UCLA received 145,085 first-year applications for Fall 2025 and admitted about 9%. There is no early action or early decision, and SAT and ACT scores are not looked at for admission or for scholarships. Everything rides on grades, course rigor, and the four personal insight essays on the UC application. That same application is also your student’s first scholarship application, so the scholarship section is worth filling out carefully. Arts and Architecture, Music, Nursing, and Theater, Film and Television also require a supplemental application, and Nursing admitted just 31 first-years out of 5,669 applicants last year.
📌 University of California, Los Angeles at a Glance
🏆 Full tuition available (Cal Grant A)
Average Net Price
$14,512/year (in-state estimate)
Average paid for residents.
Automatic Merit
None (no guaranteed merit)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
21 opportunities
4 competitive · 7 hidden gem · 10 honors
Typical Qualifiers
4.1+ GPA to be considered for UCLA scholarships
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-blind (SAT/ACT not used)
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 30 • FAFSA: Mar 2
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Cal Grant A
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at UCLA (Read This First)
There is no automatic merit scholarship. No GPA chart, no guaranteed award. UCLA money is either need-based, invitation-only, or something your student applies for after getting in.
Test scores will not earn money here. UC is test-blind, so a great SAT does nothing for scholarships at UCLA.
March 2 is the money deadline. File the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, and California students need the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form in by the same date. Late filers get reduced aid, and the Achievement Scholarship must be renewed by March 2 every year.
The scholarship section of the UC application counts. UCLA considers high school applicants with a 4.1+ GPA for its scholarships, and things like the Alan Pattee Scholarship start with a checkbox on that application.
The best merit window opens after admission. The Alumni Scholarship and 2,000+ portal scholarships open only once your student is admitted (late March). Families who celebrate and wait until May miss them.
Out-of-state is a different price tag. Nonresidents pay $39,270 extra in tuition with no waiver or regional discount, and UC’s biggest grant programs are for California residents.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? No. University of California, Los Angeles is test-required for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.
Average net price? About $14,512/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of California, Los Angeles: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of California, Los Angeles has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$700 to $1,800 more than the in-state total below.$1,500 to $3,800 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$36,297
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$16,430
Housing & meals (typical)
$19,867
Total billed cost
$36,297
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$75,567
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$55,700
Housing & meals (typical)
$19,867
Total billed cost
$75,567
That is $39,270 more per year than California residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $14,512 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
The California Family Advantage
For California residents, the sticker price is not the real price for most families. UC’s Blue and Gold aid promise means most California families earning up to $100,000 get enough grant and scholarship money to cover UC tuition, as long as the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application is filed by March 2. Out-of-state families should plan on the full nonresident price unless outside scholarships close the gap.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at UCLA
Why does out-of-state cost almost $40,000 more?
Out-of-state students pay a Nonresident Supplemental Tuition charge of $39,270 for 2026-27 on top of the $16,430 every student pays. UCLA has no out-of-state waiver and is not part of WUE or any regional exchange, so there is no discount program to lean on.
Will UCLA tuition go up every year my student is enrolled?
No. Under UC’s Tuition Stability Plan, tuition is set when your student first enrolls and stays flat for up to six years, and that includes the nonresident charge. Each new class pays a bit more than the one before it (about $654 more for students starting in 2026-27), but your student’s own rate does not climb. Housing and food can still go up.
Does Blue and Gold make UCLA free?
It makes tuition free for most California families earning up to $100,000 who qualify for aid. It does not automatically cover housing and food, which run about $19,867 on campus. Families with more need can get additional grants toward those costs. There is no separate application, just the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2.
Is the average net price really around $14,500?
For in-state students who received grant aid in 2023-24, yes. By income, the federal data shows roughly $5,600 for families under $30,000, $9,800 for $48,000 to $75,000, $14,100 for $75,000 to $110,000, and about $29,700 for families over $110,000. Use UCLA’s net price calculator for your own number.
What costs are not in the table above?
UCLA’s full budget for an on-campus student also includes about $1,588 for books and supplies, $969 for transportation, $2,761 for personal expenses, and $3,885 for health insurance (which can be waived if your student has their own coverage). That brings the full estimate to $45,500 for California residents and $84,770 for nonresidents.
Can out-of-state students get need-based aid?
Federal aid like the Pell Grant is open to them, but Blue and Gold, Cal Grant, and the Middle Class Scholarship are California programs. In practice, out-of-state families should expect to pay close to the full price unless outside scholarships close the gap.
October 1: FAFSA and CA Dream Act Application open. California students should also make sure the high school submits the Cal Grant GPA.
November 30: UC application closes. Fill out the scholarship section; it is how UCLA first considers your student.
Early February: UCLA invites its top applicants to apply for the Regents Scholarship.
March 2: FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application plus Cal Grant GPA due. This one date unlocks Blue and Gold, Cal Grant, and the Achievement Scholarship.
Late March: Admission decisions. Within days, the UCLA scholarship portal and the Alumni Scholarship application open.
Early April: First-gen freshman awards like the Ola Zuckerman ’39 Scholarship close.
