Financial Aid Award Offer

While we wish a loan-free education was available to all students, that is not the reality of today's financial environment. And in many cases, loans are the only resources we can make available to you. We hope that the funds offered will combine with your overall financial plan so you can meet your college costs.

NEWLY ADMITTED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Transitioning to college can involve multiple steps. To simplify the process, new undergraduate students have been assigned access to the Bearcat Portal, your front door that brings together key information from multiple UC systems (including Catalyst) as you transition toward your first term of enrollment and receive assistance from your orientation leader.

Students should monitor the "To Do" list for requirements to be met along the way in order to have a smoother transition. Students also have access via the Bearcat Portal to view your award and accept offered aid.

ACCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS

New and returning students (including all graduate students) can use the button below to access Catalyst, UC's student information system. Review your "To Do" list for requirements to be met and view your award to accept offered aid.

NOTE:  You should turn OFF any pop-up blocker when accessing the Bearcat Portal or Catalyst.

• A glossary of terms can help you more fully understand your award offer.
• View your "To Do" list for any required documents and steps needed to secure your academic year aid for the appropriate aid year.
  • Your aid "To Do" list is detailed within the listing of Bearcat Portal (for new undergraduate students) or within the "My Financials" tab once signed into Catalyst (for any student).
  • Items will be posted to your list as we receive your FAFSA data if there is something that is needed to complete your aid application.
  • Current students should pay attention to the "To Do" item aid year so as to complete current year requests in time for aid consideration.
    
  • Requested items can often be completed and submitted in the online financial aid portal. Other items can be mailed to Student Financial Aid or delivered to any of the three Enrollment Services locations.
• Review and accept the aid offered to you once a financial aid offer is made. 
  • Financial aid awards for next year are anticipated to begin processing the final weekend of February for newly admitted freshmen and transfer students and late-March for continuing and graduate students. Awarding will continue forward with each group from that point as students apply for aid.
  • Awards for the current academic year will continue as students apply for aid or complete aid processes.
  • Financial aid will not show as anticipated on your term bill if you have not accepted the funding offered.
  • While accepted aid may show as anticipated on your term bill, students have to meet individual eligibility requirements for aid sources at the time of disbursement to the bill and when re-evaluated during the initial weeks of the term.
• Summer will generally not be part of your award at this time (unless you are in a year-round program). 
  • Students who will attend classes summer will be awarded their aid eligibility remaining for this academic year once they are registered for summer.

Your aid, once accepted, will show on your student bill as a credit or an anticipated credit when you are enrolled in classes for the given term.

Be sure you meet eligibility criteria for funds to post to your bill. In particular, co-op students and students attending part-time should review how their aid may be affected by their enrollment. 

Additionally, there are specific regulations surrounding when loan funds can process. 

Students should review their financial aid offer by term amounts and project their out-of-pocket expenses. Only a detailed review of your anticipated bill and financial aid award can fully prepare you for your remaining educational costs -- both billed and unbilled.

Your aid is intended to help you reach your academic degree goals. As such, it is important to make sure your coursework applies to your academic program.

Students who attend part-time or on co-op may see some aid sources adjusted as the beginning of the academic year approaches and once each term begins.

Withdrawal from individual courses or a complete withdrawal can drastically affect your aid for that term or future terms. Your grades and completion rate determine your academic progress toward your degree.