Blue and Gold Opportunity Program and Federal Tax Credits

Dear UCI Families:

We are delighted that you are a member of the UC Irvine campus community. Our students enhance the vibrancy of our learning environment and make lasting contributions to our campus. And our parents are making a tremendous investment not only in their own students, but also in the future of the communities those students will join upon graduation.

We are committed to providing our students with the finest education available anywhere in the world, and particularly in these uncertain economic times we are committed to keeping that education as affordable as possible. I am writing to call your attention to the broad range of financial aid programs available for 2010-11.

First and foremost is the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan. Under the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, eligible students with family incomes below $70,000 will pay no systemwide fees in 2010-11; all of these fees will be covered by scholarships and grants. For more information please visit: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/blueandgold.

If family incomes exceed $70,000, other grants and scholarships are available. In fact, UC undergraduate students will receive over $1 billion in grants and scholarships this year - not just to cover fees under the Blue and Gold Plan, but to help more than half of all UC families finance their students' education.

To ensure you maximize financial aid opportunities, you will need to:

• File a FAFSA before March 2, 2010 (www.fafsa.gov). I urge every UC Irvine student, regardless of income, to complete this free online application. It is the gateway to all financial aid, including most UC scholarships and low-interest loans.
• Take full advantage of the American Opportunity Tax Credit for couples with adjusted gross incomes of up to $180,000 ($90,000 for single filers). This credit directly reduces your tax bill, providing up to $2,500 to help cover your college expenses. More information is available at the IRS Web site: (www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=211309,00.html).

A degree from UC is one of the best investments you'll ever make, and UC is here to help. I encourage you to take full advantage of the resources mentioned above.

Chancellor Michael Drake