Financial Aid Appeals

Newly admitted students cannot formally appeal until after committing to UC Santa Cruz. Alternatively, you may contact our office for an updated estimate if you have the following information: adjusted gross income estimate for the current calendar year, updated wages for each parent for the current calendar year, any updates on untaxed income and current assets. An adviser will be able to provide an updated verbal estimate. Estimates are subject to change pending the verification of the information provided. 

Continuing Students and/or their families may appeal for a re-evaluation of their eligibility for financial assistance based on unique special circumstances (examples below). Students may also appeal for Satisfactory Academic Progress if they lose financial aid eligibility. Appeals are reviewed by the financial aid advisers in the order in which they are received and the review process can take up to 3-4 weeks to complete. More complex or repeat appeals may require Committee or Director approval. 

See the sidebar for additional information on the type of appeals.

Examples of circumstances we will consider include:

• Loss of income due to layoff, loss of employment
• Major repairs after a natural disaster
• High medical costs not covered by insurance
• Increased educational expenses above our standard budgets
• Extension of financial aid beyond 15 quarters or regaining eligibility (from not meeting academic progress) due to extenuating circumstances
• Dependency status re-evaluations due to adverse home situations
  
• Unforeseen circumstances that prevented on-time submission of documents and/or financial aid application

Note: High mortgage costs, credit card/consumer debt, and other discretionary expenses incurred in many households will not be considered in our evaluation of your eligibility for financial aid.