Scholarships

Scholarships are gift aid, money students do not have to repay, and can be a significant source of funding  to assist students and parents with meeting educational costs. Students can and should apply for scholarships while they are applying to colleges and each year during college. 

At UCLA we award students based on financial need and/or academic merit. Many university scholarships are designed to reward, encourage, and assist students in pursuing academic excellence and leadership roles. However, other specific criteria such as campus or community activities, work experience and financial need are taken into account during the scholarship selection process.

UCLA Undergraduate Scholarships

For Prospective UCLA Students

Applicants to UCLA are encouraged to apply for scholarships managed by Financial Aid and Scholarships by completing the scholarship section of their admissions application. Scholarships are awarded to students who meet the specific criteria established by donors, which may include student’s academic achievements, ethnicity, volunteer work and professional interests. In addition to completing the scholarships section on the application for admission, students must complete and submit the FAFSA or the Dream Act Application by the March 2nd deadline for the year they will be enrolling.

Financial Aid and Scholarships are awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need.

Academic departments and campus organizations offer various scholarship opportunities. Once your submits their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) at UCLA, basic information from their admission application will be used to create a scholarship profile for them. They also should log in to our scholarship portal and complete their profile to be considered for additional scholarship opportunities. .

After your student has submitted their Intent to Register they may also visit the Scholarship Resource Center (SRC). The SRC provides free resources and services that assist students with the private scholarship application process. The SRC is located in 233 Covel Commons and is open Monday through Friday.

New and continuing students who meet the criteria set by the Academic Senate Committee, various donors, and Financial Aid and Scholarships office are awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need.

    • High school entering students are considered for scholarships with a minimum 4.1 GPA. 
    • Community college entering students are considered for scholarships with a minimum 3.5 GPA.
  • Priority for scholarships for continuing students is given to students with 3.2 GPA or better. 


For Continuing UCLA Students

Continuing students must complete the continuing student scholarship application via our Scholarship Portal, and should continue to check the scholarship portal periodically for new opportunities as scholarships are added. 

The amount of any scholarship awarded is based on the level of financial need, determined by the FAFSA, the amount of funding available, and the number of applications received.

Once a scholarship has been awarded to your student, it will appear on the Financial Aid Notification (FAN). Various departments process their awards throughout the academic year. We endeavor to award scholarships at the start of the academic year. However your student may receive a scholarship mid-way through the academic year.

Additional Scholarships Administered by Financial Aid and Scholarships

 

UCLA Achievement Scholarship

The UCLA Achievement Scholarship is made possible by a generous donation from the UCLA DREAM fund. This prestigious scholarship is available only at UCLA in recognition of students’ academic excellence. Entering freshmen are selected based on a comprehensive review of their university admissions applications by the UCLA undergraduate admissions office. There is no application required other than your FAFSA or DREAM Act Application. Awards range from $500 to $10,000 per year and are offered for four years.

All students  designated as the top ranked academic admits by the Undergraduate Admissions office who have demonstrated financial need, determined by their financial aid application, will be eligible to receive the scholarship.

  • The financial aid application will be used to verify students’ eligibility for this scholarship once they are selected by Undergraduate Admission office. Financial need must be demonstrated in order to qualify for this award.
  • If you are a U.S. Citizens and U.S. Permanent Residents you must submit the FAFSA by the March 2 deadline and qualify for need based financial aid.
  • If you are an Undocumented/Dream Act Students you must complete and submit the California Dream Application by the March 2 deadline and qualify for need based financial aid. You must also qualify for an AB540 non-resident tuition waiver, as determined by the UCLA Registrars Office.
  • Newly admitted freshmen who are eligible for the UCLA Achievement Scholarship will be notified by the UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarships Office of their selection on the Provisional Award Letter (PAL) received during the admissions process.
  • Once the student has submitted their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR), a Financial Aid Award Notification (FAN) will be generated in the summer reflecting the student’s UCLA Achievement Scholarship eligibility.
  • Awards ranges from $500 to $10,000 per year, based on financial need, as determined by the student’s financial aid application.
  • The scholarship is renewable for four years, as long as the student continues to demonstrate financial need and remains in good standing.

