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Student Basic Needs

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Financial Insecurity

Student Basic Needs offers economic support for students experiencing financial insecurity of having stable and predictable income to support a standard living. 

Financial insecurity refers to the inability for students to access financial resources to be a successful student, or find the resources to gain financial literacy, such as educational materials to understand what resources are available and where to receive additional support.

Student Basic Needs Supplemental Funding

The Student Basic Needs Supplemental Funding is a one-time funding opportunity designed to help currently enrolled students who are experiencing sudden financial distress due to unforeseen circumstances. These awards are available for students experiencing financial difficulties that jeopardize their success or continued enrollment at USC and who have exhausted all other resources. Examples may include, but are not limited to housing costs, food costs, or unforseen dental/medical costs.

Examples of how awards can be used:

  • Housing/rent expenses;
  • Food expenses;
  • Unforeseen medical/dental expenses;
  • Childcare expenses

Examples of how awards can’t be used:

  • Transportation expenses (e.g. gas);
  • Vehicle repairs/expenses (e.g. car parts);
  • Books, supplies, or technology expenses;
  • Tuition & fees

Please note: In order to be considered for supplemental funding, financial aid recipients (anyone receiving grants, scholarships, work-study, and/or loans) must connect with USC Financial Aid to discuss any available options that can meet their current financial needs.

Eligibility

  1. Student must be enrolled at least half time, and in the term (i.e. Fall, Spring, Summer) funds are being requested
  2. Have sudden financial distress due to unforeseen circumstances
  3. Have a $0 bill balance with the university
  4. Receive approval from Financial Aid. Student Basic Needs will connect with the Financial Aid Office on your behalf
  5. Must be able to supply any additional information requested such as bills, receipts, or other documents

Application Process

Once you have connected with USC Financial Aid (if applicable), and have met the above eligibility requirements, please complete the Student Basic Needs Supplemental Funding Award application via USC Scholarship Universe.

Fall 2022 Application

  • Closed

Spring 2023 Application

  • Opens: January 30, 2023
  • Closed: April 24, 2023

USC Financial Aid

Help and Contact

Phone: (213) 740-4444, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time (M-F)

Online Assistance and Email Inquiries

Special Circumstances and Appeals

Undergraduate Special Circumstances and Appeals

Graduate & Professionals Special Circumstances and Appeals

Special Populations

International Students

ROTC & Veterans Benefits

Federal Work-Study

Undergraduate Students

Graduate Students

Additional Funding Opportunities

USC Scholarship Universe
Scholarship matching tool.

USC Alumni Association Scholarships
Open to continuing undergraduate students.

USC Dornsife Continuing Student Scholarships
Please click link to read more about these scholarships.

Asian Pacific Alumni Association Scholarships
Must be a full-time student (undergraduate, transfer, graduate or professional) enrolled in a USC degree program or who will be enrolled (in the case of an incoming first-year, transfer or graduate student) for the entire academic year (fall and spring semesters).

Black Alumni Association Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded to USC students on the basis of academic and personal merit in addition to having demonstrated involvement within the African-American community.

Graduate Student Government Emergency Fund
Open to USC graduate students in good standing and who have paid the Graduate Student Programming Fee for the current semester.

Areté Rising altAid
altAid is available to students who are enrolled in higher education, a workforce development program, or other vocational training pathway. To qualify for financial support, students must have experienced an unexpected financial hardship within the last 60 days that is impacting their ability to pursue their education. Grants can be used for basic needs, school equipment, medical bills, and other unexpected expenses, excluding rent and tuition.

Half-Century Trojans Scholarships
Open only to continuing USC undergraduate students. Applicant must be a direct descendant (grandchild or great-grandchild) of (1) a person who received an undergraduate degree from USC 50 or more years ago, or (2) a person who received an undergraduate degree from a college or university 50 or more years ago and later received a graduate degree from USC.

Lambda LGBT Alumni Scholarships
Awards scholarships to students who, regardless of their gender or sexual identity, demonstrated academic achievement and a strong commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.

Latino Alumni Association Scholarships
Provides partial-tuition scholarships to USC undergraduate and graduate students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the Latino/Hispanic community. Graduate scholarships are for master’s candidates only; limited awards for law, medical and doctor of pharmacy students are also available.

Scholarships for Muslim Students
Scholarship opportunities for Muslim students.

Town and Gown of USC
Provides merit-based scholarships to deserving incoming freshmen, current undergraduate, and graduate students.

Trojan League of Los Angeles
Must be full-time students enrolled in the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at USC

Fastweb
Scholarship database.

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Student Basic Needs
basicneeds@usc.edu

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