Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions | Undergraduate Financial Aid

Tuition and Types of Aid

Q: What is the current cost of attendance at DU?
A: The cost of attendance is made up of both direct costs and indirect costs. Find your estimated cost of attendance on our "tuition and types of aid" page.

Q: What percentage of DU students receive financial aid?
A: More than 84% of students receive some form of aid, ranging from $3,000 annually to full tuition.

Q: Is financial aid available for summer classes?
A: Limited aid is offered for summer study, though many traditional scholarships and grants are not available during the summer term. Once you have registered for summer classes, the Office of Financial Aid will notify you via email of your summer aid options.

Q: What types of aid will be included in my financial aid award?
A: Your financial aid award may contain a combination of some of the following types of aid in order to help you meet the cost of attendance:

Q: What other loans are available to finance my education?
A: Before a dependent, undergraduate student borrows a private loan, parents should consider applying for a Federal Direct PLUS loan. In most cases, payments on a PLUS loan may be delayed until the student graduates. These loans have a fixed 7.9% interest rate and a 2.5% origination fee. Parents can apply for this loan directly with the Department of Education at www.studentloans.gov. Parents must pass a credit check before the loan is approved. Private education loans are available to students with credit or with credit-worthy co-signers. Learn more about private loans and our recommended lenders. Private loan money is not guaranteed funding. After you've applied directly to the lender, you'll be notified whether or not you are approved for the funds.

Q: Which types of financial aid am I required to pay back?
A: All types of loans must be repaid. Scholarships and grants do not need to be repaid. Work-study recipients must be hired into an eligible job and may earn an hourly wage up to the amount offered on their award letter.

Q: Is financial aid available for international students?
A: As an international student, you will not be eligible for need-based aid, but you may qualify for a merit scholarship offered through the Admissions Office or your academic department.

Applying for Aid

Q: How do I apply for financial aid?
A: Please visit Applying for Aid for step-by-step application instructions.

Q: What is the difference between the FAFSA and the CSS PROFILE?
A: The FAFSA is required in order to determine eligibility for federal and state need-based aid. The CSS PROFILE is used to determine eligibility for institutional need-based aid.

Q: Who is required to submit the CSS PROFILE?
A: All traditional undergraduates who are interested in applying for institutional need-based aid must complete the CSS PROFILE.

Q: If I am only planning to receive merit-based aid, do I need to fill out the FAFSA or CSS PROFILE?
A: No, only students who are applying for need-based aid are required to submit the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE. However, we encourage all prospective students to apply for aid in the event that the student or family qualifies for need-based aid or decides to use available student or parent loan options.

Q: What is my Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?
A: Your expected family contribution (EFC) is the amount that you and your parents are expected to contribute to the cost of your higher education. It is calculated by considering your family's financial strength ? that is, your family's income and assets. Other factors that are considered include the number of total immediate family members and how many of them are in college. The information you report on your FAFSA and CSS PROFILE is used to calculate your EFC, and the Office of Financial Aid uses the EFC to determine your financial aid eligibility and award. Your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college. For more information, see Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid.

Q: How is "financial need" determined?
A: Financial need is calculated by subtracting your Expected Family Contribution from your Cost of Attendance. The total amount of your need-based awards cannot exceed your calculated financial need. Need-based financial aid awards include scholarships and grants, Work-Study, and subsidized Direct loans.

Q: Can I increase my merit scholarship?
A: Merit awards cannot be increased. When your application is reviewed by the Office of Admission, they will offer the maximum amount of funding available to you at the time of admission.

Q: Are there departmental scholarships for students who excel in their program?
A: Yes, there are departmental awards available for students who have excelled in their department or program. However, these awards are considered a part of the original merit or need-based award package given to a student upon their admission. These awards will not supplement that original award, which will be adjusted accordingly if a student has been chosen as a recipient of a departmental scholarship.

Q: How do I apply for talent scholarship?
A: Talent scholarships from DU are available for outstanding achievement in everything from music, theatre and art to athletics and debate. Students need to contact the coach or department directly to inquire about these scholarships.

Q: What is the deadline for submitting the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE?
A: The CSS PROFILE can be completed as early as October 1; the FAFSA can be completed as early as January 1. We recommend that prospective students complete both the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE shortly after January 1 to ensure that they have access to as many types of federal aid as possible, as some funds can run out. New, first-year students should apply for aid by February 15th. Continuing students should apply by March 15th.

Q: How long will it take for DU to receive my FAFSA and CSS PROFILE?
A: Once you have submitted your FAFSA and CSS PROFILE online, DU will typically receive it within 7-10 days.

Q: Why do I have to submit a Federal Verification Worksheet and tax returns?
A: The verification process is one way that the federal government ensures that students are receiving their fair share of available aid. Your need-based federal and institutional financial aid cannot be disbursed until verification is complete. Students receiving only merit aid, unsubsidized loans, or PLUS loans are not required to complete the verification paperwork.

Q: What determines if I am selected for verification?
A: Starting in the 2012-2013 academic year, all first-year students must complete the verification process. For continuing students, the Department of Education randomly selects approximately 30% of students for verification. Additionally, DU may select you for verification in certain special circumstances, such as during an appeal process.