Parent rule of thumb: March 2 matters more than any admission date. Put it on the fridge.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at UCLA
Short answer: UCLA does not offer automatic merit scholarships. There is no chart where a certain GPA gets a certain dollar amount. This is true across the University of California, and it surprises a lot of families coming from states where big automatic awards are the norm.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidFull TuitionAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Cal Grant A
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or CADAA plus GPA verification by March 2 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPACalifornia resident or AB 540 student; 3.0 high school GPA (or 2.4 college GPA); 2026-27 income ceiling $144,700 for a family of four, assets under $111,900; FAFSA or CADAA and a verified GPA by March 2; within one year of high school graduation for the entitlement award
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pays UC systemwide tuition and fees, $15,588 in 2026-27. Housing is not included. Stacks with the UC grant, Pell, and campus scholarships. Guaranteed (an entitlement) for every graduating senior who meets the GPA, income, and deadline.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of California, Los Angeles award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent CA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Every California senior with a 3.0 whose family is under the ceiling and whose school sent the GPA to CSAC by March 2. The miss is almost always the GPA verification, which the high school must submit separately; a student with a perfect FAFSA and no verified GPA gets nothing.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Cal Grant B
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or CADAA plus GPA verification by March 2 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.0+ GPACalifornia resident or AB 540 student; 2.0 GPA; 2026-27 income ceiling $76,100 for a family of four, assets under $111,900; FAFSA or CADAA and a verified GPA by March 2
✚
Stacking & Combining
For lower-income families. Year one is a $1,648 access award for books and living costs; from year two it adds the full Cal Grant A tuition amount for your school on top of the access award. Students with dependent children or a foster care history can get up to $6,000 in access money. Stacks with Pell and college aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of California, Los Angeles award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent CA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Low-income seniors with at least a 2.0 who filed by March 2. The first-year letter looks small because tuition does not kick in until sophomore year; families sometimes decline a school over that without realizing year two is worth ten times more.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Middle Class Scholarship
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or CADAA by March 2; no separate application ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
California resident or AB 540 student at a UC or CSU; household income and assets under $262,000 (dependent students, 2027-28 ceiling); no GPA requirement; no separate application
✚
Stacking & Combining
No fixed amount: the state computes cost of attendance minus other gift aid, minus an $8,616 student contribution, minus a parent contribution for incomes over $100,000, and pays a share of what is left based on the year's budget. Comes after Cal Grant and Pell, stacks with campus aid, and reaches families well above the Cal Grant ceiling.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of California, Los Angeles award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent CA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Families between roughly $100,000 and $262,000 at a UC or CSU, the group that gets nothing from Cal Grant. The award changes every year with the state budget, so a sophomore's letter can be smaller than freshman year's for reasons that have nothing to do with the student.
This institution does not offer designated Automatic Merit scholarships at this time.
What UCLA does instead
What happens
Who it helps
What your student has to do
Blue and Gold tuition coverage
Most California families earning up to $100,000
FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2. No other application.
UCLA Achievement Scholarship
Top academic admits who also have financial need
Nothing beyond the FAFSA or Dream Act application. It shows up on the admission aid letter.
Regents Scholarship
UCLA’s strongest overall applicants
Wait for an invitation in early February, then apply.
Alumni and portal scholarships
Any admitted student willing to apply
Apply in the UCLA scholarship portal right after admission decisions.
Note: UCLA considers high school applicants with a 4.1 or higher GPA (as UC calculates it) for its scholarships. Below that, need-based grants still apply in full.
Automatic Merit: FAQs (UCLA)
Does UCLA give any guaranteed merit money?
No. Every UCLA scholarship is either need-based, invitation-only, or something your student applies for. Even the Regents Scholarship, UCLA’s top honor, comes by invitation, not by hitting a number.
Will a high SAT or ACT score get my student a scholarship?
Not at UCLA. The University of California does not use test scores for admission or scholarships, so money depends on grades, the essays, and financial need.
What GPA does my student need to be considered for UCLA scholarships?
UCLA considers high school applicants with at least a 4.1 GPA for the scholarships it manages. That is the UC-calculated GPA from 10th and 11th grade, which can include honors and AP bonus points.
What is the closest thing to automatic money at UCLA?
For California families, it is Blue and Gold: if you earn up to $100,000 and qualify for aid, tuition is typically covered with no extra application. For high-achieving students with need, the Achievement Scholarship ($500 to $10,000 a year) is awarded straight from the admission review.
What happens if we miss March 2?
Your student can still file, but students who apply late get reduced aid eligibility, and California students can lose Cal Grant consideration. For UCLA, March 2 is the deadline that controls the most money.
UCLA’s big-name awards work differently from most schools. The Regents Scholarship pays a $2,000 honorarium no matter what, then covers the rest of a student’s financial need. The perks (priority class enrollment, guaranteed housing and parking, faculty mentors) are a big part of the value. The Alumni Scholarship is the one merit award any admitted student can apply for, worth $6,000 to $20,000 over four years.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at UCLA?
Aid Type
Stacks?
UCLA Parent Translation
Regents Scholarship
Yes
The $2,000 honorarium comes regardless of need. If you have more need, UCLA adds grants on top to cover it.
Alumni Scholarships
Yes, but only one
Combines with Regents and need-based aid, but a student can only hold one Alumni award.
