Our policy is to keep you informed

If you or your custodial parent(s) have been adversely affected by extraordinary circumstances that have reduced your ability to pay for college expenses and/or if your basic financial aid budget is not reflective of your educational expenses, the UCI Financial Aid Office may review those circumstances in order to consider changes to your available financial aid.

If you are a prospective student who has been admitted to more than one UC campus or other college, you should submit appeal information to each respective campus.

In order to be eligible for payment of all financial aid awards, you must be enrolled in a minimum number of units. Review each award program for the minimum number of units, applying for official part-time and required units at Census.

In order to be eligible to receive financial aid, you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. SAP disclosures vary by student type. View and download the SAP Disclosure that applies to you:

• SAP Disclosure for Undergraduate Students (PDF)
• SAP Disclosure for Graduate Students (PDF)
• SAP Disclosure for Medical Students (PDF)

Should you have questions regarding these policies, you may contact our office at (949) 824-8262 or finaid@uci.edu.

Students who withdraw from UCI prior to completing 60% of the term for which they received federal financial aid will be subject to both the UC Fee Refund Policy and the Federal Return of Title IV Funds policy. Title IV funds are federal funds awarded to a student to meet educational expenses. Title IV funds include:

• Federal Pell Grant,
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG),
• Federal Direct Student Loan,
• Federal Direct PLUS Loan and
• Federal Teach Grants.

Students who cancel their registration (or have their registration cancelled by the University) prior to the first day of classes will be billed for all financial aid disbursed on their behalf.

Review the withdrawal and refund policy.

Federal Return of Title IV Funds Policy

Federal law requires federal aid recipients to "earn" the aid they receive. Students who withdraw prior to completing 60% of the term for which they received federal student aid may be required to return some of the aid they were awarded.

The return of Title IV financial aid is based upon the amount of federal financial aid received, the University charges incurred AND the student's date of withdrawal. University charges include fees, out-of-state tuition, and on-campus housing charges. Students who withdraw prior to completing 60% of the term will "earn" a percentage of the financial aid paid to them (or used to pay their fees) for each day of the term they attended.

Students who withdraw after completing 60% of the term will have earned all financial aid received.

Withdrawal Process: Students withdrawing from the University must contact the Registrar's Office. Information regarding the withdrawal process is available from the Registrar's website. The official withdrawal date that the University will use for Title IV return of aid is the date the student initiates the withdrawal process, not the date the withdrawal paperwork was completed. This date generally will be the same date used to calculate the UC Fee Refund.

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will be notified of a student's withdrawal from the University by the Registrar's Office. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will calculate the amount of federal financial assistance the student earned and will return to the federal government the University's portion of the unearned amount. The student will be billed for the unearned portion of any federal Title IV financial aid received. The UC Fee Refund amount will be applied first to the University's portion.

Return of Federal Title IV Funds:The federal formula requires a return of financial aid if the student received financial assistance in the form of a Federal Pell or Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Direct Student Loan or PLUS loan and withdrew prior to completing 60% of the term.

The University will return to the federal government any funds that were credited from the UC Fee Refund first. If the amount returned by the University is not enough to repay the entire unearned amount, the University will bill the student for portions of amounts received for non-institutional charges (such as books, supplies and off-campus living expenses).

Amounts that are returned to the federal government, either from the UC Fee Refund or on behalf of the student, will first be applied to the student's federal loans. If the student owes any federal loan funds after the University has paid back its share, she will be permitted to repay the loans based on the original terms of the loans -- usually a ten-year repayment term after a grace period and deferment period if the student returns to school. In addition, the student may be billed for any unearned Federal grants received. The student will be expected to pay 50% of the unearned portion (either immediately or make satisfactory arrangements to repay that amount).

Unofficial Withdrawals - 

For students who do not officially withdraw from the University, the University will base its return of funds calculation on information received from instructors regarding course attendance.

If at least one instructor has noted that the student attended past the 60% point of the term, then no aid will be returned.

If all instructors note that the student never began attendance or no attendance is specified for any courses, then all aid will be returned for the term and the student will be billed.

If there is an indication of partial attendance for the term with no specific last day of attendance noted for any class, the University will make the Return of Title IV funds calculation using the mid-point of the term.  Any amount that must be returned will be billed to the student.

Incompletes: Students who unofficially withdraw from a term and have part or all of their aid returned only have 45 days from when grades post to make up an incomplete and have their aid re-instated. 

Special note for students living in campus housing: Any student who withdraws prior to completing 60% of the term will be billed for a portion of the federal financial aid the student received to cover their UCI housing costs. The amount billed will depend on the point in the term the student withdrew. Students should contact the UCI Housing Office to determine if they will receive a refund from the Housing Office that may be used to pay the amount the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships bills them.

A Final Note about Withdrawing: Any student contemplating withdrawing from the University should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to speak with a financial aid counselor concerning the financial ramifications of withdrawing.

