Navigating Scholarships at UC Santa Barbara: A Guide to Funding Your Education

For students aspiring to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), understanding the landscape of available scholarships is crucial. This article provides a detailed overview of the scholarships offered at UCSB, with a particular focus on the prestigious Regents Scholarship, along with other merit-based and need-based aid opportunities. It also addresses the application process and eligibility requirements to help prospective and current students navigate the financial aid system effectively.

Understanding the Regents Scholarship

The Regents Scholarship is a prestigious award recognizing incoming undergraduates with outstanding academic achievement and promise. Established in 1962 by The Regents of the University of California, it is a merit-based scholarship awarded to the top 1-2% of the incoming freshman class. This scholarship not only provides financial assistance but also comes with unique benefits.

Eligibility and Selection

All freshmen admitted for the fall quarter at UCSB are automatically considered for the Regents Scholarship based on their UC Application for Admission; no additional information is required. The Regents Scholars selection committee conducts a comprehensive review of the freshman applicant pool to determine the student’s strength and breadth of academic preparation. Selection is based on a thorough review of the admissions application. UCSB typically offers the scholarship to students within the top two percent of admitted freshmen. Students are notified in March if they have been selected. Decisions of the Regents Scholarship Committee are final. The selection process is highly competitive, emphasizing academic excellence.

Benefits of the Regents Scholarship

Regents Scholars receive several distinctive benefits, including:

Annual Honorarium: Entering freshmen and transfers receive an annual honorarium of $5,000.
Priority Enrollment: Priority enrollment starts with the first Winter Quarter. The first Fall Quarter enrollment occurs during the normal Freshman enrollment period around August -September. UC San Diego announces enrollment appointment dates and times for the next quarter on Friday of Week 5 of the current quarter. During the first pass, students may only enroll in 11.5 units within a specified timeframe. During the second pass, students may enroll in up to 19.5 units, including waitlisted courses.
Research Opportunities: Participation in a cutting-edge research program during the first quarter of enrollment, subject to availability. While the Regents Scholarship program is a UC systemwide program, the Regents Scholars Research Initiative (RSRI) program is unique to UC San Diego.
Guaranteed Housing: Guaranteed housing in the university residence halls for the first year, guaranteed housing in either the university residence halls or undergraduate apartments for subsequent years, and priority consideration for preferred building and room type for the duration of the Regents Scholarship.

These benefits enhance the academic experience and provide Regents Scholars with a supportive environment to excel.

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Maintaining Eligibility

To remain eligible for their scholarship, Regents Scholars are required to maintain both a quarterly and cumulative GPA of 3.20. Should the cumulative GPA drop below 3.20, students are normally allowed two quarters to raise their GPA above 3.20 if it is the first occurrence. Similarly, should the quarterly GPA fall below 3.20, students are typically allowed one quarter to raise their quarterly GPA above 3.20 for the first or second occurrence. In cases of marked improvement, students may be given, at the discretion of a faculty review committee, an additional quarter to make up any deficits.

Additional Scholarship and Financial Aid Opportunities at UCSB

Beyond the Regents Scholarship, UCSB offers a range of other scholarships and financial aid options to support students.

Chancellor's Scholarship

The Chancellor's Scholarship is another highly competitive merit-based scholarship. It is awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, and community service.

Departmental Scholarships

Various UCSB departments offer scholarships specifically for students majoring in their fields. These scholarships often have specific criteria and requirements, so students should check with their respective departments for more information.

Need-Based Financial Aid

UCSB also provides need-based financial aid to eligible students. The primary application for need-based aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

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FAFSA: To be eligible for the most need-based aid, including institutional grants, students should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after December 1st. The California state deadline for the FAFSA is May 2nd, but earlier submission often allows for best consideration.

The Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan

The Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan is a Financial Aid Initiative for University of California undergraduate students.

Eligibility: To qualify, students must submit a FAFSA and provide all requested documents. Have income below $80,000. For dependent students, this refers to your parent's income. No student will receive more scholarship and grant support than the calculated financial need. All sources of scholarship and grant awards (federal, state, institutional, and private sources, including outside agency scholarships) will count towards covering fees and meeting the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan commitment. The majority of students who meet the income eligibility standard will already have sufficient grant and scholarship support to cover full UC system-wide fees based on our standard Financial Aid packaging guidelines. Students can receive only one fee paying resource.

Cal Grants

Cal Grants are administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).