Achievement Scholarship
Yes
Tied to need, so the amount can shift a little year to year as your aid picture changes.
Outside scholarships
Yes, with an adjustment
UCLA reduces loans and work-study first. Grants only go down if outside money is bigger than your loans and work-study.
Cal Grant and Blue and Gold
Yes
These are the foundation. Every grant and scholarship counts toward covering tuition first.
UCLA’s competitive scholarships reward the whole student, not one number. Admissions readers identify the top candidates during the regular review. Your student’s essays, leadership, and what they did with the opportunities they had matter as much as grades.
App Required
Regents Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Invitation only: UCLA Admission invites its strongest applicants to submit a Regents application in early February. FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2 for the need-based supplement. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Invitation only; you cannot apply unless UCLA invites you.
👥 ~Up to 100 per year (~500 active Regents Scholars at UCLA) winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stackable with outside scholarships and other UCLA aid. The $2,000 honorarium is paid regardless of need; if you also demonstrate financial need, UCLA layers in additional university scholarships or grants up to your full need. Outside awards must be reported to Financial Aid.
📄
How to Apply
Automatic consideration via the UC application; the strongest holistic-review admits are invited in early February to submit a Regents Scholarship application reviewed by the Faculty Committee on Honors, Awards and Prizes. Selection is finalized with the admission decision.
Selection criteria: Holistic review weighing academic excellence, leadership, and exceptional promise; school-by-school criteria vary (portfolio for arts schools, academic for L&S and Engineering)
💡
Strategic Detail
The $2,000/year stipend is the headline number, but the real value is the package around it: priority enrollment from your second quarter, guaranteed campus housing (if you meet Housing deadlines), guaranteed parking, and faculty mentorship through the Regents Scholar Society. Freshmen get 12 quarters of funding; transfers get 6. Up to 100 awarded annually; roughly 500 active Scholars on campus at any time. UCLA Regents cannot be transferred to or from another UC campus.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
UCLA's most exceptional admits across the holistic review, top academics, real leadership, and that 'exceptional promise' factor. For Arts & Architecture, Theatre/Film, and Music applicants, the portfolio carries enormous weight; L&S and Engineering lean academic.
Automatic
UCLA Achievement Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application. Selected from the UC application; FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application must be filed by March 2 every year. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$500–$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stackable with most UCLA aid, but because it's tied to demonstrated need, the amount can shift year over year as your aid picture changes. Outside scholarships are coordinated against your overall need.
💡
Strategic Detail
$500–$10,000 per year for up to four years, sized to your demonstrated financial need. Eligible freshmen first see it on their Provisional Award Letter (PAL) during admission; the final Financial Aid Award Notification (FAN) confirms it after the Statement of Intent to Register. Renewal requires re-filing FAFSA or CADAA every year by March 2 and continued financial need, miss the deadline and you forfeit that year's funding.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: UCLA's top-ranked academic admits who also show clear financial need on their FAFSA or CADAA, this one is engineered for the highest-achieving need-eligible Bruins.
App Required
UCLA Alumni Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Application opens 2 to 3 days after UCLA admission decisions (late March) in the UCLA scholarship portal; first offers go out within about a week. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$6,000–$20,000
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stackable with Regents, Achievement, and need-based aid up to cost of attendance. Students can receive only one Alumni Scholarship. Years 2 through 4 require 30 logged hours each year (15 service hours plus 15 participation credits), at least one Alumni Scholars event, and meeting unit and GPA requirements.
📄
How to Apply
Separate application through the UCLA Prospective Undergraduate Scholarship Portal; one application is screened by alumni volunteers and Financial Aid for all three Alumni programs (Freshman Alumni, Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, and Legacy). Essays required; interviews used for many programs.
Selection criteria: Leadership impact, community engagement, academic record, and fit to the specific Alumni program track
✎ Essays🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Freshman awards run $6,000–$20,000 paid in equal installments over 4 years; transfer awards are $6,000 over 2 years. Students with demonstrated financial need can also receive up to $5,000 in additional need-based funding their first year on top of the merit award. Alumni Scholars get membership in the Alumni Scholars Club with leadership programming, alumni mentoring, and networking access.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Well-rounded Bruins with real leadership credentials, student government, sustained community work, founding something that mattered. Pure GPA without the impact story rarely wins this one. The Bunche track focuses on students who add to UCLA's diversity; Legacy is for students with a UCLA-graduate parent.
Automatic
Chancellor's Blue and Gold Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 30 (UC application); March 2 (FAFSA or CADAA priority deadline) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ For graduates of LA County high schools (or LA-area community colleges) that historically send few students to UCLA.
👥 ~Approximately 350 active scholars winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stackable with other UCLA aid. Because this one is tied to a community-service requirement, the renewal mechanics are slightly different from pure merit awards, miss the hours and the next year's check is at risk.
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,000–$5,000 annually for up to 4 years (freshmen) or 2 years (transfers). Supports roughly 350 students with annual expenditures topping $1 million. Recipients must complete 20 hours of community service each year they receive the award, typical activities include recruitment and outreach to other LA-area students, workshop support, and giving back to their alma mater high schools.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-achieving students from LA County high schools (or local community colleges, for transfers) that don't historically funnel many students to UCLA, this is UCLA's intentional bet on broadening access in its own backyard.
