Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Aid
Applying for Financial Aid
- 24 years of age or older
- Married
- Have a child or other legal dependents for whom you, personally, provide more than 50% of the support for that child or legal dependent and be able to document that support
- Working on a master, or doctorate program in the upcoming school year
- Currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training
- A veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
Complete the appropriate Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and use school code #004508.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available from October 1 each year. The FAFSA will be asking for two-year-old tax information.
Financial aid is awarded on a first come/first-served basis, so we recommend that you apply early.
If you are starting your program in the spring or summer semester, you’ll need to submit two FAFSA. For example, if you are starting in spring or summer 2026, you’ll need to submit the 2025-26 FAFSA. Also, complete the 2026-27 FAFSA for the following school year.
See important dates to learn about financial aid processing timelines.
The FSA ID is used to access certain US Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID is used to confirm your identity when accessing your financial aid information and electronically signing your federal student aid documents.
About a week after submitting your FAFSA, check your To Do List in the Student Center of UCDAccess to see what additional documents (if any) we need for your application to be complete. Check out the forms we may need for a complete application.
According to federal regulations, you are considered an independent student on the FAFSA IF at the time that you submit the FAFSA you meet at least one of these criteria:
This is a summary of the information that you provided on your FAFSA. Review the SAR for accuracy. If the information is correct, file it away for your records. But if you find errors, go back to your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and correct any errors.
Yes. Your eligibility might be suspended if the offense occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, or work-study). When you complete the FAFSA, you will be asked whether you had a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid. If the answer is yes, you will be provided a worksheet to help you determine whether your conviction affects your eligibility for federal student aid.
If your eligibility for federal student aid has been suspended due to a drug conviction, you can regain eligibility early by successfully completing an approved drug rehabilitation program or by passing two unannounced drug tests administered by an approved drug rehabilitation program.
If you regain eligibility during the award year, notify the Financial Aid Office so that you can be considered for financial aid. Be sure to submit the FAFSA.
If you are convicted of a drug-related offense after you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you might lose eligibility for federal student aid, and you might be liable for returning any financial aid you received during a period of ineligibility.
Financial Aid Award
- a dollar amount of aid you’ll receive,
- what your family is expected to provide, or
- your final financial aid offer.
- Must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as submit additional documentation as requested
- Must show that you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by documenting that you received a high school diploma, GED certification or homeschool completion credential
- Must be enrolled at least half-time (Undergrad: 6 credit hours | Grad: 3 credit hours)
- Must provide the University with your social security number for financial aid processing
- Must be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen (documentation may be requested to verify your eligibility)
- Must be degree-seeking in an eligible program as determined by the university
- [Male students] must be registered with the Selective Service System (SSS)
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards
- Must not be in default on an existing student loan
- Must certify that financial aid will be used for educational purposes only
- Must certify that if you purposely give false or misleading information, you may be fined up to $20,000, sent to prison, or both.
- Students with criminal convictions have limited eligibility.
The Cost of Attendance (COA) or budget consists of tuition, fees, books & supplies, health insurance, and living expenses. The University of Colorado Denver uses the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) budget parameters for the student’s costs, such as room and board, books, supplies, transportation, personal and childcare expenses.
Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a formula-based index number ranging from –1500 to 999999. Where your SAI falls within the SAI range helps your school determine how much financial support you may need.
A negative SAI indicates you have a higher financial need. For example, if you have an SAI of –1500, you’ll qualify for a maximum Pell Grant award assuming you have not exhausted your lifetime amounts and meet all student eligibility requirements. Learn how the SAI is calculated.
Your SAI is not
Your SAI is an index number used by financial aid professionals when creating an aid offer. Your SAI is calculated using information that you (and other contributors, if required) provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.
Financial need is calculated by subtracting the EFC from the COA. This calculation helps the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office determine the student’s eligibility for need-based financial aid such as, grants, work-study, and need-based student loans like the Federal Perkins Loan.
To be eligible for financial aid, you:
Financial aid awarding is based on various eligibility factors reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), availability of funds and the CU Denver awarding policy.
The aid disbursement and refund process occurs the week before your semester begins. Check out important financial aid dates.
You must be enrolled at least half-time (Undergrad: 6 credit hours | Grad: 3 credit hours).
The FAFSA uses the tax year information from two years ago and for most families this information may differ from year to year. Changes in funding given to the University of Colorado Denver may also change the amount of aid that you receive. If you applied late, you may not have been offered need-based aid that you were eligible to receive.
When your financial aid exceeds your financial need or the Cost of Attendance (COA) for the enrollment period, your financial aid is reduced.
If you are receiving grants, scholarships or other forms of financial assistance not appearing on your award letter, notify the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.