Cal Grant A: Cal Grant A is awarded to low to middle income students and provides tuition assistance only. At a UC, it pays the mandatory fees charged to all UC students.
Cal Grant B: Cal Grant B is awarded to low income students. In the first year of eligibility, it only provides an Access Award. Students enrolled less than full-time (12 units) on census date (one day after the last day to add classes on GOLD) will have their Cal Grant for that quarter reduced to a level that reflects their enrollment level. For example, a student enrolled in 10 units will have that quarter’s Cal Grant reduced to a 3/4-time award. Cal Grant B recipients will automatically have their full access award applied to their BARC account to pay any outstanding balances. Alternatively, students may elect to receive the full disbursement of their access award directly, to use towards educational expenses not charged by BARC. If you would like to choose this alternative method please contact the Cal Grant advisor to process this request. CSAC determines eligibility for new awards and notifies the eligible institution(s) listed on the FAFSA or CADAA of these awards. If you have not attended UCSB or you have completed less than 36 units at UCSB, you will be required to submit a GPA Verification Form.

Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant: This is a federal grant for high-need undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree. Enrollment intensity is the percentage of full-time enrollment at which a student is enrolled, rounded to the nearest whole percent. This is federal grant aid that must be awarded to students with the highest need.
TEACH Grant: The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides up to $4,000 a year in grant aid to college students who plan to become teachers and who are committed to teaching in a Title I school in specified subject areas.

UCSB Grant

UCSB Scholarship is made available by the University of California and is awarded to California resident undergraduate applicants considered On-Time and determined to have sufficient financial need. All UCSB students are automatically enrolled in and charged for UC Health Insurance Plan (UCSHIP) unless they submit an approved insurance waiver with the UCSB Student Health Insurance Office. This grant helps cover the cost of UCSHIP for the academic year and the amount of this grant is dependent upon your financial need. Students who waive out of UCSHIP will no longer be eligible to receive the UCSB Grant Supplemental. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will not consider any appeals from students who waive out. If you do waive out of UCSHIP, your total financial aid will still include the cost of the Gaucho Access Plan (GAP) in order to ensure students have adequate funding to sign up for that program. If you currently have a Medi-Cal plan and choose to stay enrolled in UCSHIP (and not waive out), then UCSHIP will become your primary insurance and you will be responsible for the copays, coinsurance, and deductibles associated with the plan.

UC’s Native American Opportunity Plan

UC’s Native American Opportunity Plan ensures that in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees are fully covered for California students who are also enrolled in federally recognized Native American, American Indian, and Alaska Native tribes. You don't need to fill out a separate application to qualify for the Native American Opportunity Plan. UCSB will reach out in May or June to new and continuing students who might be eligible with instructions. Tribal identification card with an enrollment number.

External Scholarship Opportunities

In addition to UCSB-specific scholarships, students can explore external scholarship opportunities from various organizations and foundations.

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program

These opportunities offer far more than monetary support; they unlock doors to exciting academic, research, and professional opportunities. Annual campus deadline: No campus deadline for Undergraduates. Campus nomination: Campus nomination is not required for applicants to CLS. colleges and universities. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 15 critical languages. Department of State, is part of a wider government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. Most languages offered by the CLS Program do not require applicants to have any experience studying critical languages. The CLS Program seeks participants with diverse interests, and from a wide range of fields of study and career paths, with the purpose of representing the full diversity of the United States. Participants are selected based on their commitment to language learning and plans to apply their language skills to their future academic or professional pursuits. Your program must result in a degree. You must be enrolled at this institution in the fall term of your application year. You must successfully complete academic requirements at your current institution for the fall term in order to remain eligible for the CLS Program. Applications are submitted directly to CLS by the national deadline. Undergraduates are not required to submit materials by any campus deadline and do not participate in any campus selection process. Undergraduates are encouraged consult with Undergraduate Education for feedback on application materials. For feedback, your complete CLS application and all letters of recommendation should be shared with our office at least 30 days prior to the national deadline.

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

The purpose of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation is to provide a source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. The Trustees intend to award up to 300 Goldwater Scholarships. Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 annually. Be a full-time matriculated sophomore or junior pursuing a degree at an accredited institution of higher education during the academic year of application. "Sophomore" is defined as a student who plans two more years of full-time undergraduate study beginning September of the application year. Sophomore nominees can expect to receive a maximum of two years of support. Students in two -year colleges who plan to transfer to a baccalaureate program at another institution may be nominated. "Junior" is defined as a student who plans one more year of full-time undergraduate study beginning September of the application year. Have a college grade-point average of at least "B" (or the equivalent) and be in the upper fourth of his or her class. Be a United States citizen, a resident alien, or, in the case of nominees from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, a United States national. As part of the online application, a carefully thought out, well-written research essay. Official transcripts from all college work other than credits appearing on your UCSB transcript. Please request any non-UCSB transcripts well before the campus deadline.