Data last verified Jun 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Worth knowing: UBAA Winston C. Doby Legacy Scholarship
The UCLA Black Alumni Association awards $10,000 a year for four years to African American/Black high school seniors admitted to UCLA with at least a 3.0 GPA and a record of community leadership. There is no open application. UBAA contacts candidates after admission, and families who believe they qualify but have not heard anything can reach out through UCLA Financial Aid.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How does my student get a Regents Scholarship?
They can’t apply cold. UCLA invites its strongest applicants to submit a Regents application in early February, and winners find out with their admission decision. UCLA awards up to 100 a year to incoming freshmen and transfers.
What does Regents actually pay?
A $2,000 honorarium each year for four years regardless of need, plus enough grants and scholarships to cover any remaining financial need. Scholars must keep a 3.0 GPA and take at least 12 units every quarter.
When does the Alumni Scholarship application open?
Two to three days after UCLA releases admission decisions, inside the UCLA scholarship portal. The first offers go out within about a week, and more are matched through the summer. You do not need a UCLA alum in the family to apply.
What is the catch with Alumni Scholarships?
The money is paid over four years, and staying eligible means logging 30 hours a year (service plus participation), attending at least one Alumni Scholars event, and meeting unit and GPA rules. Miss the hours and the next year’s payment is at risk.
Who gets the Chancellor’s Blue and Gold Scholarship?
High-achieving students from Los Angeles County high schools that historically send few students to UCLA (and transfers from LA-area community colleges). It pays $1,000 to $5,000 a year and requires 20 hours of community service each year. It is a different program from UC’s Blue and Gold tuition coverage.
Does UCLA offer a full ride for merit?
No. No UCLA merit scholarship covers full tuition or a full ride on its own. Families get to full coverage through need: Regents fills remaining need, and Blue and Gold covers tuition for most qualifying California families.
UCLA’s scholarship portal holds more than 2,000 scholarships, but prospective students cannot even start an application until they are admitted. One general application, about 20 to 30 minutes, matches your student against all of them.
The week decisions come out, log into the UCLA scholarship portal and finish the general application.
Apply for the Alumni Scholarship and any recommended awards (first-gen, major-based, hometown).
Line up a teacher or counselor for recommendation letters before April; some awards close in early April.
Come back every winter. Many College awards for continuing students close in mid-January.
Parent translation: the money at UCLA does not find you. Your student has to go get it, and the clock starts the day they are admitted.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These are the awards most families never hear about. Some are for first-generation students, some kick in after freshman year, and a few cover tuition entirely for students in very specific situations.
App Required
Ola Zuckerman '39 Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early April (April 2 in 2026); apply in the UCLA scholarship portal after admission Non-Renewable
$5,000
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Reported on your financial aid letter like other UCLA scholarships; it typically replaces loans or work-study before grants.
📄
How to Apply
Portal application, essay, and reference letter after admission
Selection criteria: GPA/first-gen/promise
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
One-year, $5,000 award for entering freshmen, established in 1964. Preference goes to first-generation college students with financial need and at least a 3.5 high school GPA (weighted or unweighted). Requires a transcript, a recommendation letter from a teacher or counselor, and short answers about your goals. Recipients must submit their Statement of Intent to Register and send a thank-you letter to the donor.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-generation freshmen with real financial need and strong grades who take the time to apply in the portal right after admission.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
UCEAP First Generation Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 1 for summer/fall programs; winter/spring programs apply through the Global Bruins Scholarship application (mid-November) Non-Renewable
$2,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
📄
How to Apply
Essay and portal form required after acceptance to UCEAP
Selection criteria: First-gen status/aid
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A $2,000 award for first-generation UCLA students going abroad on a UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP). Applicants are also considered for the UCLA Kimura Airfare Grant, which covers $900 of airfare. Must be a UCLA financial aid recipient in good standing with no previous study abroad.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-gen students accepted to a UC study abroad program
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP)
📅 Deadline: Mid-June for the following academic year (June 16 in 2026) ✓ Renews (2 yrs)
$4,500–$6,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Applicants do not need financial aid to qualify. For students who do receive aid, UCLA may adjust the package so total aid does not exceed need or cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
A three-quarter research scholarship for juniors (up to $4,500) and seniors (up to $6,000) already working with a UCLA faculty mentor. There are two tracks: one run by the Undergraduate Research Center for Sciences (life and physical sciences, engineering, math) and one for humanities, arts, and social sciences. Paid in three equal payments to BruinBill. Requires a research course each quarter, a thesis or paper, and a presentation at the spring research showcase.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who got into a lab early (often through the SRP-99 course) and have a mentor willing to write the one required letter. No citizenship requirement.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
UCLA College Continuing Student Scholarship Program
📅 Deadline: Mid-January for the following academic year (January 11, 2027 this cycle) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Reported on your aid letter; outside and institutional scholarships typically replace loans and work-study before grants.
