University of California

Who qualifies for the UC Blue + Gold Opportunity Plan?

UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan will cover your educational and student services fees if you are a California resident whose family earns less than $80,000 a year and you qualify for financial aid — and that's just for starters. Blue + Gold students with sufficient financial need can qualify for even more grant aid to help reduce the cost of attending.

What it takes to be eligible

1. Be a California resident or qualify for a nonresident tuition exemption under AB 540 

2. Demonstrate income below $80,000 with financial need, as determined for federal need-based aid program

3. Be in your first four years as a UC undergraduate (first two for transfer students)

4. Meet other campus basic requirements for UC grant aid (for example, be enrolled at least half-time during the academic year, meet campus academic progress standards, not be in default on student loans, etc.)

5. Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if you’re an eligible non-citizen, a California Dream Act application by March 2.

6. Make sure your school submits a GPA verification form to the Cal Grant program, or download the form, have your school fill it out and send it to the California Student Aid Commission

What Blue + Gold covers

1. Under the plan, your systemwide fees will be fully covered by scholarship or grant money if you are in your first four years at UC (two if you're a transfer student).

2. The plan combines all sources of scholarship and grant awards you receive (federal, state, UC and private) to count toward covering your fees. If, for example, you receive Pell and Cal Grants and private scholarships that don't fully cover your fees, UC grant money will make up the difference.

3. Students with greater financial need can qualify for even more grant support to help defray other educational expenses (like books, housing, transportation, etc.) In 2010-11, UC provided grant and scholarship assistance averaging $14,514 per student to more than half of undergraduates.

What you need to apply

You don't need to fill out a separate application to qualify for the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.

Simply file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if you’re an eligible non-citizen, a California Dream Act application, and ensure that your Cal Grant GPA Verification has been submitted by the March 2 deadline of the year you plan to attend UC. Indicate each UC campus to which you would like to have information sent.

You will receive the benefits of the Blue and Gold plan automatically if you qualify.