Throughout their generosity, the University of California- San Diego offers numerous scholarships to students. Scholarships are gift aid, money you do not have to repay. Scholarships are awarded for either academic merit only, or merit and additional criteria such as major of interest, leadership, or financial need. First-year merit scholarships are based solely on academic achievement as reflected in your UC admissions application, and first-year restricted scholarships are awarded on academic merit plus additional criteria such as demonstrated financial need, field of interest, or leadership.
The University of California-San Diego Regents Scholarship, based on academic excellence, is a prestigious scholarship awarded to UC undergraduate students. Entering freshmen and transfers without demonstrated financial need receive an annual honorarium of $5,000. Entering freshmen will receive the honorarium for 4 academic years, and entering transfers receive it for 2 academic years. Regents scholars who are CA residents and have demonstrated financial need will receive additional scholarship and/or grant funds to meet the financial need for 4 undergraduate academic years for freshmen and 2 academic years for transfers. Applicants can be United States citizens, permanent residents, or California Dream Act students.