The University of California (UC) has highlighted the financial aid options available to its students, noting that more than half of California undergraduates pay no tuition due to robust support programs.
According to UC, nearly 70 percent of its in-state undergraduates receive grants and scholarships, which do not require repayment. “For most in-state students, if your household income is $100K or less, your UC tuition payment is ZERO. In fact, more than 54 percent of UC’s California undergrads pay no tuition at all,” the university stated.
A significant portion of recent graduates have also managed to avoid student debt. “Nearly two-thirds of the Class of 2025 graduated without any student loans, according to UC estimates.” For those who do borrow, loan amounts tend to be lower than national averages, with special low-interest options available for both parents and students.
Middle-class families are eligible for assistance through the Middle-Class Scholarship program provided by California. This initiative supports households earning up to $250,000 annually.
UC encourages prospective students not to assume they will be ineligible for aid: “Lots of college applicants don’t think they’ll qualify for aid. But UC has one of the best financial aid programs in the country… Many financial aid applicants get more than they expected.”
Tuition rates remain stable during a student’s undergraduate years at UC campuses. The institution noted that “what you pay as a first-year undergraduate is likely to be the same amount you’ll pay as a senior,” aiding families in planning expenses.
Financial support extends beyond covering tuition; on average, awards include an additional $6,500 in grants and scholarships for costs such as housing and food. Undocumented Californians may also access state and university funding via the California Dream Act.
In total last year, UC students received $1 billion from university sources, another $1 billion from the state government, and an additional $1 billion from federal and private funds—a combined total of $3 billion in grants and scholarships that do not require repayment.
The university underscores that graduates benefit economically over time: “UC graduates out-earn other California college grads. They also earn a whopping 84 percent more in lifetime earnings than their peers without a degree.” Rankings from Princeton Review, Money magazine, U.S. News & World Report, and Forbes place all nine UC campuses among top-performing institutions nationally for educational value and social mobility.
