Navigating Financial Aid at UCLA: Understanding the FAFSA School Code and Key Updates

Applying for financial aid can seem daunting, but understanding the process and key deadlines is crucial for students seeking to finance their education at UCLA. This article provides essential information regarding UCLA's FAFSA school code, important financial aid updates, and resources available to prospective and current students.

UCLA's FAFSA School Code

To ensure your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is correctly submitted to UCLA, use the university's school code: 001315. Students are encouraged to complete their aid application early to maximize their eligibility for various financial aid programs. For more detailed information, visit the Apply for Aid webpage.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Staying informed about important dates and deadlines is crucial for managing your financial aid effectively. Here's a breakdown of key dates to keep in mind:

March 31, 2026: Extended deadline for 2025-2026 Work Study hiring. Refer to the Work Study Program Calendar for important dates and the Work Study webpage for more information.
March 4, 2026: Spring 2026 Graduate Institutional Aid (excluding monthly stipends) disbursed to BruinBill.
March 16, 2026: Spring 2026 Undergraduate Institutional Aid (excluding monthly stipends) disbursed to BruinBill.
March 20, 2026: Spring 2026 Graduate/Professional Federal and Private Loans + Undergraduate State and Federal Aid, University Loans, and Private Loans disbursed to BruinBill.
March 27, 2026: UCLA Financial Aid & Scholarships closed for César Chávez Day Holiday. Regular operating hours resume on March 30, 2026.
April 17, 2026: Spring 2026 Financial Aid Census to ensure financial aid recipients are enrolled full time (12 units or more) unless approved for the Fee Reduced Program. Enrollment in less than full time status without Fee Reduced Program approval will result in financial aid recalculation.
End of March 2026: Financial Aid and Scholarships information available for newly-admitted First-Year students.
End of April 2026: Financial Aid and Scholarships information available for newly-admitted Transfer students.
April 11, 2026: First-Year Bruin Day.
May 1, 2026: Deadline to submit the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) for admitted first-year undergraduate students for Fall 2026.
May 16, 2026: Transfer Bruin Day.

Federal Financial Aid Updates

Keep abreast of changes in federal financial aid regulations, as they can significantly impact your eligibility and borrowing options.

H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The H.R.1 bill (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), enacted on July 4, 2025, contains significant provisions regarding Federal Loan limits that will affect college students. These provisions are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, with a legacy provision for current borrowers to borrow under current limits for the remainder of their program of study. Students and families are encouraged to review the 2026-2027 Federal Financial Aid Updates webpage for more information and guidance on how to best prepare for these changes that will take effect July 1, 2026.

Read also: Navigating Financial Aid

Financial Aid for Specific Programs

UCLA offers financial aid and scholarship opportunities for students in various programs. Here's a look at some program-specific information:

Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a government form which enables the school to determine students' eligibility for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan. Completing the FAFSA online reduces errors and improves turnaround time by going to studentaid.gov. Even though your Social Security Number is not required on the admission application, the school will not receive your FAFSA and thus will be unable to determine your need eligibility unless you provide us with your SSN. William D. On July 4, 2025, a reconciliation bill was signed into law that significantly impacts federal financial aid programs. Starting July 1, 2026, it is expected that a full-time incoming MLS students will be eligible to borrow Direct Unsubsidized Loans up to $20,500 annually, with a maximum aggregate eligibility of $100,000. The $100,000 limit is only applicable to graduate programs that start on July 1, 2026 or later. For the 2025-26 academic year, the Direct Unsubsidized Loan had an interest rate of 7.94 percent, and a loan origination fee of 1.057 percent. The student is responsible for the interest, which accrues immediately upon disbursement. All first-time federal loan borrowers at UCLA need to be informed about borrowers’ rights and responsibilities. Law students will satisfy this requirement by completing an online Entrance Counseling Session. This can be accomplished by reviewing the counseling session materials and taking an online quiz.

MSOL: DATA SCIENCE ENGR

Financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available to MSOL: DATA SCIENCE ENGR students. They can also apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A student may also receive a departmental or Graduate Division award in addition to an award based solely on financial need if the need-based criteria are met. However, the amount of a need-based award may change based on any other additional awards.

MBA Students

These are the steps required to access student loans to finance your MBA. Beginning in the early summer of each year, the UCLA Central Financial Aid Office begins sending out electronic Financial Aid Notifications (e-FANs) which reflect your actual award. On this form, you are required to accept or decline awards offered. All financial aid packages are awarded for the nine-month annual budget regardless of your expected contribution. All first-time federal loan borrowers are required to complete a Debt Management / Entrance Interview Session.

