Cost Of Attendance

alamemom
Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:04:00 +0000

One final question: Do most colleges separate their financial aid packages into need-based and self-help portions?

The package isn’t really separated, those are the components that make up the package. Most colleges include self help, the exceptions are some of the Ivies that offer “no loan” packages, though they do often include federal work/study. USC is among the colleges that meet full need (most colleges do not - most leave a “gap” that is not met by the package) and the aid at USC is among the best- only the ivies offer better aid.

For example: If I were to get a UCLA regents scholarship or an alumni-based scholarship, would these contribute to the self-help portions of my fees or do UCs make no such distinctions?

UCLA, and all the UCs, include self-help as part of their packages. The Regent’s scholarships are different at each campus. At UCLA the Regent’s is a $2,000/year honorarium. For UCLA Regent’s scholars who have need beyond the $2,000, UCLA awards scholarships/grants to cover the remainder of the need. (For high-need students, the Regent’s is an excellent scholarship.)

The UCLA Alumni Scholarship is $1,000/year and is not increased to meet need. They will automatically reduce your grant aid with the Alumni Scholarship, but if you call you can probably get them to apply it to your self-help.
[UCLA Financial Aid Office-Scholarship Office](http://www.fao.ucla.edu/uclascholarships/regents.html)