UCLA

When you're admitted to UCLA, you and your family might have concerns about how you'll cover the costs of tuition, housing and other necessities. Our financial aid professionals will make every effort to help you afford to pay for your education. Our office is dedicated to helping each family create a strategy that works for them. Thanks to the numerous options available, your education can be affordable.

Most families pay less than the full price. In fact, 40% of our undergraduate students pay no tuition at all. We even offer an array of housing options and meal plans—as well as financial aid for housing—so that you have flexibility as to how much you pay for room and board.

In addition, UCLA offers payment plan options for both tuition and housing so that families can make smaller, regular tuition payments throughout the academic year instead of larger, lump-sum payments.

Paying for your education should be a partnership between student, family and university. In addition to the FAFSA, check out the many ways you can pay for your UCLA education.

Scholarships

UCLA offers financial support that may be awarded based on need, academic merit, background, specific talents or professional interests:

• UCLA Regents Scholarships (merit-based)
• UCLA Alumni Scholarships (merit-based)
• UCLA Achievement Scholarships (merit- and need-based)

Some other important scholarship sources include:

• The Gates Millennium Scholars: A program that awards 1,000 scholarships per year
• UCLA Scholarship Resource Center: Located on campus near the student residence halls, the center helps students identify scholarships available regardless of income level
• Fastweb: A website that matches personal profiles to available scholarships

Don't forget to check organizations in your hometown such as The Rotary Club and AmeriCorps that offer scholarships for community service.

Student Loans

In 2011, graduating seniors in the U.S. had an average student loan debt of $25,000. But for UCLA seniors, the average was much lower—just over $18,000.

The federal government offers low-interest student loans for higher education, such as:

• U.S. Department of Education Direct Loan Program
• Federal Perkins Loan Program

There are flexible payment options and other discounts, as well as delayed repayment options. Interest on student loans is tax deductible.

What Parents Can Do

Parents might have access to a number of resources, including some that include tax benefits.

Parent Loans

Parents may take out low-interest education loans from the government and private loans from various sources, including banks or other private lending institutions. For parents, loans may provide flexibility to help manage costs.

Tax-Free Accounts and Tax Benefits

Many families set up special college savings accounts, such as Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and 529 plans, which enable them to put away money, tax-free for college tuition and related expenses.

Families can also withdraw money from their 401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings accounts. These withdrawals are penalty-free when the money is used to pay for education.

The government offers tax benefits for education, which effectively reimburse families for money they spend on college tuition. In addition, interest on student loans is tax deductible. For details, please consult your tax advisor.