Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid’s primary goal is to ensure that students who have been admitted to the university have access to the resources available to fund their education. CU-Boulder students receive financial aid each year from federal, state, university and private sources. Total aid for graduates and undergraduates for 2013-14 was close to $335 million and in a combination of loans, work-study, grants and scholarships.

Applying for Financial Aid

Students apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.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 2015, spring 2016, and summer 2016, the 2015–16 FAFSA must be submitted. Students should apply as soon as possible after January 1, 2015, 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

Financial aid eligibility is based on the results of the FAFSA and the cost to attend CU-Boulder.

The FAFSA application determines the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), a reference number schools use to best determine the family’s financial situation. It’s not the amount of money a family will pay for college, nor is it the amount of financial aid a student will receive.

Each year the Office of Financial Aid calculates the estimated cost of attendance including tuition, fee, room, board, books and supplies, transportation, medical and personal expenses. The EFC is subtracted from the cost of attendance to determine the student’s financial need.

View more information and examples at: www.colorado.edu/financialaid/cost.

Financial Aid Awards

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 2015–16 academic year are encouraged to submit their FAFSA applications and any additional documentation requested by March 1, 2015, in order to receive aid information in time to make an informed decision. Awards available to CU-Boulder students are listed below.

Loans

Students submit the FAFSA to be considered for the following loan programs.

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans. Funds are awarded and disbursed by CU-Boulder. Undergraduate students may qualify for a combination of subsidized (i.e. federal government pays the interest) and unsubsidized loans. The interest rates for direct loans are determined annually. 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 an additional amount of unsubsidized loans; freshmen and sophomores, $4,000; juniors and seniors, $5,000.

The maximum loan amount a graduate student can borrow is $20,500. The loan is unsubsidized and the interest rate is 6.21 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 7.21 percent. 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.

For Parents: 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. 

For Grad Students: Repayment begins 6 months after student graduates, drops below 4 credit hours in a given semester or withdraws.

Work-Study

Students should submit the FAFSA to be considered for work-study, since it is based on financial need. 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 student portal. Student employment maintains a work-study waitlist for students not awarded work-study. For more information, visit: www.colorado.edu/studentemployment/work-study/waitlist.

Grants

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/financialaid/types-aid/undergraduate-grants. 

Scholarships

Donations from private individuals, corporations, foundations and the University of Colorado are all sources for scholarships. Incoming students are automatically considered for some scholarships via their admissions application. For more available scholarship opportunities, visit www.colorado.edu/scholarships.

CU-Boulder Scholarship Application

Students may apply for scholarships offered by the Office of Financial Aid through the student portal beginning November 1 each year. Your FAFSA must be received no later than March 1 to be considered for scholarships with a financial need requirement. Some scholarships may have earlier deadlines. For more information, visit www.colorado.edu/scholarships/cuboulder-scholarship-app.

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.

Private External Scholarships

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

Donors should mail scholarship checks at least one month prior to the bill due date to avoid incurring late and service charges. If a student’s scholarship check is not submitted before by the bill payment deadline, he or she should make other arrangements to pay the bill.

Drug Conviction

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: 

• first offense = one year
• second offense = two years
• third offense = indefinite

If a student is convicted for sale of an illegal substance, the ineligibility period begins as of the date of the conviction and is:

• first offense = two years
• second offense = indefinite

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.

Financial Aid Policies

Satisfactory Academic Progress

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. More information is available at: www.colorado.edu/financialaid/policies/satisfactory-academic-progress-sap-policy. 

Study Abroad

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.

Withdrawing

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/financialaid/policies for more information regarding these policies and others.

Other Resources

Student Employment

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. Student Employment 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.

Student Employee Work Hours Policy

Undergraduate student employees are limited to working a maximum of 25 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, and to 40 hours per week during the summer per the Student Hourly Employee Work Hours Policy.

The policy does not affect students working in non-University off-campus jobs, though we encourage students to prioritize their academics first when considering outside work commitments.

View more information about this policy and other student employment policies: www.colorado.edu/studentemployment/policies.

Visit Student Employment in Regent Administrative Center 205 or call 303-492-7349 for more information.