Harry S. Truman Scholarship

Description: The Truman Scholarship supports exceptional junior students who plan to attend graduate or professional school in preparation for a career in public service, providing funding at both the undergraduate and graduate level and access to the Truman network. The Truman Scholarship is a merit-based federal grant (up to $30,000) awarded to undergraduate students who to attend graduate or professional school in preparation for careers in government, the non-profit sector or elsewhere in public service. The Truman Foundation Committee will not accept materials directly from the applicants; instead, the candidate’s undergraduate institution must make the nomination. Official transcripts from all college work completed outside of UCSB, and official or unofficial UCSB transcripts. Please request any official non-UCSB transcripts well before the campus deadline.

Boren Scholarship

interests. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Boren Scholars represent a vital pool of highly motivated individuals who wish to work in the federal national security arena. The NSEP will accept Boren Scholarship applications that have been reviewed and endorsed by a student’s home campus, and will also accept students who apply independently. interests and underrepresented in study abroad. For a list of eligible countries and languages see the Boren Country Preferences and Boren Language Preferences. Propose a program of study that ends prior to the completion of a Bachelor's degree. Students may elect to apply directly to Boren without campus endorsement. A minimum of two and a maximum of three letters of recommendation, all of which must be uploaded by your recommenders directly to the online application before the campus deadline. Recommenders should know you well and be able to speak to your academic, linguistic, and personal preparation for your overseas study or a relevant future career. Official transcripts from all college work other than credits appearing on your UCSB transcript; UCSB transcripts may be unofficial. Please request any non-UCSB transcripts well before the campus deadline.

Udall Scholarship

Description: The Udall Scholarship provides financial support and access to the Udall leadership network to sophomores and juniors who are either committed to pursuing an environmentally related career, or who are Native Americans or Alaska Natives interested in fields related to Native health care or tribal public policy. The Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Congress in 1992 to honor Congressman Morris King Udall and his legacy of public service, awards scholarships of up to $7,000 to outstanding students who demonstrate a commitment to and potential for making significant contributions in either environmental/conservation issues, tribal policy, or native health care. A. B. C. *For the purposes of the Udall Scholarship Program, a Native American or Alaska Native is any individual who is (1) a member of an Indian tribe or band, as membership is defined by the tribe or band, including any tribe or band terminated since 1940 and any tribe recognized by the state in which the tribe or band resides; (2) a descendent, in first or second degree, of a member of an Indian tribe or band, as membership is defined by the tribe or band; (3) considered by the Secretary of the Interior to be an Indian for any purpose; or (4) an Eskimo, Aleut, or other Alaska Native. Official transcripts from all college work other than your UCSB transcript. Please request any non-UCSB transcripts well before the campus deadline.

Beinecke Scholarship

The Beinecke Scholarship is awarded to outstanding and highly motivated undergraduate students to pursue graduate school opportunities in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. There are no geographic restrictions on the use of the scholarship, and recipients are allowed to supplement the award with other scholarships, assistantships and research grants. The Beinecke Foundation does not accept applications directly from the students but rather requires participating universities to nominate their top candidate for the scholarship. Have demonstrated superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement and personal promise during his or her undergraduate career. Be a college junior pursuing a bachelor's degree during the current academic year. "Junior" means a student who plans to continue full-time undergraduate study in the academic year after you apply (i.e. Have a documented history of receiving need-based financial aid during his or her undergraduate years. A personal statement of 1,000 words or less from the nominee devoted to describing their research or creative interests for graduate study and career aspirations beyond these studies. It should also include a discussion of the most relevant academic, professional, extracurricular, and personal experiences that have influenced or shaped the nominee’s interests and plans. Transcripts from all institutions of higher education you have attended, including UCSB. Note that transcripts may be unofficial, and should be requested after your grades have posted for Fall quarter.