💡
Strategic Detail
For continuing undergraduates in the UCLA College of Letters and Science with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Amount varies and is not renewable; students reapply each year. Listed alongside dozens of other College awards with the same January deadline in the UCLA scholarship portal.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Current Bruins who fill out the general portal application every winter. Many families never hear about it because it only applies after the first year.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Herb Alpert School of Music Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies by award; school-level scholarship listings in the UCLA portal closed March 15 in 2026 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Treated like other UCLA scholarships on your aid letter.
📄
How to Apply
Music application and audition required
Selection criteria: Talent/ensemble
💡
Strategic Detail
The Herb Alpert School of Music funds scholarships for its students through the UCLA scholarship portal. Amounts vary by award and are not published in advance. Music applicants are admitted through the UC application plus a supplemental application and an audition or interview.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Enrolled Herb Alpert School of Music students (performance, composition, education, music industry) who keep their portal profile current.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
UC Native American Opportunity Plan
📅 Deadline: No separate application; file the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2 ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ California residents enrolled in a federally recognized tribe.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other grants; UC uses all grant and scholarship sources first, then fills any remaining systemwide tuition gap.
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers in-state systemwide Tuition and the Student Services Fee for California residents who are enrolled members of any federally recognized Native American, American Indian, or Alaska Native tribe (the tribe does not have to be in California). Campus fees are not included. UC contacts likely-eligible students for tribal enrollment documents. Students with more need can receive additional grants for housing and books.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Enrolled tribal members who file the FAFSA or Dream Act application on time. If UC has not reached out, contact the campus Native resource center or Financial Aid.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Alan Pattee Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Self-identify in the scholarship section of the UC application (Nov 30); FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application every year ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Surviving children or spouses of California law enforcement officers or firefighters who died in the line of duty.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Works alongside other grants; housing and food costs are still covered through regular financial aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
A state-law exemption from mandatory systemwide tuition and fees plus campus-based fees (health insurance excluded) for surviving spouses and children of California public law enforcement or fire personnel who died in the line of duty. Income must fall under the Cal Grant B limits. UCLA reviews students who check the box on the UC application and asks for a death certificate and an employer or official support letter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Eligible families who check the Alan Pattee box on the UC application. If you missed it, contact UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarships directly.
Data last verified Oct 5, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyAutomatic
UBAA Winston C. Doby Legacy Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Candidates are contacted directly upon UCLA admission; no public deadline ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ For African American/Black high school seniors admitted to UCLA; candidates are contacted by UBAA.
🏫 3.0+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Treated as an outside scholarship coordinated through UCLA Financial Aid. Reportable on the FAN; outside awards typically reduce self-help (loans and work-study) first before affecting grants.
💡
Strategic Detail
$10,000 per year for 4 years (up to $40,000 total). Administered by the UCLA Black Alumni Association (UBAA), which has supported over 1,100 African-American/Black students since 2007 with multi-year scholarships of up to $40,000. Because the selection is pipeline-gated through UBAA, you cannot apply directly, admitted students who fit the criteria are contacted by UBAA. If you don't hear from them and believe you qualify, contact the UBAA Scholarship Chair via the UCLA Financial Aid page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: African American/Black high school seniors admitted to UCLA with a minimum 3.0 GPA, a documented record of impactful leadership in their communities, and a clear commitment to academic excellence. Candidates are surfaced by UBAA, not by open application.
Data last verified Jun 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Can my student apply for UCLA scholarships before being admitted?
Not in the UCLA portal. Prospective students can only begin once they have their admission notice. Before that, the scholarship section of the UC application is the only way in.
Is there anything specifically for first-generation students?
Yes. The Ola Zuckerman ’39 Scholarship gives $5,000 to entering freshmen, with preference for first-gen students with financial need and a 3.5+ GPA. Later on, the UCEAP First Generation Scholarship gives $2,000 toward studying abroad.
Is there money after freshman year?
Plenty. The UCLA College Continuing Student Scholarship Program is open to College of Letters and Science students with a 2.5+ GPA, with applications due in mid-January. Juniors and seniors doing faculty research can earn $4,500 to $6,000 through the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program.
Who qualifies for the Native American Opportunity Plan?
California residents who are enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe, from any state. It covers systemwide tuition and the Student Services Fee. There is no separate application; UC reaches out after you file the FAFSA or Dream Act application.
What is the Alan Pattee Scholarship?
A California law that waives tuition and campus fees for the children or spouses of California law enforcement officers or firefighters who died in the line of duty. Students check a box in the scholarship section of the UC application, and UCLA follows up.
UCLA does not have a separate honors college. It runs UCLA Honors Programs inside the College of Letters and Science, and the most important thing for families to know is that honors does not come with a freshman scholarship. Honors scholarships are only for students already in College Honors or College Scholars, and incoming first-years are not eligible.
College Scholars: A four-year honors cohort for incoming first-years in Letters and Science or the Luskin School of Public Affairs. Students apply after admission, around May.
College Honors: Open to current Bruins after their first quarter, with at least 12 graded units and a 3.5 UCLA GPA.
What honors students get: Small Honors Collegium seminars (usually 15 to 20 students), honors counselors, and a “College Honors” notation on the diploma and transcript.
