Update to UC’s Blue + Gold Opportunity Plan for 2011-2012

Published on Thursday, February 17th, 2011 by Edwina Category: College Scholarships And Grants

San Bruno, CA (CollegeToCareers.com) – Eligibility for University of California’s Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan has expanded for the 2011-2012 school year. Last year, UC had already increased the threshold of eligibility to $70,000 a year in family income. Now, California residents whose family earns less than $80,000 a year qualify to have all educational and student service fees covered for them. In what has been a tumultuous year for California Community Colleges, CSU’s, and UC’s in terms of finances, this expansion of the Blue + Gold Opportunity Plan will hopefully give incoming freshmen and junior-level transfers piece of mind when they begin their education at UC.

In order to take advantage of the Blue + Gold Plan, students must first apply file a FAFSA and check that a Cal Grant GPA Verification has been submitted the year you begin attending UC by the March 2nd deadline. If you have not already filed, do so as soon as possible to take advantage of other grants and financial assistance packages.

Below are the full eligibility requirements, plan coverage, and application information regarding the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan:

What it takes to be eligible

Be a California resident
Demonstrate income below $70,000 ($80,000 beginning in 2011-12) with financial need, as determined for federal need-based aid program
Be in your first four years as a UC undergraduate (first two for transfer students)
Meet other campus basic requirements for UC grant aid (for example, be enrolled at least half-time during the academic year, meet campus academic progress standards, not be in default on student loans, etc.)
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 2 and provide any additional documentation campuses may request by the specified deadline.
Make sure your school submits a GPA verification form to the Cal Grant program, or download the form, have your school fill it out and send it to the California Student Aid Commission

What Blue + Gold covers

Under the plan, your systemwide fees will be fully covered by scholarship or grant money if you are in your first four years at UC (two if you’re a transfer student).
The plan combines all sources of scholarship and grant awards you receive (federal, state, UC and private) to count toward covering your fees. If, for example, you receive Pell and Cal Grants and private scholarships that don’t fully cover your fees, UC grant money will make up the difference.
Students with greater financial need can qualify for even more grant support to help defray other educational expenses (like books, housing, transportation, etc.) In fact, UC currently provides grant and scholarship assistance averaging $11,100 per student to more than half of undergraduates.

What you need to apply

You don’t need to fill out a separate application to qualify for the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.

Simply file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and ensure that your Cal Grant GPA Verification has been submitted by the March 2 deadline of the year you plan to attend UC.

You will receive the benefits of the Blue and Gold plan automatically if you qualify.

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