UCLA Regents Scholarship

The Regents Scholarship Program was established by the Regents of the University of California in 1962, and represents one of the highest honors awarded to a student at the University. Regents Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of demonstrated academic excellence, leadership and exceptional promise. Although the Financial Aid and Scholarships office administers the Regents Scholarship Program on the UCLA campus, financial need is not used as a criterion in the selection process.

UCLA awards up to 100 Regents scholarships each year to entering and transfer students and currently has a total of 450 Regents Scholars enrolled at UCLA.

The UCLA Regents Scholarship program is unique to the UCLA campus, therefore, the award cannot be transferred to other UC campuses, nor could other UC campus Regents Scholarship awards be honored at UCLA. Selection of the Regents Scholars is completed by each campus individually.

  • Students who are determined by Undergraduate Admission to be the strongest applicants within the context of UCLA's holistic review process are reviewed for this award by the Faculty Committee on Honors, Awards and prizes. Students selected for this award will be notified of it when they receive their admission decision and Provisional Award Letter (PAL).
  • Entering freshmen are awarded a four-year scholarship (12 straight academic quarters not including summer).
  • Entering transfer students are awarded a two-year scholarship (6 academic quarters not including summer).
  • All Regents Scholars are considered for a $2,000 honorarium regardless of financial need.
  • If a Regents Scholar has additional financial need beyond the $2,000 honorarium, the scholar will be awarded university scholarship and/or grants to cover the remainder of the scholar’s need.
  • The Regents Scholarship need-based award is determined annually and is designed to supplement the Cal Grant A and B programs, Pell Grant award and other outside scholarship awards.
  • Regents Scholars are required to report additional outside financial assistance and/or outside scholarships awards to the Financial Aid and Scholarships office.
  • Scholars must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during all quarters of attendance and are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 units per quarter.
  • Students must notify the Scholarship coordinator of any change in academic status, such as taking less than the required 12 units per quarter, dropping below a 3.0 or if they are planning to take an approved leave of absence. Taking a quarter off will not extend the award past your tenure.
  • The Scholarship coordinator performs an annual academic review at the end of the Spring quarter of all scholars. Students that do not adhere to the scholarship requirements will be terminated and possibly billed for scholarship received.
  • Students receive preferential Pre-Enrollment starting with their second and subsequent quarters, guaranteed Housing (as long as the Housing application is submitted by the Housing Office deadlines), guaranteed parking (as long as the Parking application is submitted by the Parking Office deadlines), and Faculty Mentorship is established by the Regents Scholars Society to each and every Regents Scholar, as requested.
  • All Regents Scholars are eligible to join the Regents Scholar Society and are strongly encouraged to establish membership in this official campus student organization.

UCLA Chancellor’s Blue and Gold Scholarship

The Chancellor’s Blue and Gold Scholarship Program was established by the University of California, Los Angeles in the Fall of 1998 to recognize the academic achievements of first year students coming to UCLA from Los Angeles County High Schools that traditionally have sent few students to UCLA. Every year UCLA Admissions alongside Financial Aid and Scholarships select high achieving students to receive this prestigious award.  

After many continuous successful years of excellence, the program now supports approximately 350 students with expenditures exceeding $1,000,000. 

The Chancellor’s Blue and Gold Scholarship Program is also open to students coming to UCLA from community colleges in the greater Los Angeles area. Currently, awards range from $1,000 up to $5,000 annually and are offered for four years to freshmen and two years to transfers

Community service is an integral part of the Chancellor’s Blue and Gold Program. Each scholar is required to complete twenty hours of community service each year they are receiving a Chancellor's Blue and Gold Scholarship. Students have participated in a variety of University activities including recruitment and outreach, assisting in workshops, and returning to their alma mater to encourage other students to apply to the University of California.