If you are transferring to CU Denver, add our school code 004508 to your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Submit the FAFSA so that we can receive it and offer you financial aid. Make sure that you cancel your financial aid awards at your previous school.
If you are transferring from CU Denver, notify the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office so that your financial aid awards can be canceled. In addition, contact your new school’s financial aid office for application instructions.
Disbursement of Your Financial Aid
- Enrollment: Are you registered for classes? The Federal Pell Grant and Federal TEACH Grant are adjusted based on your enrollment. However, you must be enrolled at least half-time to receive your other aid
- Loans: If you are borrowing a Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, or PLUS loan, complete the Loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN). If you’re borrowing a Federal Perkins loan, you must complete the loan requirements to receive this loan. The instructions are listed on your To Do List in Student Center of the CU Access portal
- Scholarships: If your scholarship has not disbursed, you may not be registered for enough hours. Many scholarships require their recipients to be enrolled full-time.
Your account status on the Student Center of the CU Access portal will list financial aid that has paid. Compare this list with your award to make sure that all of your aid has paid.
If you have an award that hasn’t paid, you may still have outstanding forms or steps to take. Check your To Do List in Student Center of the CU Access portal to see if additional forms are needed or contact the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.
The Bursar’s Office begins the refund process 3-4 days after financial aid has disbursed. Funds remaining after your university bill is paid are mailed to you in the form of a paper check by the Bursar’s Office. Paper checks are mailed every Friday. You can set up Direct Deposit in CU Access. Contact the Bursar’s Office for assistance.
Another reason that your scholarship hasn’t disbursed yet is the scholarship funds have not been received from the donor. If the donor is an organization outside CU Denver, contact the donor to see when and where the money was sent. Ask them if they are mailing a paper check or sending electronic funds to the university and notify our office. If the donor sent the money, contact us to see whether the scholarship money has been received.
If your enrollment status has dropped during the add/drop period, your financial aid package will be adjusted based on your enrollment.
You must be enrolled at least half-time to keep your student loans. After your financial aid is adjusted, you may be required to return some of your refund.
If you received a financial aid refund and your enrollment has dropped after the add/drop period, your award may be adjusted. The course you drop will receive a “W” grade and could affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status.
If you withdraw or drop all of your classes, your award will go through a process called Return of Title IV Funds [34 CFR 668.22(k)] where the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will perform a federal calculation to see how much of your federal financial aid must be returned to CU Denver. In addition, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will also calculate whether you must return your state and institutional aid.
We highly recommend that you meet with your academic advisor, as well as a financial aid advisor before dropping all of your classes. In addition, read and understand the withdrawal policy.
Eligibility
Undergraduates: 6-8 credits
Graduates: 3-6 credits
Undergraduates: 12 or more credits
Graduates: 3-6 credits
The minimum enrolled credit hours to be considered full-time or half-time does not change per term. The requirements, as listed above, are the same throughout the fall, spring, and summer terms.
If the offense occurred while you were enrolled in college and receiving federal student aid you, may not be eligible. If you received a conviction for possession or sale of drugs while in high school, it will not impact your eligibility for federal student aid. To learn more, visit StudentAid.gov, or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
Select No if:
• You have never received federal student aid.
• You have never had a conviction for possessing or selling illegal drugs.
• The conviction was not a state or federal offense.
• The conviction occurred before you were 18 years of age and you were not tried as an adult.
• The conviction was removed from your record.
• The offense that led to your conviction did not occur during a period of enrollment for which you were receiving federal student aid (grants, work-study, or loans).
If you select Yes, you may still be eligible for federal student aid. Additional questions will display to help you determine your eligibility. Past convictions do not automatically make you ineligible for student aid.
Student Loans
- Log into your CU Access student portal
- In your “Student Center”, select “Financial Aid”
- Click “Accept/Decline Awards”
- Select the aid year you wish to view
- Edit the amount of the loan you want to accept by writing out the specific amount in the appropriate box
- After accepting or declining awards, select the “Submit” button at the bottom
- You must be enrolled at least half-time.
- You must complete the Loan Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note at StudentAid.gov.
- Your student must be enrolled at least half-time.
- The parent borrower must submit the PLUS Application and the Master Promissory Note (MPN) at StudentAid.gov
- You must be enrolled at least half time (three credit hours)
- You must complete the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note at StudentAid.gov
If you graduate in a reasonable timeframe, the federal government will subsidize (pay) the interest on subsidized loans while you’re in school, for the first 6 months after you graduate or leave school, and any periods of deferment. Undergraduate students demonstrating financial need through their FAFSA could be eligible for this loan.
