Cost

You can afford to participate in UCDC. The UCSC Financial Aid Office adjusts aid awards to meet the program costs of participating in the UCDC Washington Program. All students who use financial aid are encouraged to request a financial aid estimate to learn how much aid you can expect to receive for your program. 

Estimated Student Cost for 2023-2024 UCDC Program

* Costs will vary based on a variety of factors including personal needs, spending habits, and living accommodations.

**The University of California Regents mandate that all students be covered by a health insurance plan. All full and part-time undergraduate students are automatically enrolled in and charged for the University of California Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) unless they choose to submit an online insurance waiver confirming they have comparable health insurance coverage to the Health Center. Please note that a waiver of the UC SHIP may result in adjustments to awarded aid.

***Winter housing is $3,589 as the program is 10-weeks instead of 11 weeks.

You can access a detailed program budget here.

Tuition 

For the academic year program, university tuition fees for UCDC are the same as a regular quarter on campus. Tuition, fees, and other charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by State funding reductions.  

Financial Aid Information

All UCDC Participants are encouraged to complete a FAFSA by the State’s priority deadline in early March (the year prior to UCDC participation) to ensure that you are considered for any financial aid for which you may be eligible.

Financial Aid eligibility criteria are the same when studying at UCDC or at UCSC. All UCSC financial aid (grants, scholarships, and loans – except work-study) is available to qualified UCDC students.

The UCSC Financial Aid Office adjusts aid awards to meet the modest increase in the cost of the UCDC Washington Program. Upon selection, we will provide participant names to the Financial Aid Office, who will recalculate awards based on the estimated costs above.

*Pro Tip: Get a Financial Aid Estimate. Estimates are available before and after you apply!  

Housing

All students accepted to the UCDC Washington Program must live at the UC Washington Center and pay the housing fee. The Washington Center is a great home for UC students that provides all the necessities for living in Washington, DC for a quarter including a furnished room, fully-equipped kitchen, and other accommodations. For more information, please see Living in D.C. 

Airfare

Students that fly to DC will have air travel costs which can vary widely and get more expensive the sooner it is to your departure. Be sure to purchase your tickets as early as possible and get changeable/refundable tickets in case any changes occur! Also, expect to spend around $40-80 getting to the UCDC Center from the airport. 

Local Transportation

If you need the metro to reach your internship, you can expect to spend around $50 bi-weekly. Also consider the costs of whatever special trips you want to take while in DC (taxi, bus, etc). 

Personal Expenses

Washington DC has an endless supply of restaurants, shows, and more! While some of these options are more expensive than others, there are many fun things to do on a budget. Keep an eye out for fun and inexpensive things to do around the city (festivals, talks, museum exhibits, etc). Also, carry your student ID with you so you can take advantage of student discounts offered by theaters, museums, and other DC organizations.

UCSC Basic Needs

The UCSC Food Access & Basic Needs Team supports students' basic needs and wellness through a variety of programs and resources, one being the CalFresh Outreach Program. CalFresh, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is a nutrition program that can help you stretch your monthly budget by as much as $234 per month if you qualify. Please access their website to see who qualifies and how to apply.

If you receive CalFresh as a UCSC student, you can use your SNAP benefits while away in DC as long as you maintain your residency in Santa Cruz County. There are no repercussions to using your EBT during your time in DC. Temporary absences are allowed as long as you intend to return to Santa Cruz county and maintain Santa Cruz county as your permanent residence. Temporary absences may last up to 12 months.

If you are in DC when your SAR-7 is due, the County does not require proof of address as long as it is not questionable that you will continue to be a county resident after the UCDC program ends.

If you have any questions about CalFresh, please contact UCDC Basic Needs directly. With your CalFresh case being in Santa Cruz, they will be able to support you with anything that comes up.

Scholarships

There are a number of scholarship opportunities to help fund your academic internship financial needs. The Presidential UCDC Fellowship award is $1,000 and two students are chosen from every UCSC cohort. There are also a variety of scholarships available through UCSC and other outside organizations which you can see below.

Subsidizing Unpaid Interns Program (SUIP)

Through SUIP, UCDC will allocate funding to subsidize unpaid internships. Any UCDC student who secures an unpaid internship will receive a $1,000 stipend. Those students who secure internships that pay less than $1,000 will be provided with the difference between what their internship pays and $1,000. Students who secure internships that pay $1,000 or more for the term will not receive funding through this mechanism.

UC Presidential Public Service Fellowship

This competitive $1,000 fellowship was established to support students who are interested in pursuing a career in public service. To apply, students must submit a completed application and resume to Ashley Bayman at globallearning@ucsc.edu. The selection committee will look at students' Past Civic Engagement, future goals and their need for the fellowship. Learn more on UCDC's website.

The Cynthia Mathews Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to students in any UC Santa Cruz department or program who are pursuing studies or internships related to reproductive rights, health policy, healthcare professions, or public health.  It was established in 2007 through the generous donations of friends, family and colleagues of Cynthia Mathews to honor her 40 years of outstanding service in the area of reproductive health.

Guidelines, deadlines, and the application form are published every Winter Quarter; applications are due every Spring Quarter. For the application due date, check the Program Calendar.

Learn more here.

The Nancy Pascal Field Study Scholarship

Awarded annually to students who participate in field study programs. The scholarship is intended to encourage and support real-world experiences that complement formal academic requirements. Nancy Pascal established the scholarship in honor of her retirement after 32 years of dedicated service to UC Santa Cruz in the Registrar's Office.

Guidelines, deadlines, and the application form are published every Winter Quarter; applications are due every Spring Quarter. For the application due date, check the Program Calendar.

Learn more here.

Other scholarship opportunities will be provided to you in the UCDC Student Handbook you receive upon admittance to the program.