Strauss Scholarship

Annual campus deadline: No mandatory campus deadline for UCSB undergraduates. Students apply directly to Strauss. Description: The Strauss Scholarship supports college students interested in public service, providing both a stipend to the student and funds to use toward expenses for a public service project. The Strauss Scholarship Foundation supports college students interested in public service, providing funds to use toward the expenses for a yearlong public service project. The Foundation was created as a memorial to the late Don Strauss, who demonstrated a strong, lifelong commitment to public service and education. As of 2024-25, students are not required to submit materials by a specific campus deadline and there is no official campus selection process for the Strauss Scholarship. Current UCSB students are encouraged consult with our office for campus level guidance before applying and while preparing their application and proposal. To receive timely feedback, a complete draft of your Strauss Scholarship application along with all letters of recommendation should be shared with our office at least 30 days prior to the national deadline set by the Foundation. Our office does not have access to the Strauss application platform and can only view what draft materials are sent to us directly by the applicant.

Marshall Scholarship

The Marshall Scholarship offers intellectually distinguished young Americans the opportunity to attend graduate school for two years in any discipline in the United Kingdom., while being introduced to the British way of life and British social and academic values. The Marshall Scholarship requires students to be endorsed by their campuses. You can obtain scholarship information and access to the online application at www.marshallscholarship.org. That applicants hold their first undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States by the time they take up their scholarship (i.e. Campus Application Deadline: August 15, 2025. The online application, including the four essays (Personal, Proposed Program, Leadership, and Ambassadorial Potential) and responses to the application questions. Do not forget to hit the “Submit” button. Three letters of recommendation, including: the preferred recommender, a general recommender (who should have taught or supervised the applicant), and a leadership recommender. At least two of these recommenders must be located in the US. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have ever attended, including UCSB, and including any college courses taken while in high school.

US-Ireland Alliance Scholarship Program

NOTE: The US-Ireland Alliance Scholarship is currently paused and not accepting applications. Applications may open again in a future year. Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants who are currently enrolled. The US-Ireland Alliance Scholarship Program is designed to introduce and connect generations of future American leaders to the island of Ireland, while recognizing and fostering intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community and public service. Up to twelve US-Ireland Alliance Scholars between the ages of 18 and 30 are chosen annually for one academic year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Our office works closely with students as they prepare their applications; therefore, students should arrange to consult well in advance of the application deadline. PLEASE NOTE: The US-Ireland Alliance Scholarship has paused selection for the class of 2026, and will not be open to application in Summer 2024. Applications may open again in a future year. This was a decision made by the foundation and is not controlled by UC Santa Barbara. A personal statement of no more than 1000 words, uploaded through the online application. Effective 2020: Applicants may seek strategic feedback on their US-Ireland Alliance personal statement.

Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarship requires students to be endorsed by their campuses. The online application filled out within the Rhodes system, including the personal essay, answers to all application questions, and the uploading of all support documents. No fewer than five and no more than eight recommendation letters submitted on-line to the Rhodes Trust by your reviewers. At least four of the writers must be persons from whom you have received undergraduate or graduate instruction. Note that our office does not have access to the online application system for the Rhodes Scholarship.

Churchill Scholarship

The Churchill Scholarships offers American students, endorsed by their colleges or universities, the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in engineering, mathematics, or science at Churchill College, the University of Cambridge. The scholarship provides funding for a year of Master’s study, offering unique opportunities to undertake independent research, make connections with future colleagues from around the world, and study at the only college at Cambridge that is focused on STEM subjects.. At UCSB, students are considered for endorsement by the associate deans in the College of Letters and Science. Our office works closely with students as they prepare their applications; therefore, students should arrange to consult with our office well in advance of the application deadline. In addition, students should consult with a professor in their areas of interest throughout the application process. A copy of correspondence from a laboratory director or supervisor at Cambridge who would be involved in mentoring your proposed research. Digital versions of official transcripts from all universities attended, including UCSB. Please note that the Churchill Foundation also requires that applicants apply simultaneously but separately for admission to the University of Cambridge as a graduate student. The University of Cambridge graduate application is not handled by our office, and has a separate deadline, usually in mid-October for students who wish to be considered for related funding opportunities (such as Gates-Cambridge).

Tips for Applying for Scholarships

Start Early: Begin your scholarship search and application process early to meet deadlines.
Complete the FAFSA: Submit the FAFSA as soon as it becomes available to be considered for need-based aid.
Tailor Your Applications: Customize your application materials to match the specific criteria of each scholarship.
Highlight Your Achievements: Showcase your academic achievements, leadership skills, and community involvement in your applications.
Seek Recommendations: Request letters of recommendation from teachers, mentors, and supervisors who know you well.
Proofread Carefully: Review your application materials for any errors or typos before submitting them.

Additional Funding Options

Remember, scholarships should only be part of your college funding plan. Student employment, loans, savings, and outside scholarships (from local businesses or organizations, for instance) can all play a role.

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