Interest on unsubsidized loans will start accruing at the time the loan is disbursed. To learn more about Federal Direct Loans, visit StudentAid.gov.
To accept only some of your loans:
The US Department of Education requires that you complete the Loan Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note (MPN) if you are borrowing Direct Loans for the first time at CU Denver. The Loan Entrance Counseling covers your rights and responsibilities, interest rates, repayment options, and the consequences of default.The MPN is a legal document in which you promise to repay your federal student loans and any accrued interest and fees to your lender or loan holder.
The FSA ID that you used to sign your FAFSA is the same ID you will use to complete your Master Promissory Note (MPN). Visit the FSA ID web site for instructions on obtaining a new FSA ID, or to replace one that was forgotten, lost or stolen.
The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will award the annual limit as long as the total award does not exceed the Cost of Attendance (COA). Loans cannot be increased beyond the annual limit.
If you accepted less than the original award, please submit the Loan Adjustment Form to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office to borrow those remaining funds.
Upon graduating, leaving school, or dropping below half-time enrollment, the US Department of Education requires that you complete Loan Exit Counseling. As part of your Loan Exit Counseling, your lender will provide you with specific information regarding your loans including your loan servicer’s contact information, where to send payments, repayment options, and loan consolidation.
If you received a Perkins Loan, Exit Counseling information is available.
After the loan has been certified by the university and processed by your lender, the loan funds will be sent to CU Denver. Remember that your lender is required by law to give you 10 days to cancel the loan.
About three days after your loan is certified, contact your lender to see when the loan money will be released to CU Denver. About three days after the loan money arrives, it will be applied to your university account. After your bill is paid, the Bursar’s Office will send you any remaining loan money.
Contact the Bursar’s Office for assistance viewing payments and refunds on your university account.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Federal and state financial aid regulations require that students meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards to be eligible for financial aid.
The purpose of SAP is to ensure academic success and graduation. Students who do not meet the SAP standards are not eligible for aid.
Please read and familiarize yourself with the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Information for Students.
Scholarships
- FinAid!
- FastWeb
- SoFi Scholarships Finder
- CollegeBoard
- High school counseling center
- Any library
Find information about scholarships on the scholarships page.
Then check out these sites:
Depending on the scholarship, you will be notified in writing by the donor if you were selected as a scholarship recipient.
If you’re receiving grants, scholarships, or other forms of aid not appearing on your award in the CU Access portal, please notify the CU Denver Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.
In addition, notify the donor that you will be attending CU Denver. Scholarship payments should be sent to the CU Denver Financial Aid and Scholarships Office for processing.
Most scholarships are a one-time award. Your scholarship award letter will notify you if the scholarship is renewable. If you aren’t sure whether your scholarship is renewable or not, contact the donor that awarded the scholarship.
Special Circumstances or Reduction in Income
Special circumstances impacting your family contribution and educational expenses are evaluated on an individual student basis. Contact a Financial Aid Advisor to see if you qualify for a review of your special circumstance.
The review process can take up to six weeks. Reviews are done throughout the school year. However, the absolute deadline to submit an appeal is 45 days prior to the last day of the semester. All appeal decisions are final.
Study Abroad
Most federal, state, and institutional sources of financial aid for which a student may normally qualify, with the exception of work-study and certain scholarships, can be used towards covering reasonable costs associated with authorized CU Denver study abroad programs.
Visit the Study Abroad site for more information about study abroad financial aid. You must also submit the Study Abroad Packet.
Verification
Students are selected for verification by the FAFSA processor or could be selected by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office if information on the FAFSA seems unusual or is conflicting. Find more information about Verification policies and procedures.
If you have been selected for verification, you must submit all requested documents for this process. Check your To Do List in Student Center of the CU Access portal for a list of requested documents.
If you do not complete verification and you qualify for need-based financial aid, such as the Pell Grant or Colorado grant, you will not be eligible to receive it.
The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office begins the verification process as early as March and verifies throughout the school year. The process could take 2 to 4 weeks after all required documents have been received signed and completed. As soon as you are notified that you are selected for verification, submit the documentation right away to avoid delay in receiving financial aid.
Work-Study Employment
You must be awarded work-study to work in a work-study position. Follow the procedures on the Apply for Financial Aid page.
If you have been awarded work-study, please check the jobs listing on the Handshake Job Board.
Work-study is awarded based on financial need and the awarding policy. More information is available at the Work-Study Program web page. Students must submit the FAFSA to be considered.
Students are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be aware that your loan award may be reduced to make room for the work-study award.
You can work up to 20 hours per week but are limited to the amount of your work-study award. After you are hired, work with your supervisor to create a work schedule that utilizes your work-study award for the entire term or school year.