If your student is a current recipient of the Chancellor's Blue and Gold Award, and you wish to check on the requirements needed for maintaining eligibility for the award, please go to this page.

Outside Scholarships Associated with UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarships

These Scholarships are awarded by outside organizations, but Financial Aid and Scholarships assists with selecting the students who will receive the awards.


Expanding Your Scholarship Search

What to Do if You Receive a Scholarship?

If you receive a scholarship from an outside donor, make sure you follow these 3 simple steps:

  • Request that outside scholarship checks are made payable to UC Regents
  • Give your donor your 9 digit UCLA identification number (UID) and ask them to include it with your award
  • Have the donor include a letter explaining the award terms when the scholarship check is sent to UCLA / Make sure to report any outside scholarships on your Financial Aid Notification (FAN) or contact the Financial Aid and Scholarships office to report the award

Please mail scholarship checks to:

Payment Solutions & Compliance Office
University of California Los Angeles
Box 957089, 1125 Murphy Hall
405 Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90095-7089

Helpful Tips for Searching for Outside Scholarships

  • Many scholarships are based on criteria other than financial need and academic achievement. Take note of your interest, hobbies, ethnic or religious background, work experience, career goals, etc. there may be specific scholarships related to these.
  • Try to plan ahead when applying for scholarships. It is recommended you apply six to nine months before the academic year you hope to receive the funding.
  • Outside agency scholarships (from foundations, organizations, groups, and individuals) can be an excellent way to help fund your education.
  • There is no single, comprehensive source that can give you a list of all the scholarships, for which you may be eligible. It is best to consult several sources, such as scholarship books, the internet, departments, your high school and community organizations, etc.
  • Internet search engines provide a wealth of information for scholarship opportunities.
  • Getting a strong letter of recommendation is a vital component of many scholarship applications.
  • Scholarship books that target specific majors, ethnicity, or religious affiliation are an invaluable way to find national and local scholarships.
  • Writing an excellent personal statement will help you stand out as a strong candidate for scholarship. The Scholarship Resource Center (SRC) offers workshops for UCLA students as well as individualized writing support sessions to help you work on essays from brainstorming to proofreading.
  • Many departments at UCLA offer scholarships. Watch for listings on bulletin boards, ask departmental counselors, and check your department’s website listings.

  • Most importantly, be proactive and diligent in applying for scholarships. It takes a lot of work, but in the end all your efforts will really pay off.

Additional Resources To Help You With Your Scholarship Search

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Do I need to report my scholarships from private donors?

Yes, all outside scholarships should be reported to the Financial Aid and Scholarships office including those that are paid to you directly.

How will I know my check has arrived

Once the check is processed you will receive notification via your electronic Financial Aid Notification (eFAN).

My donor said the check was sent but I have not received funds. What do I do now?

Mailing time is often 2 weeks and we ask that you allow another week for processing time. If more than four weeks have passed without seeing it on your eFAN, we ask that you contact your donor and ask them to verify if the check has been cashed. If the check has been cashed then we ask you provide a copy of the cancelled check.

How will an outside award impact my financial aid package?

If you already have a financial aid package and subsequently receive an outside scholarship/award, your financial aid offer will be adjusted for that award, and is dependent upon the conditions of the award.

Generally, need-based loans and work-study awards are reduced first to “make room” for that award. To ensure that an outside scholarship can help you as much as possible, it is our policy to replace your self-help (need based loan and work-study awards) first. If the amount of outside aid exceeds the amount of loans and work-study in your package, your grants are then reduced.

Outside awards that are split evenly between quarters have a more positive impact on students.

How do I make more room in my financial aid budget for my outside awards?

You can make more room in your budget by submitting a Budget Add-On Appeal or Housing Adjustment forms if you have additional allowable expenses. Review the forms for further information on what is allowed. To locate other Financial Aid and Scholarships forms, go to our forms and publications page.
    FATV provides quick video answers to common financial aid questions. Click on the image below to go to the full video library.