Once you’re admitted to University of the Pacific one of the first things you’ll receive next is your financial aid offer. In this guide and video, we will walk you through your offer letter, breaking down each section of your offer letter so you can understand more about the process. If you’re not familiar with all the financial aid terms be sure to check out this blog story as well.
1. First steps
Before you receive your offer letter, make sure you’ve taken care of these steps:
- Ensure your FAFSA is filed: You’ll need to have a 2025-26 FAFSA on file with Pacific’s school code (001329) to receive your financial aid offer.
- Parents, complete the FERPA release form: To discuss your student’s financial aid details with the Financial Aid Office, ensure your student completes a FERPA release form. You can find the link in the offer letter email, at the bottom of the offer letter itself or on Pacific’s Financial Aid website.
- Check your email and online portals: Once processed, you’ll receive an email notification with a link to your offer letter. You can also access it by checking your Pacific email account, the email account you used to apply to Pacific, by logging into pacific.awardletter.com with your Pacific Net credentials or through the financial aid section of myPacific.
2. Understanding your offer letter
Let’s break down everything that’s in your offer letter:
Scholarships and grants
- The top section outlines your merit-based scholarships and need-based grants (if applicable).
- These are awarded annually, with amounts broken down per semester (fall and spring).
- This is gift aid, meaning you don’t have to repay it.
Cost of attendance
- Direct costs: These are billed directly by the university and include tuition and fees, as well as housing and food.
- Indirect costs: These are estimated expenses not billed by the university, such as transportation, books, supplies and personal expenses.
- The letter calculates your net cost after deducting gift aid from direct costs. This gives you an initial estimate of your potential out-of-pocket expenses for your first year.
- Important note: All students are automatically charged for school health insurance. Complete the health insurance waiver (available in June) if you have alternative coverage to avoid this cost.
Federal student loans
- This section details the federal student loans you’re eligible to borrow in your name for your first year.
- The maximum amount for qualifying first-year students is $5,500, divided equally between fall and spring semesters.
- The letter recalculates your estimated remaining cost after factoring in potential loan amounts.
Housing
- Pacific has a two-year residency requirement for new students.
- If you have exceptional circumstances (including financial hardship), you can petition for an exemption through the Residential Life and Housing Office.
- Note: If you receive need-based grant aid (specifically the UOP Tuition and Housing Grant) and are approved to live at home, the grant amount may be reevaluated.
Payment options
- Pacific offers a monthly payment plan with three or five monthly installments per semester.
- There’s no interest charged, only a small enrollment fee ($25 for the three-month plan and $75 for the five-month plan).
3. Next steps
Navigating your offer letter and applying for loans properly is an important task, here are some things to keep in mind when you’ve finished.
- Review your offer carefully and compare costs.
- Watch our other financial aid webinars to learn more about managing your investment in Pacific.
- Contact the Financial Aid Office if you have questions:
- 209.946.2421
