Financial Aid

For eligible undergraduate students, CU Denver will guarantee a financial aid package that includes a combination of grants, scholarships, and a work-study award (for up to 12 hours per week) sufficient to fund the student share of tuition, fees, and estimated book expenses (as defined by Colorado Commission on Higher Education).

An act of the Colorado State Legislature in May 2004 established a new way for the State to provide state tax dollar support for higher education at the undergraduate level. The state is no longer appropriating monies to institutions for undergraduate education, but is providing direct funding to undergraduate students through the "College Opportunity Fund" or "COF." This program is also known as "vouchers" or "stipends." Starting in fall 2005, provided that an undergraduate in-state student applies for and authorizes use of the voucher, it will be applied to the student's University bill. The remaining portion of tuition is referred to as the "student's share" of tuition. ( Additional COF information).

CU Denver will evaluate your eligibility based on your completed financial aid application. You must apply for financial aid each year to continue in the program.

To begin participation you must:

• be a Colorado resident
• enter CU Denver as a first-time freshman or transfer student from a Colorado community college
• be admitted/enrolled into an undergraduate degree program at CU Denver
• be working on his/her first bachelor's degree
• be enrolled full time (12 hours/semester) on the CU Denver campus
• have family income at or below 100% of the federally-established poverty level
• apply for, and meet, all Federal, State and Institutional requirements for receipt of Title IV financial aid funding
• demonstrate eligibility for Federal Pell Grant
• meet all financial aid application verification requirements
• complete the financial aid application process by July 1 each year*
  *Eligible students who complete the entire application process and are awarded financial aid by July 1 will be guaranteed participation in the CU Promise Program. After that date, participation will be limited by available funding.

To continue to participate, a you are required to:

• continue to meet all of the initial eligibility requirements (including poverty level for any given award year) in successive years
• meet the CU Denver's Satisfactory Academic Progress rules each semester, as defined by federal Title IV regulations

Eligibility for the CU Promise Program is based upon the income reported on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your parent’s (dependent student) or your (independent student) adjusted gross income (AGI) must be at or below federal poverty level guidelines as outlined by the Health and Human Services.

A student may remain in the program for up to 10 semesters (excluding summer terms, which will not be funded) or completion of a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.

If you are eligible for the CU Promise Program during their first year of enrollment at CU Denver, but you become ineligible in a subsequent academic year (e.g. you failed to meet satisfactory academic progress), you may appeal to the CU Denver Financial Aid Office for reconsideration. This appeal must be made in writing no later than the first day of classes of your first semester of ineligibility. Continuation in the program is not guaranteed.

In accordance with federal and state requirements, the CU Promise award plus other financial aid will not exceed the student’s financial need. Financial need is determined by taking your cost of attendance as determined by the Financial Aid Office and subtracting the expected family contribution (EFC) as determined by the financial aid application form, and any other resources.

Eligibility for the CU Promise Program is based on the actual adjusted gross income as reported on the federal income tax return. Adjustments to income through the financial aid appeal process will not affect CU Promise eligibility.

If you are enrolled in an eligible study abroad program, you will receive only the amount of funding that you would be eligible to receive if you were enrolled at CU Denver. However, you may choose to accept a loan to cover additional study abroad expenses.

All students who are eligible to participate will receive an official letter informing them of their participation in this program.

Awards for students who change majors will not be adjusted during the course of the academic year unless there is a change in financial need that requires a decrease in the award.

The CU Promise program is a CU system program available at all CU campuses. As long as a student continues to meet the eligibility requirements of the program, the guarantee will be available at any CU campus.

A student may choose to accept a loan (if eligible) to replace the work component or cover other expenses in the cost of attendance (e.g. room and board, transportation, medical, personal). However, additional grant aid will not be awarded to replace work-study funds.

As long as this program is in existence, a student who withdraws from the University will be eligible for continued awarding upon her return in a subsequent semester as long as they meet other requirements, including the satisfactory academic progress policy. Participation will continue in accordance with the rules at the time the student initially entered the program. A student who withdraws and re-enrolls during the same academic year may be re-awarded as funds allow.