
life changing. With planning, the
right tools, and our support, you
will be well equipped for your
successful financial well-being in
college and beyond.
HOW AID WORKS
Everything you need to manage your financial aid
is under the “My Finances” section in CalCentral.
Check your account regularly to stay current
with your finances and updated balance.
Disbursements & Refunds
We have you covered with easy access to your
funds.
Aid begins disbursing around ten days before
the start of a term.
Funds will first pay your bill directly on
CalCentral.
If your aid covers less than your bill, you will be
responsible for paying the remaining balance.
If your aid covers more than your bill (and
your term balance is paid in full), you will
receive a refund.
Aid will apply to the oldest charges in the
current or prior term of the same academic
year first, but does not apply to prior year or
future charges.
Be sure to sign up for Direct Deposit through
CalCentral for quick and easy deposits of
refunds.
Verification
Verification helps to ensure financial aid awards
are as accurate as possible. We are only able to
disburse federal or state aid
after
verification
is complete. If you’re selected, verification will
appear as a financial aid task in CalCentral.
New admits
,
accept your offer of admission
and create a CalNet ID to start verification.
—
financialaid.berkeley.edu/
verification-process
Cost of Attendance Adjustment
We understand finances change. If you incur
expenses during the academic year that are
higher than standard, we may be able to increase
your budget—and financial aid eligibility—with
a Cost of Attendance (COA) Adjustment.
Expenses often considered include:
F
Rent and utilities
or housing costs
F
Computer purchase
(every three years)
F
Special books
and supplies
F
Transportation
F
Childcare expenses
F
Uninsured medical,
dental, or optical expenses
F
Relocation expenses
(for entering students
living off-campus)
—
financialaid.berkeley.edu/
cost-attendance-adjustment
2.
CALCULATE THE FINANCIAL
AID THAT WILL PAY
YOUR CHARGES
FILL IN the awards and loans with
your actual amounts from CalCentral
for the term.
•
If you are receiving awards that
are not listed, such as outside
scholarships, add under
“Other Gift Aid.”
•
Do not include work-study, as
your work-study earnings will be
paid directly to you and will not
pay fees and other charges on
your billing account.
•
Only include loans you plan
on accepting.
Add the amounts and write the sum
under “Total Awards for Term.”
Note:
You may not have every type of
award in your financial aid package.
2
3
UC BERKELEY RESERVES THE RIGHT
to adjust awards to correct any awarding
errors. Changes to qualifying information
or revisions of federal, state, or institutional
policy may result in updates to aid eligibility
and adjustments of financial aid awards.
Information is subject to change.
PLANNING YOUR FUTURE SUCCESS
Financing an education is a
partnership. We want to help you
maximize all of the aid you are
eligible for and ensure that you
graduate with the lowest amount
of debt possible.
WE HAVE MANY TOOLS AND ONLINE
RESOURCES THAT SIMPLIFY HOW YOU CAN
BUDGET AND STRATEGIZE, INCLUDING:
BEARS FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS
Peer-to-peer financial wellness program that
helps you cultivate best practices for money
management.
Offers workshops and one-on-one appointments to
help you manage your personal finances in college
and prepare you for your career.
—
financialaid.berkeley.edu/
bears-financial-success
iGRAD PERSONAL FINANCE TOOL
iGrad helps you build a foundation for your
future financial success.
Improve your money management, career skills,
and student loan savvy with video tips, quick
financial lessons, and custom job searches.
Complete a financial assessment to create a
personalized resource dashboard and access more
services.
—
ucberkeley.igrad.com
SUPPORT FOR STUDENT-PARENTS
Attending college with a family can take
intentional planning. UC Berkeley has
dedicated resources to help you plan.
Student Parents Grant
| If you have a dependent
child under the age of 18, for whom you provide
more than 50% of their support, you may qualify
for additional support.
Reduced Course Load
| Taking fewer units helps
many students manage parenting responsibilities
(note: check any grant eligibility requirements if
enrolling with fewer than 12 units).
Cost of Attendance
| Expenses may be adjusted
on a case-by-case basis. Possible considered
expenses are:
F
Dependent food and personal expenses:
adjustments for these expenses are automatic.
F
Rent & mortgage:
for housing expenses that
may be higher than the standard cost.
F
Relocation expenses:
driving? Save your gas
and/or truck rental receipts.
F
Childcare expenses:
for children 13 and under.
F
Computer:
$3,000 maximum adjustment to
help with the purchase of a computer
(allowed every three years).
—
financialaid.berkeley.edu/
students-with-dependents
TEAR-OFF
Plant the seeds
of your future
career success
at UC Berkeley.
