Apply for Financial Aid
FAFSA School Code 004508
(University of Colorado Denver)
2024-2025 FAFSA FAQs
Create and Access Your StudentAid.gov Account
How To Fill Out The FAFSA
Determining Your Dependency Status
After the FAFSA
Financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend that you submit your application early. Getting financial aid at CU Anschutz may seem like a daunting process, but it's actually quite simple - and fear not, we're here to help:
Verify Your Eligibility
The general eligibility requirements are that you must:
- demonstrate financial need (for most programs);
- be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen;
- have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau);
- be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program;
- be enrolled at least half-time;
- maintain satisfactory academic progress;
- sign the certification statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) stating that:
- not be in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant; and
- use federal student aid only for educational purposes; and
- show you’re qualified to obtain a college education by
- having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate;
- completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law (or—if state law does not require a homeschooled student to obtain a completion credential—completing a high school education in a homeschool setting that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under state law); or
- enroll in an eligible career pathway program and meeting one of the "ability-to-benefit" alternatives.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Congratulations on meeting the eligibility requirements to receive financial aid! Applying for aid is easy:
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)*:
- You must have an FSA ID.
- A parent of a dependent student (as determined by the FAFSA) must have an FSA ID to sign the FAFSA electronically.
- Your FSA ID will be good for the number of years that you are applying for financial aid from your undergraduate to your graduate degrees.
- Store your FSA ID in a secure location and do not share it with anyone.
Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to download your tax information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) into the FAFSA. It's the easiest way to provide your tax return information and the best way of ensuring that your FAFSA has accurate tax information.
REMINDER: Apply for financial aid every year, as well as, submit additional documentation if requested.
Undergraduate student: Use the "Who's Your Parent" infographic to help you determine who's your parent when filling out the FAFSA.
Graduate/professional students are not required to report parent income and information on the FAFSA.
Allow up to 30 minutes to complete the FAFSA.
Check out FAFSA Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid.
Complete the Appropriate FAFSA
- The 2023-2024 FAFSA is for the Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024 semesters.
- The 2024-2025 FAFSA (available from December 2023) is for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 semesters.
Submit your FAFSA beginning December 2023 for the 2024-2025 FAFSA. Subsequent FAFSA will be available on October 1st of each year. For example, the 2025-2026 FAFSA will be available October 1, 2024. Mark your calendars!