Students who are receiving a Cal Grant should also contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to discuss the ramifications of withdrawing on their Cal Grant status. Check with your financial aid counselor on how you may be able to re-establish a term of eligibility for your Cal Grant.

According to federal regulations, undergraduate students are only eligible to receive financial aid while continuing to take classes towards their degree. Upon completion of the requirements to receive a bachelor's degree for all declared majors, a student's financial aid must cease. This is regardless of the student's pursuit of a minor, acceptance of the degree, or submission of a formal petition (application) to graduate.

If and when the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships learns that you have completed the requirements for a degree for all your declared majors, your future financial aid will be withdrawn.

In order that outside (non-UCI) scholarships help a student as much as possible, it is our policy to replace a student's self-help (loan and work awards) first. If the amount of outside aid received exceeds the amount of loan and work in your package, grants are then reduced.  The following is the order in which aid will be reduced when receiving an outside (non-UCI) scholarship. 

• Direct Loans (which meet need)
• Campus-based loans (such as University and Hawk Loan)
• Work study (unearned)
• UCI Scholarship (need-based)
• UC Irvine Grant 
• Supplemental Opportunity Grant 
• Cal Grants

Students who receive financial aid that exceeds their charges will receive a refund from UCI. We encourage students to sign up for EFT direct deposit to avoid paper check mailing delays.

If a student's refund is the result of a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan, the refund will be issued to the parent on the loan application by a mailed check.

The University reasonably expects the payee of the student refund to clear the funds in a reasonable time frame (within 180 days).  Direct deposits are considered "cleared funds" when the direct deposit is successful. Checks are considered "cleared funds" when the check is cashed by the payee.  Uncleared funds are considered uncashed, expired and stale dated after 180 days.

After 180 days, uncashed refunds are handled based on the source of funds.  The University follows federally mandated guidelines for Title IV funds and State of California guidelines for non-Title IV funds.  That means uncashed refund checks with Title IV funds are returned to the Department of Education based on the Title IV program and returned in this order:  Unsubsidized Direct Loans, Subsidized Direct Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grants, FSEOG Grants. It may be possible for a refund check to be reissued if a request is made prior to end of the academic year for which the refund was generated. Students should email fafiscal@uci.edu to determine if a refund check reissue is possible. After the academic year has ended, it is no longer possible to reissue a refund check as the funds have been returned to their source and the fiscal year is closed, in accordance with Department of Education and State of California regulations.

The University will make an attempt to contact the payee before funds are returned to the Department of Education or the State of California.  It is the student's responsibility to monitor their uci.edu email for notifications and have an updated address on file with UCI.

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships calculates UCI costs based on average academic year expenses. These costs are established to determine your financial aid eligibility and are intended to be used as a guide to help plan for meeting the cost of attendance at UCI. Your student expenses are determined by your living arrangements (e.g., whether you live with your parents, in on-campus housing, or in an off-campus apartment), fees, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. Books and supplies are the average cost of required course materials for the academic year. Living expenses include residence hall charges, housing, food, snacks, meals on campus, utilities, household supplies, etc. These expenses also include clothing, laundry and dry cleaning, personal care, insurance, recreation, etc. These costs include tuition, non-resident tuition (if applicable) and the Student Services Fee. The tuition, fees, and charges posted here are estimates based on currently approved amounts. These figures may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California. Please note that health insurance fees are not applicable to students in the Executive MBA Program and Fully Employed MBA Program. Students attending these programs are not charged nor are they eligible for the school’s health insurance.

Some or all instruction for all or part of the Academic Year may be delivered remotely. Tuition and fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part of the Academic Year. Figures for tuition and fees represent currently approved or proposed amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California as determined to be necessary or appropriate. Final approved tuition and fee levels may differ from the amounts presented.

The campus Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is responsible for maintaining the information you provide on your financial aid application and accompanying documents. The information will be provided to the state and federal governments if required by law. You have the right, according to the law, to access your information.

The State of California Information Practices Act of 1977 requires the University to provide this information to applicants for financial aid who are asked to supply information about themselves. Maintenance of the information is authorized by University policy.

The University of California, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and university policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy*, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services. The university also prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access, and treatment in university programs and activities.

Inquiries regarding the University's student-related nondiscrimination policies may be directed to:

Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (OEOD)

103 Multipurpose Science and Technology Building

University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-1130

Tel: (949) 824-5594

E-mail: oeod@uci.edu

Website: www.oeod.uci.edu

 *Pregnancy includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.

UCI is a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The campus is fully accredited by the Senior Commission of WASC. For information, contact the Accreditation Liaison Officer at Associate Vice Provost for Academic Planning (949) 824-4979 .For information, contact the Accreditation Liaison Officer at Associate Vice Provost for Academic Planning (949) 824-4979 .