Policy & Application | Deadlines | FAQs

About Exceptional Funding

Your scholarship covers a set percentage of flat-rate tuition (up to 18 units) for the Fall and Spring semesters. The purpose of Exceptional Funding is to support academic pursuits in addition to this academic course load within the eight semesters (ten for Architecture) of scholarship eligibility. Exceptional Funding cannot be used to compensate for past semesters of underenrollment. It is available to Trustee & Presidential Scholars who entered the university as Freshmen.

Examples of appropriate reasons to request exceptional funding include, but not limited to:

• Additional courses are required to complete a second major or minor that cause enrollment in more than 18 units a semester
• Additional major courses are required that cause enrollment in more than 18 units a semester
• Summer study abroad where USC tuition is charged and USC credit is earned
• Summer classes at USC

Trustee Scholars: Maximum amount of 8 units may be funded
Presidential Scholars: Maximum amount of 8 half-tuition units may be funded

How to Apply

Please read the policy for Exceptional Funding thoroughly prior to applying. The policy and application forms are available for download below. Our office will not consider late applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Exceptional Funding units to extend my scholarship beyond 8 semesters?
No. Exceptional Funding can only be used within the 8 semesters (10 for Architecture) of scholarship eligibility.

You approved me for "x" units of extra funding, and it still hasn't appeared on my bill.
The additional scholarship will be credited by the tuition settlement deadline published in the Schedule of Classes, if you are already registered for the extra units. If the scholarship has not been credited by the tuition deadline, please contact our staff.

Do I need to pay for the extra units myself to be later reimbursed by Financial Aid?
No. If you have been approved for extra funding, and you are registered for all of your classes, Financial Aid will apply the extra funding toward your tuition before the tuition settlement deadline (published in the Schedule of Classes).

As a Presidential Scholar, can I combine the half-tuition units to pay for 1 full unit?
(For example, 8 half-tuition units = 4 full units of funding)
Half-units cannot be combined into one unit. A Presidential Scholarship is a 50% tuition scholarship, which also applies to Exceptional Funding. At no time will Exceptional Funding pay for 100% of extra tuition costs for Presidential Scholars.

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