Fees and Expenses
Tuition, fees, and other charges are subject to change without notice by the Regents of the University of California. For current fee information, check registration fees and graduate student budgets.
For information on fee refunds, see Finances.
Students should not plan to undertake graduate study without assured funding, since outside employment in the Santa Cruz community can be difficult to obtain.
Financial aid recipients should note that fellowship, grant, and loan checks or bank deposits in excess of university charges are refunded to students via direct deposit or check, but are not available to you until the first week of instruction each quarter.
The Student Services Fee supports student services that provide a supportive and enriching learning environment and that are complementary to, but not part of, the instructional program. Programs include, but are not limited to, services related to the physical and psychological health and well-being of students, social and cultural activities and programs, services related to campus life, and educational and career support.
Tuition helps support student financial aid and related programs; administration; libraries; operation and maintenance of plant; the university’s operating budget; and all costs related to instruction, including faculty salaries.
Campus-Based Fees help support a wide range of student services, including extracurricular programs, campus child care, community and public service projects, and free-fare use of the local transit systems.
In addition, all students are assessed a mandatory Health Insurance Premium. The Cowell Student Health Center provides primary care services for the plan, while a contracted insurance company provides major medical and hospitalization insurance. Dependent coverage is also available. Detailed information is on the UCSC Student Health Insurance website, or contact (831) 459-2389.
Waivers from the mandatory insurance fee are available for students who can show that their outside plan provides coverage equal to or better than the student health insurance plan. Deadlines for applying for a waiver are listed in the Schedule of Classes and the Graduate Student Handbook.
Nonresident Tuition
A resident of a state other than California or of another country must also pay nonresident tuition. See general criteria for residency elsewhere in this catalog.
Non-U.S. citizens note: Regardless of how long you live in California, only U.S. citizens and holders of immigrant visas may become qualified for resident classification.
Late Fees
Late fees may be assessed if a student fails to make university payments or enroll by the specified deadlines. Deadlines are published online in the Graduate Student Handbook and the Schedule of Classes, and they appear on the Statement of Account.
Deferred Payment Plan
See the information under undergraduate expenses.
Graduate Student Budget
Graduate Student Fees 2020-21
| |
One Quarter |
F-W-S Quarters |
| Student Services Fee (formerly University Registration Fee) |
$376.00 |
$1,128.00 |
| Tuition (formerly Educational Fee) |
$3,814.00 |
$11,442.00 |
| Campus-Based Fees |
$426.70 |
$1,280.10 |
| GSHIP Health Insurance (waivable) |
$1,646.00 |
$4,938.00 |
| Total for California Residents |
$6262.70 |
$18,788.10 |
| |
|
|
Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (a)
|
$5,034.00 |
$15,102.00 |
| Total for Nonresidents of California |
$11,296.70 |
$33,890.10 |
(a) A limited number of Nonresident Tuition Fellowships are available. Please refer to the Financial Support section.
For information on fee refunds, see Fees and Expenses.
Minimum annual expenses, including registration fees, for a single graduate student living on campus are estimated to be $44,539.08 per academic year. Students should not plan to undertake graduate study without assured funding, since outside employment in the Santa Cruz community can be difficult to obtain. An estimated sample student budget for the 2019-20 academic year is provided below. Non–California residents should add $15,102 in nonresident tuition and fees to the total.
Graduate Student Budget, 2020-21
| Fees |
$18,788.10 |
| Books and supplies |
$1,146.00 |
| Room and board (on or off campus) (a) |
$21,495.00 |
| Transportation (b) |
$1,272.00 |
| Personal |
$2,280.00 |
| Total |
$44,981.10 |
a) Estimated room and board for graduate students living with family is $5,835.
b) Expenses of owning a car and parking on campus are not included here. For parking fees, see Transportation and Parking Services.
c) Some graduate programs are also assessed a professional fee.
Financial Support
Financial Support
The University of California, Santa Cruz, makes a strong effort to provide financial support to all graduate students who make normal progress in their program of studies. Certain kinds of support are awarded on the basis of academic merit, and others are granted on the basis of need. Students are encouraged to apply for both kinds of assistance by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form must be submitted after October 1 prior to the academic year for which you are requesting aid. The FAFSA may be filled out online and filed electronically at the FAFSA website. Applications for student loans for each academic year will be accepted until April of that academic year. More detailed information about the application process and loans can be found at Financial Aid. Students may also visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, 205 Hahn Student Services Building, or call (831) 459-2963.
Fellowships, Assistantships, Grants
Students who received Cal Grant A or B as undergraduates within the last 15 months may request a one-year extension from the California Student Aid Commission to attend a teacher credential program. Renewal of these awards requires the student to submit the FAFSA by March 2nd. In addition, the student must submit a Request for Teaching Program Benefits Form (Form G-44) to the California Student Aid Commission.
The federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants to students who intend to teach in a high-need field in a public/private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. The program at UCSC is for M.A. Education students. In exchange for receiving this grant, you must sign an Agreement to Serve and complete online counseling. This grant converts to a loan with retroactive interest if the Service Agreement is not fulfilled. More information and a fact sheet can be found at the Federal Student Aid TEACH Grants website.
Teaching Assistantships are offered by academic departments. Departments may decide to assign assistantships to students outside of the department. Opportunities are shared among departments and students should inquire with their graduate department adviser about applying for assistantships. Salary information is posted online by the Academic Personnel Office.
Graduate Student Researcher Internships are assigned by faculty and sponsoring campus agencies. Students should inquire with faculty about GSR opportunities. Salary scales (steps) vary by department/division. Salary information is posted online by the Academic Personnel Office.
Student Loans
Graduate students can qualify for federal student loans by completing the FAFSA. Graduate students are eligible for Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS loan programs. For additional information , see the UCSC Financial Aid and Scholarships website.
Loan Forgiveness Programs
The federal government will forgive all or part of a student loan under certain circumstances. This can include performing volunteer work or military service, or practicing medicine in certain communities. For a summary of such exemptions, visit the Federal Student Aid website.