Estimating Your Bill
All students should prepare for each academic year by projecting their semester costs and using their award offer to project their aid.
Registration Leads to a Bill
The bill is a function of registration. Students have the opportunity to register and bills are available based on the following schedule:
Term |
Approximate Registration Begin Date |
Approximate Billing Begin Date |
Fall |
Mid-March (or during Orientation for new students) |
July 15; Students should project costs using estimated tuition (and housing) information from websites to anticipate out-of-pocket expenses. |
Spring |
Mid-October |
December 1 |
Summer |
Late February |
April 1 |
Bills are available online following your registration. Some non-tuition charges (such as housing) may not immediately be posted to the bill when you register for classes. The due date for the bill will be noted. Be sure to meet any payment obligations by the due date to avoid late fees.
Plan for Expenses
Estimating the bill obviously allows students (and parents) to project semester bills and anticipate any payment obligations. Meeting your payment obligations on time eliminates late charges, registration service blocks, and collection fees.
You will also have expenses that will not be billed by the university. For instance, students spend, on average, $785 per semester on books and supplies. Additionally, any personal budget you create should include transportation to and from home, off-campus rent and utilities, clothing, entertainment, and other personal expenses.
Always remember that your personal expenses may be different than the UC budgeted cost that determines your financial aid.