UC San Diego Native American Opportunity Plan Graduate Funding Support
The UC San Diego Native American Opportunity Plan (UCSD NAOP)
The UC San Diego Native American Opportunity Plan (UCSD NAOP) provides eligible students in-state tuition and fees in the form of UC financial aid or other federal or state financial aid program. Eligibility criteria for the UCSD NAOP plan mirrors that of University of California, Office of the President’s NAOP. Please review UCOP’s NAOP eligibility requirements, including tribal affiliation and degree type, to confirm eligibility for UCSD NAOP coverage. If eligible, resident tuition and fees will be covered for the duration of the student’s tenure at UCSD.
The following funding details are applicable to all 2026-2027 UCSD NAOP Awardees.
When students are working as an ASE or GSR the associated fee remission meets the requirement.
In quarters in which the student is on graduate funding support or is otherwise unsupported, GEPA will provide up to nine quarters of support in the form of resident tuition and fees, including the one-time document fee as needed.
For any additional quarters, the student’s home department will provide resident tuition and fee support as needed. Departmental support may be in the form of student tuition and fees or employment fee remission.
Native American Opportunity Plan
Overview
UC’s Native American Opportunity Plan ensures that in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees are fully covered for California students who are also enrolled in federally recognized Native American, American Indian, and Alaska Native tribes.
This initiative is designed to ensure that in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees are fully covered for California students who are also enrolled in federally recognized Native American, American Indian, and Alaska Native tribes. This plan applies to undergraduate and graduate students. Non-resident supplemental tuition (NRST), campus fees and Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition are not part of the Native American Opportunity Plan.
UCSD NAOP FAQs
Who decides the schedule of when support is funded through GEPA or the Department?
The Department decides the schedule of student support with consultation with GEPA.
Does the department need to submit a proposal for the planned schedule of GEPA Support?
The Department should create an anticipated plan for when they will request GEPA Support and when the Department will provide support. Departments can share their funding plan through the Department Funding Request Form.
In quarters in which the student is on fellowship or is otherwise unsupported, GEPA will provide up to nine quarters of support in the form of resident tuition and fees, including the one-time document fee as needed.
How does the Department input GEPA’s support into the FSRT?
The department needs to request the T&F's from GEPA at least one quarter in advance of when they want GEPA to provide support in this Department Funding Request Form.
After the request is received, the Fellowship Administrator, Jessica Peurifoy gepafellowshipnoms@ucsd.edu will provide the department with GEPA’s project/task/AIDID, so that the Department can input this into the appropriate student support system.
What happens if the student receives other fellowship support? Can we change the planned support schedule?
Yes. The department should send an email to the student and gepafellowshipnoms@ucsd.edu to inform us of the updated schedule. GEPA’s nine quarters of support in the form of resident tuition and fees, including the one-time document fee as needed, are flexible and should be scheduled to maximize funding to the greatest benefit of the student.
However, once the Tuition and Fees have been paid for the quarter, no further updates can be made to the support. The department cannot retroactively request support from GEPA.
Non Discrimination Statement
In accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories.
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