Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA)
CASFA is for students who are not eligible for Federal Student Aid, undocumented students or students from mixed status families or other situations who prefer not to share their contributors’ personal data beyond Colorado higher education institutions. Students who complete a CASFA are applying for State and institutional aid only (NOT Federal Student Aid).
CASFA Frequently Asked Questions
Don’t see your question? Reach out to us!
- Log into your account
- Select “Review and Update” on the appropriate aid year
- Select “Start, Edit, or Complete a Form”
- Locate the appropriate section to revise from the left column and make the necessary updates.
Students with ASSET Status: The CASFA allows students with ASSET status to apply for state aid. If determined to have financial need, students with ASSET status will be considered for Colorado grant aid. Students with both ASSET and DACA status may qualify for Colorado Work-study by completing the CASFA. You should also complete the CASFA to have your level of need determined for scholarships. To apply for scholarships, visit our scholarships page.
Students with DACA Status: Students with DACA status, but without ASSET status, are not eligible for state aid. You may complete the CASFA to have your level of need determined for scholarships. To apply for scholarships, visit our scholarships page.
Undocumented Students without DACA or ASSET status: Students without ASSET or DACA status may complete the CASFA to have their level of need determined for scholarships. To apply for scholarships, visit our scholarships page.
International Students: International students should complete the CASFA to have their level of need determined for scholarships. To apply for scholarships, visit our scholarships page.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents: U.S citizens and permanent residents should not complete the CASFA. Instead, they should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal, state, and institutional aid. To apply for scholarships, visit our scholarships page.
The CASFA becomes available October 1 of each year for the next school year. You may complete the CASFA at any point throughout the academic year. To apply, visit the CASFA webpage.
Please contact our Lynx Central or Financial Aid team if you have specific questions about the application. If the financial information included on your CASFA does not represent where you and your family stand today financially, please contact us.
If you are having technical difficulties with your account, please email CASFA@dhe.state.co.us.
School code: 004508
If you have been admitted to CU Denver, we will add a To Do List item to your CU Access portal informing you the CASFA was received. To locate your To Do List, view our how to webpage.
To make changes to your application:
Once changes have been successfully completed, please proceed forward with the electronic signature process for both student and parent if applicable. Applications will remain in an incomplete status until signature requests have been completed by both student and parent, if applicable.
Important: Please review your application thoroughly to reduce multiple revisions. Each additional revision creates a new transaction requiring new signatures by both student and parent, if applicable.
Monitor your CU Access Portal To Do List for an item informing you the CASFA was received. Depending on when the CASFA is completed, it may take several weeks before the item will appear. To locate your To Do List, view our how to webpage.