Honors Scholarships & Research Stipends
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
College Honors Scholarships (General Honors Scholarships)
📅 Deadline: Application window typically March 23 to April 5 (with portal showing April 8 buffer); all materials due 11:59 p.m. on closing day Non-Renewable
$500–$5,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Honors scholarships are disbursed quarterly via BruinBill and apply to the following academic year. They stack with most other UCLA aid, but receiving other awards can affect specific scholarship eligibility, check with Financial Aid before submitting if you're already funded heavily.
📄
How to Apply
Single application through the UCLA Financial Aid Scholarship Portal during the spring window. Students respond to the Honors Prompt (released in advance) and are automatically matched to every Honors scholarship they qualify for, no need to apply to each named award separately.
Selection criteria: Academic performance, extracurricular engagement, and quality of the Honors prompt response
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
One application opens you up to the full library of named Honors scholarships, typical individual awards run $500–$5,000, with the umbrella pool spanning $1,000–$20,000 across all programs combined. The Honors website lists the April 5 internal deadline, while the AcademicWorks portal shows April 8; treat April 5 as your real deadline and don't bank on the buffer. Most awards are open to all Honors students; only one in the catalog requires U.S. citizenship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Current College Honors or College Scholars students who treat the Honors essay prompt like a real piece of work, thoughtful, specific, and clearly their own thinking. Lazy essays get filtered fast.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Rose Gilbert Honors Programs Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 23 to April 5 (Honors scholarship window) Non-Renewable
$2,000–$5,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~5–7 per year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Disbursed quarterly via BruinBill for the following academic year. Stackable with most UCLA aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply via the single College Honors Scholarships application and complete the Honors prompt. No separate standalone application beyond the standard Honors form.
Selection criteria: Academic merit and quality of essay/personal statement
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Award range $2,000–$5,000, 5–7 recipients per cycle. Open to all Honors students with no major restriction (separate from the Rose Gilbert in Memory of Maggie Gilbert Scholarship and the Rose Gilbert Undergraduate Research Scholarship, which have their own preferences).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Five to seven Honors students per year with strong academic records and a thoughtful, personal Honors prompt response. Listed in the 'Open Honors Scholarships' category, no major or class-year lock.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Rose Gilbert in Memory of Maggie Gilbert Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 23 to April 5 (Honors scholarship window) Non-Renewable
$2,000–$5,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~5–7 per year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Disbursed quarterly via BruinBill for the following academic year. Stackable with most UCLA aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply via the single College Honors Scholarships application; automatic matching as part of the Open Honors Scholarships pool.
Selection criteria: Academic merit and quality of essay/personal statement
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
$2,000–$5,000, 5–7 recipients. A sister award to the main Rose Gilbert Honors Programs Scholarship, same application process, separate funding pool. Together the two Rose Gilbert awards can put 10–14 Honors students into significant scholarship territory in a single cycle.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Five to seven Honors students per year, same scale as the main Rose Gilbert award. Often goes to students with humanities or English leanings, though the listing is officially open.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Joan Palevsky Honors Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 23 to April 5 (with Honors scholarship window) Non-Renewable
$2,500
✔ Stackable
👥 ~2 per year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Disbursed quarterly via BruinBill for the following academic year. Stackable with most UCLA aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply via the single College Honors Scholarships application, no separate standalone application is required. Faculty support strengthens the file but is not strictly mandated for this award.
Selection criteria: Academic excellence and quality of Honors prompt response
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Flat $2,500 award, 2 recipients per cycle. Awarded through the standard College Honors Scholarships process, students apply once and are matched automatically.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Two College Honors students per year with excellent academic records and a standout Honors prompt response. Listed under the 'Open Honors Scholarships' category, no class-year restriction in the master listing.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Major-Specific Honors Scholarships
📅 Deadline: March 23 to April 5 (Honors scholarship window) Non-Renewable
$2,000–$4,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Disbursed quarterly via BruinBill. Stackable with most UCLA aid. Some awards have financial-need preference that can interact with your aid package, check with Financial Aid if you're heavily aided.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the single College Honors Scholarships application; matching to major-restricted named awards happens automatically. A few specific named awards require additional materials (faculty endorsement, supplementary statement), prep these before the portal opens.
Selection criteria: Academic record within the qualifying major; departmental engagement; essay quality; demonstrated alignment with the named award's discipline
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Major-locked awards include: Rosalind W. Alcott Scholarship ($2,000, 2 awards, Poli Sci, Economics, Business Economics, or International Area Studies juniors); Bradford E. Burns Endowed Scholarship in History ($3,000, 1 award, History majors); Andrea L. Rich Honors Scholarship in the Humanities ($2,000, 1 award, Humanities/History upperclassmen with financial need); Helen Lane Merit Scholarship ($2,000–$4,000, 2 awards, foreign language including Greek, Latin, Hebrew); Morgan H. Harris Jr. Endowed Scholarship ($3,000, 3 awards, Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences majors; financial need, LAUSD-graduate preference); Bette and Don Prell Merit Scholarship ($2,500, 2 awards, open to all with Philosophy preference); Frederick R. Waingrow Peterson Publishing Company Scholarship ($4,000, 4 awards, students with interest in publishing, communications, or media; financial need).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Honors juniors and seniors whose declared major lines up with a named award's discipline lock. Departmental engagement (research with a major faculty member, departmental honors track) materially strengthens the file.
