The Parents' Role Parents are important partners in managing college costs for many UC undergraduates. Some transfer students, however, are independent according to federal standards and are not required to provide parent information on the financial aid application. If you are independent according to these guidelines, your parents are not expected to contribute. The calculation is based on information your parents provide on the financial aid application about financial circumstnaces and family size. The expected parent contribution increases rapidly as parent income rises.
Campuses have a number of resources to help students manage their part of the financing partnership.
Students receiving financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain eligibility. To evaluate your eligibility for financial aid, the University looks first at the cost of attendance and, and if you are dependent, the expected parent contribution. If the contribution does not fully cover costs, the University looks to other resources to help you cover costs. Grants Eligibility for most grants is based entirely on financial circumstances. The Cal Grant Program also considers academic achievement and other personal characteristics for its awards.