FEDERAL DIRECT SUBSIDIZED LOAN
$
FEDERAL DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN
$
BERKELEY LOAN
$
CALIFORNIA DREAM LOAN
$
PLUS LOAN
$
OTHER LOANS
$
Loans
FEDERAL PELL GRANT
$
FEDERAL SEOG GRANT
$
CAL GRANT FEE AWARD
$
BERKELEY GRANT/SCHOLARSHIPS
$
OTHER GIFT AID
$
TOTAL
AWARDS
FOR TERM
$
Gift Aid
TOTAL
CHARGES
FOR TERM
$
AWARDS & LOANS
In CalCentral, click “View Awards by Term” at the top of
the awards box or click each award link individually.
BALANCE DUE OR REFUND
TO STUDENT FOR TERM
$
3.
YOUR REFUND
OR BALANCE DUE
SUBTRACT your total awards from
your total charges and write
down the amount here.
Note:
Contact an advisor about
your financial aid by opening a
case via Cal Student Central:
studentcentral.berkeley.edu
Visit our website for in depth
detail about the financial aid
process, types of aid, and tools
to help you plan your future at
UC Berkeley and beyond.
financialaid.berkeley.edu
Contact Cal Student Central or
open a case online to get in touch
with a financial aid advisor.
———
CAL STUDENT CENTRAL
510.664.9181
———
OPEN A CASE
studentcentral.berkeley.edu
WHAT SHOULD I BUDGET FOR
MY PERSONAL EXPENSES?
PERSONAL EXPENSES are expected indirect
costs not billed to your student account. Your
financial aid refund and/or work-study earnings,
if you receive them, will help cover these
expenses. You control these costs, so
amounts will vary.
2022-23 ESTIMATED AVERAGE BUDGET for undergraduate
students based on a reasonable cost of completing an academic
year at UC Berkeley.
Housing and Utilities
|
Expenses are for nine
months (~$1,300/month).
Additional Food
|
For apartments, divide
amounts by 9 to develop a monthly food budget.
Buying bulk and cooking at home help make
this economical.
Books and Other Costs
|
Budgeting and a
spending plan are key to managing costs like
school supplies, off-campus transportation,
and additional living expenses. Your student
bus pass will get you around for free.
We’re Here to
Support You on
Your Financial
Aid Journey
My living arrangement
RESIDENCE
HALLS
ON-CAMPUS
APARTMENTS
OFF-CAMPUS
APARTMENTS
Housing and Utilities
—
—
$11,462
Additional Food
$1,648
$4,640
$4,780
Books and Other Costs
$3,662
$3,662
$3,876
TOTAL ESTIMATED
PERSONAL EXPENSES
$5
,
310
$8
,
302
$20
,
118
WHAT IS THE
INVESTMENT IN
YOUR FUTURE?
Below are estimated costs for an
academic year at UC Berkeley before
including financial aid. Not shown is
the immense value your experience
at Berkeley offers in return. You will
have access to the combination of
high quality education and robust
financial aid that continually places
Berkeley among the top universities
for upward mobility. Your golden
future awaits!
WHAT IS THE TOTAL EXPECTED
COST BEFORE FINANCIAL AID?
TOTAL EXPECTED COST combines direct costs
and personal expenses to estimate the funding
you will need for educational expenses for a year
at Berkeley.
A majority of students receive aid that
lowers these amounts.
View your
net cost
in
CalCentral for an estimate of your yearly costs
after accounting for grants and scholarships.
RESIDENCE HALLS
$43
,
528
ON-CAMPUS APARTMENTS
$42
,
614
OFF-CAMPUS APARTMENTS
$38
,
950
WHAT ARE MY DIRECT
COSTS TO UC BERKELEY?
DIRECT COSTS are what you pay directly to
the University of California, Berkeley. Financial
aid reduces these costs and will cover the cost
of tuition and fees for over a third of Berkeley
students.
2022-23 ESTIMATED COSTS for undergraduate students.
Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the
Regents of the University of California. Final approved 2022–23
tuition and fee levels may be higher or lower than the amounts
presented here. For updated figures:
financialaid.berkeley.edu/
cost-attendance
.
Tuition and Fees
|
Set amount charged by the
university. Out-of-state students pay an additional
Nonresident Supplemental Tuition of $31,026.
Room and Board
|
Charges for University housing.
Varies based on your residence hall, apartment,
or family housing assignment.
Health Insurance
|
Students can receive extra
aid to cover this requirement. May be waived for
personal insurance that is equivalent or better
(file waiver by July 1).
Tuition and Fees
Room and Board
Health Insurance
My living arrangement
RESIDENCE
HALLS
ON-CAMPUS
APARTMENTS
OFF-CAMPUS
APARTMENTS
Tuition and Fees
$14,760
$14,760
$14,760
Room and Board
$19,386
$15,480
—
Health Insurance
$4,072
$4,072
$4,072
TOTAL DIRECT COSTS
$38
,
218
$34
,
312
$18
,
832
University of California, Berkeley
103 Sproul Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720
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FIRST-CLASS MAIL
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA
FINANCIALAID.BERKELEY.EDU