App Required⚠ Sophomore Only
Doris H. and Milton J. Chasin Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 23 to April 5 (Honors scholarship window) Non-Renewable
$4,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~5 per year winners/yr🎓 Sophomore
✚
Stacking & Combining
Disbursed quarterly via BruinBill for the following academic year. Stackable with most UCLA aid; coordinates with need-based aid through the FA office.
📄
How to Apply
Apply via the single College Honors Scholarships application; matching is automatic once you confirm California residency, U.S. citizenship, and financial need in your application profile. ROTC/NROTC/AFROTC participants are excluded.
Selection criteria: Eligibility filters first, then academic merit and essay quality among eligible applicants
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
$4,000 flat award, 5 recipients per year. The eligibility stack is restrictive: must be a College Honors student with sophomore standing or higher, a California resident, a U.S. citizen, demonstrate financial need, AND not be participating in ROTC, NROTC, or AFROTC. If all five line up, this is one of the most generous flat-amount Honors awards.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Five Honors students per year who hit all four filters: California resident, U.S. citizen, demonstrated financial need, and no military science participation. The ROTC exclusion is unusual and explicit, if you're in any ROTC track, this one is closed to you.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Special Eligibility Honors Awards (Umbrella)
📅 Deadline: March 23 to April 5 (Honors scholarship window) Non-Renewable
$1,000–$2,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Disbursed quarterly via BruinBill. Stackable with most UCLA aid; the awards with need preferences coordinate with the FA office.
📄
How to Apply
Apply via the single College Honors Scholarships application; matching is automatic to the named award whose specific filters you meet (California residency, varsity athletics background, religious career intent). Some named awards within the umbrella require supplementary statements, prep these before the portal opens.
Selection criteria: Eligibility filters first, then academic merit and essay quality among matched applicants
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Umbrella covering three named Special Eligibility awards: Irma and Jerome S. Miller Memorial Scholarship ($1,000, California residents); Gabrielle de Vellis Memorial Scholarship ($2,000, 2 awards, financial need plus high school varsity athletics); Reverend James A. Davidson & Elizabeth Beck Memorial Scholarship ($1,200, sophomore+ standing with preference for students pursuing a career in ministry or religious work). Each has its own narrow filter, make sure the relevant background detail is documented in your scholarship profile so the matching algorithm catches it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with specific background facts that match the donor's intent, California residency for Irma and Jerome S. Miller, a high school varsity athletics record plus financial need for Gabrielle de Vellis, or stated commitment to ministry or religious work for Reverend James A. Davidson & Elizabeth Beck. The matching is mechanical, but you have to declare the relevant detail in the application.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Honors Research Thesis Scholarships
📅 Deadline: March 23 to April 5 (with Honors scholarship window); URSP application due in June separately Non-Renewable
$5,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~3 awards total per cycle (1 per named scholarship) winners/yr🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Designed to layer with URSP funding and standard UCLA aid. The $5,000 supports thesis-related expenses and time, not tuition directly, so it generally doesn't reduce need-based aid the way a tuition scholarship can.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the College Honors Scholarships application and indicate senior thesis participation. Required: a short statement of endorsement from your faculty thesis advisor (on official letterhead) describing the general thesis topic. Recipients must also apply for the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP), that has its own June deadline.
Selection criteria: Strength of thesis topic and proposal; faculty endorsement; fit to named award preferences (major or need)
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Three $5,000 awards within this umbrella, each tied to senior thesis work: Rose Gilbert Undergraduate Research Scholarship (1 award, English major preference), Magda & Frederick R. Waingrow Endowed Research Scholarship (1 award, financial need preference), and Eugen and Jacqueline Weber Undergraduate Research Scholarship (1 award, European Studies / Central & East European Languages / History; French Studies preference). All require a 2026–27 senior thesis and concurrent URSP application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a real thesis project lined up for senior year, a faculty advisor who can vouch in writing, and a clear topic that fits the named award's preference (English for Rose Gilbert Undergraduate Research; European Studies/Central & East European Languages/History for Eugen and Jacqueline Weber; financial need for Magda & Frederick Waingrow).
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Honors Research Stipend
📅 Deadline: Feb 26 (application cycle typically opens late January) Non-Renewable
$1,000–$2,500
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Approximately 20 stipends per year plus 1 outstanding-proposal bonus winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Treated as a research stipend rather than tuition aid, typically does not affect tuition-based financial aid calculations the way a scholarship would, but check with Financial Aid before counting on the full amount.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Honors Summer Research Stipend application packet (proposal + application form) via the Honors Programs online form. Your faculty sponsor emails their signed Faculty Sponsor Agreement separately to the Honors Scholarships Coordinator by the same deadline.
