Financing Your Education
Paying for your education can be a challenge as a continuing education student. The UC Davis Extension Student Services office can work with you to identify available financial assistance options. Students in courses and programs offered through UC Davis Extension may be eligible for a tax credit for educational expense, job training funds, alternative student loans (which do not require enrollment in a degree program), or other financial assistance. At this time UC Davis Extension students are not eligible for financial aid based on the FAFSA (Free Application to Federal Student Aid), sometimes referred to as Title IV funds, which require students to be in a degree program.
Find links below to several options for reducing or managing the financial impact of furthering your education through UC Davis Extension.
Veterans Educational Benefits (G.I. Bill)
Tax Credits for Educational Expenses
Student Loans
Students enrolled or planning to enroll in a program or series of courses at UC Davis Extension can apply for a private alternative student loan, available to students not enrolled in a degree program. Extension has arranged with the lenders listed below to offer competitive loans to students in continuing education programs. Once approved through the online or phone application process, a student loan check is disbursed to Extension, payable to the student, usually timed to arrive when needed to pay course fees, though it can take four weeks after applying to receive the first loan check. It is recommended that you begin the loan application process early as Extension does not enroll students in courses until payment is received, and applying for a loan does not reserve a space in the course.
Extension does not endorse any financial institution. The following information is provided for your consideration. In addition to the lenders listed here, you may want to contact your current bank or other lending institution to ask if they have a student or continuing education loan. Carefully review the terms and conditions; the loan is from the lending institution and not from UC Davis Extension. The loan amount requested can include course and textbook costs and living expenses that are appropriate to the cost of attendance. Once the loan is approved by the lender, Extension will contact the student to confirm enrollment status and when loan funds are needed. Students will be notified when the loan check is available.
Student Loan Providers
CitiBank CitiAssist® Loan for Undergraduates: To apply for or learn more about a CitiAssist private alternative loan, visit the CitiBank website. Click the CitiAssist tab to get loan details, or start the application process by clicking "Apply Now for a CitiAssist Undergraduate Loan." Carefully review the loan terms and conditions at the CitiAssist website or call CitiBank at (800) 788-3368 for more information.
SallieMae Tuition Answer® Loan: To apply for or learn more about a Tuition Answer private alternative loan, visit the SallieMae website. Start the application process by clicking the "Ready to Apply?" button. Locate UNIV OF CALIFORNIA-DAVIS EXTENSION in the school list on the application. Carefully review the loan terms and conditions at the SallieMae website or call SallieMae at (888) 272-5543 for more information.
Job Training Funds
You may be eligible for federal, state or local job training funds—contact your local California Employment Development Department office or One Stop Career Center (check your phone book or online) to see if you qualify. Many UC Davis Extension students are able to complete a certificate program with tuition and textbooks paid by a job training fund related to job displacement, unemployment, or retraining, such as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the Trade Adjustment Act. Plan ahead as it may take two to three weeks to confirm eligibility for job training funds, and payment or funding must accompany your request to enroll in UC Davis Extension courses.
Veterans Educational Benefits (G.I. Bill)
Veterans of the U.S. Military who have available educational benefits can enroll in UC Davis Extension certificate programs and obtain reimbursement from the Veterans Administration. UC Davis Extension has obtained approval under the Veterans Educational Benefits program to allow veterans, their dependents and others who qualify for Veterans Educational Benefits to further their education via one of our certificate programs. For further information on eligibility requirements and filing procedures, please contact the Veterans Administration at (888) 442-4551 or visit the VA website. UC Davis Extension programs and courses are not included in the CalVet college fee waiver benefits to dependents of disabled or deceased veterans who are enrolled in a California public college. Call UC Davis Extension at (800) 752-0881 to find out if the program that interests you has been approved for G.I. Bill educational benefits, ask questions about the process, or when you are ready to enroll.
Tax Credits for Educational Expenses
You may be able to reduce your federal income tax by the cost of your educational expenses or the interest paid on student loans through programs such as the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 which provides for the HOPE Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Credits. You can find more information in IRS Publication 970 or visit the Internal Revenue Service website. You should consult the IRS or a tax consultant to verify the tax benefit appropriate to your situation.
Reporting Educational Expenses (Form 1098-T)
Each January UC Davis Extension reports educational expenses (tuition and textbook fees) paid in the prior year to the IRS for students participating in academic or vocational programs costing more than $1,000 in a calendar year. A student's Social Security Number (SSN) is the key to this reporting. To ensure that accurate and complete information is provided to the IRS, UC Davis Extension requests that students provide a SSN at the time of enrollment.
Each student is provided a summary report on prior year educational expenses known as Form 1098-T, which students should receive by January 31. If the data on the 1098-T does not agree with your personal records, contact the Student Services office at (800) 752-0881 to request a review of the data reported. Please direct questions about your tax credit eligibility or filing options to the IRS or your tax advisor.
Taxpayer advice by phone or online: Contact the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-1040 Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or http://www.irs.gov.
AmeriCorps Education Award
UC Davis Extension participates in the AmeriCorps Education Award program that allows volunteers in the various AmeriCorps programs (such as AmeriCorps VISTA and AmeriCorps NCCC) to pay educational expenses with a voucher. Contact UC Davis Extension at (800) 752-0881 prior to paying course fees to confirm how your AmeriCorps Education Award can be applied. For more information about AmeriCorps Education Awards, visit http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/benefits/benefits_ed_award.asp
