The Office of Financial Aid’s primary goal is to ensure that students who have been admitted to the university will have access to the resources necessary to complete their education. CU-Boulder students receive financial aid each year from federal, state, university, and private sources. Total aid for graduates and undergraduates for 2011–12 was approximately $334 million and in a combination of loans, work-study, grants, and scholarships.
Students apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov. Based on a federal formula, the FAFSA determines a student’s eligibility for grants, work-study, and loans, as well as some scholarships. Students must reapply for financial aid every year.
For financial aid for fall 2013, spring 2014, and summer 2014, the 2013–14 FAFSA must be submitted. Students should apply as soon as possible after January 1, 2013, as some funds are first-come, first-served.
The Office of Financial Aid receives the FAFSA results electronically if CU-Boulder is listed on the application (school code 001 370).
Students must be have been accepted to the university before their financial aid application can be considered.
Eligibility for financial aid is based on the cost of attending CU-Boulder and the amount students and their families are expected to contribute toward the cost of attendance. Each year the financial aid office calculates the cost of attendance using local and national cost-of-living data.
The expected family contribution (EFC) is determined by an analysis of the student’s FAFSA. A student’s financial need is calculated by subtracting the EFC from the cost of attendance.
Most financial aid is awarded in April, but aid is offered as long as funds are available. Freshman and transfer students applying for aid for the 2013–14 academic year are encouraged to submit their FAFSA applications by March 1, 2013, in order to receive aid information in time to make an informed decision. Awards available to CU-Boulder students are listed below.
Students submit the FAFSA to be considered for the following loan programs.
Federal Direct Stafford Loan. Funds are awarded and disbursed by CU-Boulder. Undergraduate students may qualify for a combination of subsidized (federal government pays the interest) and unsubsidized loans. The interest rates for direct loans are typically fixed and will not exceed 6.8 percent. Annual limits depend on the year in school; freshmen can be awarded up to $5,500; sophomores, $6,500; and juniors and seniors, $7,500. Independent students may borrow additional unsubsidized loans; freshmen and sophomores, $4,000; juniors and seniors, $5,000.
The maximum loan a graduate student can borrow is $20,500. The loan is unsubsidized and the interest rate is 6.8 percent.
Interest on unsubsidized loans can be repaid while the student is in school. Repayment begins six months after the student graduates or ceases to be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours for undergraduates; 4 credit hours for graduates).
Federal PLUS Loan. This federal loan is available to graduate students and parents of dependent undergraduate students. The interest rate is fixed at 7.9 percent. Repayment begins within 60 days of full disbursement of the loan. Typically, repayment begins in March for an academic year loan; however borrowers may request a deferment on payments until their student has finished with school. Borrowers must complete a credit check. Note: Borrowing a PLUS loan will be regarded as parental support on in-state residency petitions for dependent students.
Students submit the FAFSA to be considered for need-based work-study. Work-study students earn their award by working for on-campus or approved off-campus agencies. Students may apply for a variety of jobs at competitive rates. Jobs can be found online through the portal for students. The student employment office maintains a work-study waitlist for students not awarded work-study. For more information, vist www.colorado.edu/studentemployment/waitlist.html.
Grants are awards that do not have to be repaid. Students submit the FAFSA to be considered for federal, state, and institutional need-based grants (including Pell, SEOG, Colorado Responsibility Grant, etc.). For more information, visit www.colorado.edu/finaid/grants.html.
Students may apply for scholarships offered by the Office of Financial Aid through the student portal beginning December 1 each year. Your FAFSA must be received no later than March 1 to be considered for scholarships with a financial need requirement. For more information, visit www.colorado.edu/finaid/scholarshipsatcu.html.
Prospective students do not need to wait for formal acceptance to CU-Boulder before applying for financial aid or scholarships.
Scholarships are highly competitive at CU-Boulder. The selection committee considers academic achievement, honors, leadership, school activities, and service to the community. Students should also search for scholarship opportunities within their academic program, college, club, or campus organization.
Students who receive a private scholarship from an organization outside the university must report the scholarship via the student portal. In addition, students are encouraged to write to their donors and express their gratitude.
When a scholarship donor does not specify how to disburse the funds, the financial aid office equally divides awards of $1,000 or more between the fall and spring semesters. Private scholarships less than $1,000 are applied in full to the current semester bill.
Donors should mail their checks, payable to the University of Colorado, with a cover letter to:
University of Colorado Boulder, Office of Financial Aid, ATTN: Scholarship Services, 77 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0077
If a student’s scholarship check is not received by the bill payment deadline, he or she should make other arrangements to pay the bill.
In accordance with the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005, students who have been convicted under federal or state law for possession or sale of a controlled substance will be suspended from Title IV aid eligibility if the offense occurred while the student was receiving Title IV aid.
If a student is convicted for possession, the ineligibility period begins as of the date of the conviction and is:
If a student is convicted for sale of an illegal substance, the ineligibility period begins as of the date of the conviction and is:
A student may regain eligibility by successfully completing a drug rehabilitation program that complies with criteria established by the Department of Education. More information is available by calling the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243.
Students who apply for financial aid at CU-Boulder are responsible for knowing and complying with the satisfactory academic progress policy. Briefly, the policy outlines the requirements to maintain satisfactory progress (i.e., minimum grade point average [GPA], completion rate, etc.), the consequences of failing to meet the requirements, and the process for appealing if the student loses eligibility.
Students must be enrolled in a CU-Boulder study abroad program to be eligible for financial aid through CU-Boulder’s financial aid office. Students participating in a study abroad program through another university are not eligible for financial aid from CU-Boulder.
If a student enrolls at CU-Boulder, receives financial aid, then withdraws, his or her financial aid is adjusted according to federal regulations. The student may owe a bill to the university after the financial aid is adjusted. Visit www.colorado.edu/finaid/finaidpolicies.html for more information regarding these policies and others.
Jobs provide students with income, work experience, and the opportunity to explore career options. Research studies indicate that students who work are as successful academically as those who do not. The Student Employment Office posts an average of 800 part-time on-campus and off-campus jobs for students. In addition, an on-call temporary employment service allows students to register for occasional work including one-time child care, yardwork, and clerical jobs.
Visit the Student Employment Office in Regent Administrative Center 205 or call 303-492-7349 for more information.