Supporting our Dream Students UCI is a special place—a great place for learning and growth. We are dedicated to empowering all of our students with the best college education possible, regardless of nationality, immigration, or citizenship status. We want to highlight the financial aid resources that are available to you as a California DREAM student. The California Dream Act Application (CADAA) is comprised of two state bills, AB 130 and AB 131. It allows undocumented and nonresident students (U.S. Citizens and [eligible non-citizens]) who qualify for a non-resident exemption under Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540) to receive certain types of financial aid such as: private scholarships funded through public universities, state administered financial aid, university grants, community college fee waivers, and Cal Grants. Keep in mind that this application is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Just like other forms of financial aid, CADAA comes with various different forms of applications, documents, and deadlines that need to be followed in order to receive financial aid.
You should complete either the CADAA or the FAFSA—not both. The financial aid you apply for is determined by certain citizenship requirements.
Choose the CADAA if you are:
Whether you are a new or continuing student, the process is the same. It’s online, it’s free and easy to complete. The application is available on October 1st of every year. Just remember to apply every academic year by the March 2nd priority deadline.
Under California law AB 540, certain nonresident students are exempt from paying nonresident supplemental tuition. If you're granted an AB 540 exemption, your in-state tuition and fees will be waived, and you will qualify for state financial aid . You are required to submit an AB 540 Application and Affidavit to the UCI Registrar’s Office. Once they approve your exemption, the Financial Aid Office will be informed. Check with them early in the Summer before the Fall Term starts to make sure you’re covered.
When you submit your California Dream Act application, and you include UCI (Code 001314), the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will process your aid application and will provide you with a Student Aid Report (SAR), and UCI will also be informed.
The information on your SAR is the same we will receive. That information will help the Financial Aid Office to determine what financial assistance you’re eligible for—like state grants, University-based loans, work-study jobs and some scholarships. There’s no income cutoff to apply for financial aid, so you never know how much you qualify for until you apply. You’ll need to fill it out every year of your college career.
Once you‘ve submitted the CADAA, you’ll get an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) telling you how much your family is expected to contribute towards paying for college. We’ll then look at those numbers to assess your financial aid eligibility.
You may be eligible for a range of grants, university scholarships, and some private scholarships.
*A certified GPA is also necessary for Cal Grant consideration. Get your information submitted before the March 2nd deadline.
This section must be completed accurately to ensure that the colleges and universities you have applied to will receive your California Dream Act application information. You must indicate at least one California college or university to be considered for a Cal Grant. To help the California Student Aid Commission determine your Cal Grant eligibility, it’s best to list a UC campus or other California four-year college or university first. The federal school code for UCI is 001314.