Student Budget

2011-2012 STUDENT BUDGETS
Each year, Student Financial Aid develops standard allowable budgets for financial aid recipients. These budgets are used to determine financial aid eligibility and include a cost of living allowance; fees and non-resident supplemental tuition, if applicable; books and supplies.

Continue below for a breakdown of the monthly cost of living allowance and information about its components

Click here for the total budget used to determine financial aid eligibility. In other words, this is the breakdown of the total cost to attend UCSF, by program.

Click here for information about expenses that may be added to the standard student budget. These exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Cost of Living Allowance

Student Financial Aid establishes a modest, yet adequate cost of living allowance to determine financial aid eligibility each school year. This allowance includes housing and utilities, food, transportation, personal and miscellaneous, and medical expenses.

As required by federal law, budgets used to determine financial aid eligibility can only include the student's costs; spouse and/or children's expenses can not be included. View more information on single parent and married student's cost estimates.

¹ Allowance assumes shared housing costs. Students who live in University owned apartments and pay less than $910/month will have a lower housing allowance.

Spouse and Children

Living costs of family members must be covered by student and spouse earnings and/or assets. Financial aid, however, can help cover reasonable child care ("baby-sitting") costs for children age 12 and younger for periods when the student is enrolled and the spouse is employed or in school.

Single Parents

Single parents are expected to support their children through earnings, savings, child support, etc. If sufficient funds are not available from these sources, an exception will be considered to include dependent costs in the student's budget. Single parents must provide information and documentation to the Student Financial Aid Office. Single parents are expected to use all legal means to obtain fair and reasonable child support. They may wish to seek assistance from public assistance programs.

Living with a Parent or Relative

Students living with a parent or other relative will have a lower cost of living than indicated in the standard student budgets. The monthly cost of living is $965 (excluding fees, tuition, books and supplies) for students living with a parent or other relative.

Living in University-Owned Housing

Most students living in University-owned apartments will have a lower monthly cost of living than indicated in the standard student budgets. The monthly cost of living will depend on the monthly rent, which varies for these apartments. Students whose rent for university owned housing exceeds $910 will have the standard $2,040 off-campus monthly cost of living allowance.

Prescription Drug Costs

Student Health & Counseling Services (SHCS) insurance covers up to $10,000 in prescription expenses each academic year. Students can be reimbursed from the Fox Memorial Fund, to a maximum of $200 per academic year, if prescription expenses exceed the SHCS insurance coverage. Contact SHCS for additional information.  Other necessary prescription costs that exceed SHCS and/or Fox Fund limits can often be covered with a Federal Direct (Stafford) or Graduate PLUS Loan.

Financial Aid Budget Totals

The chart below displays the total cost to attend UCSF by program and year. These totals are used to determine financial aid eligibility. The figures below do not include non-resident supplemental tuition which is $12,245 for Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing Masters and $15,102 for all other programs.

Notes and additional information about the content follow the chart. The amount of tuition and student services fees students are charged is subject to change without notice.

¹ Tuition and student services fees are subject to change without notice. Does not include non-resident supplemental tuition which is $12,245 for Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy and Nursing Masters and $15,102 for all other programs.

² Kit costs are for dental students only and are due with fee payments each quarter of the academic year.

³ These figures reflect food, transportation, personal, miscellaneous, medical and housing costs for students living in non-university, off-campus apartments. Students living in university-owned, off-campus apartments may have a lower cost of living.

⁴ Fourth-year Pharmacy students will receive a commute allowance based on the location of the rotation. Bay Area - $1,020; Outside Bay Area - $1,520.

Books and Supplies and Dental Kit

The Student Financial Aid Office (SFAO) obtains information on these costs from the individual professional school, student affairs offices and from the campus bookstore. If you have comments about book and supply or kit costs, contact your professional school or SFAO.

Transportation and Commute

A basic transportation allowance is included in the cost of living component of the student budget. An additional commute allowance is added for significant travel that is required by the curriculum.

Exceptions to the Standard Student Budget

Listed below is information about some allowable add-ons to the student budget used to determine financial aid eligibility. This is not an exclusive list. Therefore, students are encouraged to discuss their specific situations with Student Financial Aid staff before submitting a request. Budget exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis and subject to approval.

Additional Housing Allowance

Students who pay more for rent and utilities than the standard off-campus housing allowance, may request a budget increase, but must present a compelling reason as to why less costly housing is not an option. Students should speak with an advisor before submitting a request. Please note that if approved, a budget increase for housing costs may be temporary. The amount of an approved additional housing allowance will all be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Child Care

Students may request financial aid to cover reasonable child care ("baby-sitting") costs (up to $1,100/month per child, maximum $2,200/month) for children age 12 and younger during periods when the student is enrolled. The agency or childcare provider must complete a Child Care Verification Form.  Students must document their childcare costs.

Medical and Dental Expenses

Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) provides primary health care, basic hospital, and major medical expense coverage through premiums included with registration fees.  Expenses not covered by SHCS, including some psychotherapy, can sometimes be added to a student's financial aid budget and funded with additional Federal Direct (Stafford) and/or Grad PLUS Loan funds. Costs must be reasonable and for medically necessary treatment.  Financial aid cannot cover cosmetic work, elective procedures deemed not medically necessary or treatment that can reasonably be postponed until after graduation (for example, elective orthodontic work).

To request additional funds for medical and dental expenses, an Expense Request Form must be submitted along with a letter from the health care provider, which indicates an estimate or actual cost of care and states that costs are not covered by insurance.

An optional health insurance plan for the student's spouse and children may be purchased though Student Health & Counseling. This coverage is expensive, so spouses should seek coverage through their employer.

Dental plans for students are available, including the UCSF School of Dentistry's clinic which offers low-cost preventive care. For more information, call the Preventive Dental Care Clinic, (415) 476-1891. Information on other dental plans can be obtained from Student Health and Counseling.

Computer Purchases

Students may receive loan funds to a maximum of $2,500 during all of their UCSF enrollment.  Printers and software are included in this maximum. An Expense Request Form and appropriate documentation must be submitted to request funding for computer purchases.

Licensure Expenses

Students may receive loan funds for their first professional licensure exam or certification. An Expense Request Form and appropriate documentation must be submitted to request funding for licensure exam.

Residency Expenses

Fourth year medical students may receive loan funds for some of the costs associated with residency interviews in a single disbursement. Allowable costs include application fees, transportation, and lodging. The loan will be will certified after interviews are over. Only one loan request will be processed unless there are mitigating circumstances that make one application unfeasible. An Expense Request Form and paid receipts must be submitted to request funding for residency expenses.

Commute Expenses

Educational commute related expenses can be added to a student's budget. Not all programs qualify. Contact the Student Financial Aid Office for additional information. Submit an Expense Request Form and appropriate documentation to request for automobile expenses.