4-Year DDS Program

Apply for all University Aid. (Allows consideration for grants and low interest subsidized, federal loans, in addition to federal Direct Loans. Step 3: Access and Complete FormsTo apply for all University Aid or a federal Direct Loan, you must meet all of the eligibility criteria and submit all completed forms required for the particular type of financial assistance you seek. An incomplete financial aid application will not be processed.All eligible students applying for federal, and university financial aid must complete the FAFSA Form with Student/Spouse information. • DDS Students Only: If applying for ‘All University Aid’ students must also complete the CSS Profile Application to include both student and parental information.

Read also: FAFSA Benefits

Additional Financial Aid Resources

Explore a variety of resources to help fund your education:

External Scholarship Opportunities

Gould & Jefferson of Beverly Hills Scholarship: Offers a $2,500 scholarship for students experiencing financial strain. Candidates must demonstrate financial need, provide proof of academic excellence, and complete an essay on one of three available prompts.
Fulbright Foreign Student Program: Brings citizens of other countries to the United States for Master’s degree or Ph.D. universities or other appropriate institutions.
IIE Platform for Education in Emergencies Response (IIE-PEER): Launched by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the Catalyst Foundation for Universal Education.
InternationalStudentLoan.com: Provides financial aid resources, articles, videos, and comparison tools to help students navigate their financial aid options.
P.E.O. Postgrad Solutions Global LL.M. Study Bursaries: Offers £500 bursaries to domestic, international, and UK students accepted to an LL.M. program.
Instituto Ling/EAGV-LLM: Offers partial scholarships to Brazilians accepted to an LL.M. program in Europe who demonstrate a need for funding.
Aide Financière Aux Études: Provides financial assistance to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Quebec for full-time study.
Financial support to highly-achieving Czech students: For prospective students seeking an integrated bachelor's or master's programs at a leading university abroad.
Finlandia Foundation National P.J.C. Lindfors Legal Scholarship: Open to citizens of Finland who have applied to, been accepted to, or enrolled in an ABA-approved law school.
White & Case Scholarship: Awards an annual €40,000 scholarship (split among three students) to economically disadvantaged law students interested in study abroad.
Brain Capital: The LL.M. Education Fund: Offers income-based repayment financing options to cover tuition fees and living expenses for LL.M. studies for German students.
WilWeg: Lists a variety of scholarship programs for study abroad, including the Holland Scholarship.
Study in Holland: Provides a comprehensive database of grant and scholarship opportunities covering the field of law.
NORAM Scholarships: Offers scholarships in the amount of $2,000 to $20,000.
National University of Singapore (NUS) LL.M. Scholarship: Established with support from White & Case, Standard Chartered Bank, and other donors in Singapore and New York, the scholarship is open to National University of Singapore (NUS) LL.B. graduates who plan to pursue an LL.M. law school.
The Victor Pinchuk Foundation's WorldWideStudies Scholarship: Offers grant awards covering 60% of expenses required to complete a Master's degree abroad up to $30,000. or Canada.

Bruin Financial Aid System

UCLA utilizes Bruin Financial Aid, a cloud-based system designed to improve the financial aid experience. Helpful resources such as videos, guides, and FAQs can be found on the Bruin Financial Aid Help Webpage.

Important Considerations

Residence Status

Note that residence status for tuition purposes is determined by the UCLA Registrar’s Office. The tuition and fees reflected on your financial aid offer will be based on the preliminary information provided in your admission application.

Appeals

Prospective students considering submitting an appeal to UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarships should do so after they have been admitted and through the Message Center.

International Students

If you're in the United States on an F1 or F2 student visa, or on a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, you are not eligible to receive federal student aid.

Read also: Financial Aid in Kansas

CSS Profile

The CSS Profile is to be completed with both student and parental information. The UCLA School of Dentistry CSS code: 3678.

Special Student Populations

Students are encouraged to review the Special Student Populations Updates webpage for important information that may be relevant to them.

Department of Veteran Affairs

For a list of frequently asked questions, please see UCLA’s FAQ about VA Education Benefits.

Preferred Lenders

The UC code of conduct for preferred lenders governs the relationship between the university and lenders.

Estimating Your Costs

Utilize the University of California/UCLA Net Price Calculator to estimate your potential financial aid eligibility and get an idea of what your college costs may look like.

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