Selection criteria: Innovation and quality of research proposal; feasibility and scope; strength of faculty sponsor support
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,000–$2,500 stipend (average around $1,000) funding summer research in any discipline, library, lab, or field-based. Approximately 20 awards per year, plus a single $500 bonus to the strongest proposal. Money can cover research expenses or offset work hours so you can focus on the project.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Roughly 20 Honors students per year with the sharpest, most feasible research proposals and a faculty sponsor willing to vouch for the work. The most outstanding proposal each year picks up an extra $500 bonus on top.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Senior Achievement Awards (College Honors)
📅 Deadline: March 23 to April 5 (Honors scholarship window); awards disbursed in spring of the current academic year Non-Renewable
$500–$1,200
✔ Stackable
👥 ~1 award per named scholarship (2 total per cycle) winners/yr🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid in spring of the senior year (rather than rolling to the following year), so timing matters if you're coordinating with final-semester aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply via the single College Honors Scholarships application; graduating Honors seniors are matched automatically to the senior-only named awards. Joel Rothblatt Award asks applicants to flag first-generation status in their profile.
Selection criteria: Academic accomplishment in Honors and overall impact; for Rothblatt, first-gen status and financial need are weighted
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Umbrella covering the two senior-only Honors awards: Barbara Ladd Gates Award for Intellectual Accomplishment ($1,200, 1 award, graduating spring or summer senior) and Joel Rothblatt Award ($500, 1 award, junior or senior graduating spring/summer, first-generation college student, preference for financial need). Both are disbursed in spring of the current academic year rather than rolling forward.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: College Honors seniors graduating in spring or summer with exceptional academic records or, for the Joel Rothblatt Award, first-generation status with junior or senior standing and preference for financial need.
Data last verified Jun 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
*Award amounts reflect the 2026 Honors scholarship listing and depend on available funding each year.
Deadline Note: Honors scholarships use one application with a short window, about two weeks in late March and early April (March 23 to April 5 in 2026). The essay prompt is posted ahead of time, and some awards need a faculty endorsement, so start early. Summer research stipends run on a separate cycle that opens in late January and closes in late February.
Typical Honors Award Sizes
Open honors scholarships: Usually $1,000 to $5,000, matched from one application.
Major-specific awards: $2,000 to $4,000 for fields like history, political science, economics, and languages.
Senior thesis scholarships: $5,000, with a required Undergraduate Research Scholars Program application in June.
Summer research stipends: About 20 a year, typically $1,000 to $2,500, plus a $500 bonus for the top proposal.
Honors Programs: FAQs (UCLA)
Does getting into UCLA honors come with a scholarship?
No. Honors scholarships are applied for each spring by students already in the program, and the money goes toward the following year.
How does a freshman join honors?
By applying to College Scholars after being admitted (the application window opens around May). If your student doesn’t get in, they can apply to College Honors after their first quarter at UCLA.
Are honors programs open to engineering or arts students?
College Scholars and College Honors are for students in the College of Letters and Science or the Luskin School of Public Affairs. Engineering and arts students have their own departmental honors options.
Can international students get honors scholarships?
Mostly yes. UCLA says only one honors scholarship requires U.S. citizenship.
How is honors money paid?
It is applied to the next year’s tuition and paid quarterly through BruinBill. Graduating seniors receive their awards in the spring.
UCLA is a giant research university with a small-school problem to solve: how to make 33,000 undergrads feel known. Academically, though, there’s no question about its strength. It graduates more than 9,500 bachelor’s students a year, and its biggest programs are also some of its best.
Nationally Known Program: School of Theater, Film and Television: One of the most famous film schools in the country, right in the middle of the entertainment industry. It admitted about 4% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, and students apply with a separate supplemental application and portfolio.
Economics: UCLA’s largest major by far (more than 700 graduates a year), with business economics as a popular route into finance and consulting since UCLA has no undergraduate business school.
Psychology and the life sciences: More than 1,100 psychology and behavioral neuroscience grads and over 1,500 biology-related grads a year, with a big pre-med pipeline next to a major academic medical center.
Engineering and computer science: The Samueli School of Engineering admitted under 7% of applicants. Computer science, mechanical, and electrical engineering are the largest programs.
Political science, sociology, and communication: Large, well-regarded social science departments with strong ties to LA government, media, and nonprofits.
Math and statistics: More than 700 grads a year across applied, computational, and financial math and statistics.
Nursing: Excellent, but tiny. It admitted 31 first-years out of more than 5,600 applicants, so treat it as a reach even for top students.
🔗 Official UCLA Links
Use UCLA’s and the University of California’s official pages below to check admissions details, scholarship rules, costs, and data. Always rely on these pages for final deadlines and award terms.
Here is the honest picture of UCLA. It is one of the hardest schools in the country to get into, and it will not hand your student a scholarship for good grades. What it does instead is pretty remarkable for California families: if you earn up to about $100,000 and file on time, tuition is typically covered, and the average in-state family that gets aid pays around $14,500 a year all in. Once your student is enrolled, that tuition rate stays locked for up to six years.
The money that isn’t automatic goes to the families who move fast. That means filing the FAFSA or Dream Act application by March 2, filling out the scholarship section of the UC application, and having your student in the scholarship portal the same week the admission letter arrives. Out-of-state families should go in clear-eyed: UCLA is roughly $85,000 a year at full price, with no waiver to soften it, so run the numbers before falling in love.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Was this helpful? Share it with another parent who’s comparing college costs!
Written by Leo Dimilo
Leo is a parent who went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built CollegeReadyParent to help middle-income and first-generation families do it with fewer surprises. No paywall, no lead forms, just plain-English guides.
More about Leo →
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager