Application fee waiver efc

The application fee is $135.00 for domestic applicants and $155.00 for international applicants. Electronic payment options are available through our application system.

Fees can not be deferred. International applicants do not qualify for the Graduate Division's application fee waivers or exemptions.

Some individual programs may offer a fee exemption for their applicants; please check with the program you are applying to, to see if they offer such a fee exemption.

**This fee does not guarantee admission and is non-refundable**

Do you offer a Fee Waiver for financial hardship or for students currently receiving financial aid?

If you are a US Citizen, AB 540, or Permanent Resident of the United States, you may request an application fee waiver if you believe you are eligible. Please be aware that fee waivers are extremely limited. Please note: If you pay the application fee via credit card, your money will not be refunded to you.

To demonstrate financial need you must enter the Student Aid Index (SAI) or Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) in the Payment/Fee Waiver page and upload one of the following three items through the online application. Make sure you remove/redact all Social Security numbers before submitting the documents .

• A statement of need from a financial aid officer at the college or university that you are currently attending. This statement must include your Student Aid Index (SAI), the financial aid officer’s signature, and your signature verifying that the information reported is correct . Or,

• A copy of your Current Student Aid Report (SAR) (not from the previous year) from your FAFSA, or a copy of your CALSAR statement from your California Dream Act Application showing your Student Aid Index (SAI) and your full name on the subsequent page(s) . The California Dream Act Application (Dream App, https://dream.csac.ca.gov), or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA, http://www.fafsa.ed.gov) form are both available beginning October 1st. Do not submit a copy of your Dream App or FAFSA. Or,

• A copy of last year's (2023) Federal Income Tax return . Provide either your Form 1040, if listed as an independent, or a copy of your parent’s or guardian’s recent Federal Income Tax return, if listed as a dependent. Do not submit more than the single page that includes your adjusted gross income and identifying information (name, date of birth). Tip: If you fill out the FAFSA you can use the SAR (see option 2) instead of submitting a tax return.

• SAI cannot exceed $6,656.
• Annual family income cannot exceed the maximum AGI listed in the Family Income Guidelines below:

• FAMILY SIZE (including student) = FAMILY INCOME (Maximum AGI on Tax Return)
  • 1 = $27,861
  • 2 = $37,814
  • 3 = $47,767
  • 4 = $57,720
  • 5 = $67,673
  • 6 or more = Add $9,953 for each additional family member

  When you have uploaded the appropriate documents, submit your application by the application deadline. Fee waivers will only be reviewed for submitted applicants.

  Unfortunately we can not offer a fee waiver to every applicant. If your fee waiver is declined, we will contact you via the email you used on your application. You will be given a limited time (next business day, for example) to pay the application fee.

  fee-exemption

  I currently participate, or was a participant, in a scholarly program as an undergraduate; or I am in, or honorably separated from, the U.S. Military; can I receive a Fee Exemption?

  Fee exemptions are available for applicants who participate in a qualifying program, listed below.

  To apply for a Fee Exemption:

  1. Navigate to the Payment section of the application
  2. For the question, "Do you need assistance paying for your application processing fee?" answer "Yes"
  3. Answer the remaining questions that appear in the application to determine which program you qualify for
  4. Select from the drop-down menu the specific program you participated in
  5. Fill out all required fields on the page
  6. Select the "Continue" button at the bottom when you are finished ​ ​ ​
  • ABRCMS (Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students)
  • APS Bridge (American Physical Society Bridge Program)
  • BD2K Summer UP
  • BMS BE-STEM Scholars program (Bristol Myers Squibb Black Excellence in Stem)
  • Cal-Bridge
  • CAMP (California Alliance for Minority Participation)
  • CBSE-RMI (Center for Biomedical Science and Engineering - Research Mentoring Institute)
  • CfAO-RIM (Center for Adaptive Optics - Research Internships on the Mainland)
  • Cientifico Latino (US citizens and Permanent Residents)
  • CSU Pre-Doctoral Program
  • Diversity Forum (The California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education)
  • Doris Duke Scholars Graduate Fellowship
  • Fulbright (any sponsoring agency)
  • GEM Fellowship
  • Graduate Pathways to STEM Conference
  • LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation)
  • MARC (Maximizing Access to Research Careers, NIH)
  • MARC (Mentoring Academic Research Careers, ASHA)
  • MBRS/IMSD (Minority Biomedical Research Support/Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity)
  • McNair Scholars Program
  • MEP UC Santa Cruz (Multicultural Engineering Program)
  • MIRT (Minority Biomedical Research Training Program)
  • NAC (National Astronomy Consortium)
  • NIH Bridge to Doctorate
  • NSF REU (National Science Foundation - Research Experience for Undergraduates)
  • Peace Corps
  • PREP (Post baccalaureate Research Experience Program)
  • Project 1000
  • SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science)
  • SFSU Genentech Foundation Scholars Program
  • SIEML (Summer Institute for Emerging Managers and Leaders)
  • SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship)
  • SURF-IT (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Information Technology)
  • U.S. Military
  • UC LEADS (University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees)
  • UC MEXUS / CONACYT
  • UC-HBCU Initiative (Historically Black Colleges and Universities Alumni for Campus Outreach)
  • UC-HSI-DDI Program, c/o the Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells, Baskin School of Engineering
  • UCEAP Reciprocity
  • UROC at UC Merced (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center)
  • VIR BSS (VIR Biotechnology Stem Scholarship)