Q: I submitted all my verification documents. When will I receive my award letter?
A: Incoming students who have already been verified will receive their award letters in late-March. Continuing students who have already been verified will receive their award letters in late-May. If we have not received all documents until after that time, it can take 3-5 weeks for verification to be completed by an advisor, at which time you will receive your financial aid award.

Q: Who is eligible to apply for a Parent PLUS loan?
A: The Parent PLUS loan program is available to parents of undergraduate dependent students. You must file a FAFSA with DU in order to receive the loan. To apply for a PLUS loan, you must initiate the process with the U.S. Department of Education at www.studentloans.gov, who will require a credit check to determine eligibility.

Q: I applied for a Parent PLUS or a private loan. Has it been certified by DU?
A: Please allow 2-3 weeks for a loan to be certified. Once your PLUS or private loan is certified by DU, it will appear as a part of the students overall financial aid package on webCentral.

Q: DU certified my loan for a lower amount than for what I applied. Why?
A: We can only certify a loan up to your full Cost of Attendance, less all other aid received, even if you were approved for a higher amount.

Q: I was denied a Parent PLUS loan. What are my options?
A: If a parent was denied a PLUS loan because of adverse credit, the parent may appeal the denial, reapply with an endorser, or the student may request an additional unsubsidized Federal Direct loan.

Q: My FAFSA doesn't fully capture my financial situation. Is there anything that I can do to provide DU with further details about my finances?
A: If you feel that your family's financial hardships are not reflected in the information provided on the FAFSA, you may consult with a DU financial aid advisor to begin an appeal process. Keep in mind that your request for more aid eligibility does not mean that you will receive more grants or scholarships. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Understanding Your Award and Next Steps

Q: I haven't received my award letter yet. When can I expect it?
A: Award letters will be sent out in late-February for incoming Early Action students, in late-March for incoming Regular Decision students, and late-May for continuing students. If you have not received your award yet, we may need some additional documents from you. Be sure to check your financial aid requirements on webCentral, or contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Q: I cannot access my account to accept my award online. What should I do?
A: You will need to accept the Terms and Conditions of their award through webCentral before you will be able to accept, reduce, or decline any of your financial aid. If you do not remember your password or cannot log into webCentral, contact the Help Desk at 303-871-4700.

Q: If I accept a loan, will it be disbursed over all three quarters automatically?
A: All aid will automatically be disbursed evenly over the traditional fall, winter, and spring quarters of the academic year.

Q: When will I receive all of my financial aid and refund?
A: Check the Student tab of webCentral to make sure you have completed all of your financial aid requirements. Once all requirements have been satisfied, your financial aid funds will disburse to your DU tuition account 10 days prior to the start of each quarter. (View a complete academic calendar by visiting the Registrar's Office website.) If the amount of financial aid that has disbursed is larger than the amount due to DU, the Bursar's office will generate a refund to the student within two days after disbursement. For more information about refunds, please contact the Bursar's Office.

Q: How do I get Work-Study?
A: Work-study positions are awarded to students along with other need-based financial aid. If work-study is not included on your award offer, you either do not have the federal need (as determined by the FAFSA) to receive work-study, or funds were not available at the time the offer was made. Students may visit the Office of Student Employment website for other employment options.

Q: I was awarded Work-Study. How do I apply for a position?
A: You can view and apply for all available Work-Study positions through the Office of Student Employment website.

Q: Will my Work-Study earnings go directly to my DU tuition account?
A: No. You will receive a paycheck every two weeks for the amount you earned. Students can sign up for Direct Deposit by clicking on the Employee tab in webCentral to have all paychecks deposited directly into their bank account.

Q: Will my Work-Study award be affected if I study abroad?
A: Students who will be studying abroad should contact the Office of Student Employment at stuemp@du.edu or at 303.871.6792. You can use your Work-Study award for the terms you will not be studying abroad.

Q: I received a private scholarship and my donor needs to know where to mail it.
A: Please have scholarship letters and checks sent to our office for processing. The mailing address is:

Office of Financial Aid
University of Denver
2197 S. University Blvd.
Denver, CO 80208-9403

Q: I was offered a Residence Hall Grant but will not be living on campus this year. Is there any way that I can still receive the grant?
A: No. You are not eligible to receive this grant unless you are living in approved DU housing. For a list of approved apartments and Greek houses, pleases review our DU Aid page. An exception may be made for students participating in the Cherrington Study Abroad program.

Q: I am an employee of DU. Is my child eligible for a tuition waiver?
A: Information about employee tuition waivers is available through the Human Resources website. For further questions, please contact the Human Resources Benefits Office at 303.871.7420.

Q: I have a third party paying for tuition. What do I need to do?
A: All arrangements for employer reimbursements or third party payments should be made through the Bursar's Office.

Eligibility & Policies

Q: Will I lose my financial aid if I choose not to maintain full- or half-time status?
A: Some types of financial aid are available to you only if you are registered full-time. To maintain full-time status, undergraduate students must take at least 12 credit hours per quarter. You are still eligible for work-study, a portion of your Pell grant, Perkins, PLUS, and Direct loans if you are enrolled at least half-time (6 credits). Undergraduates with merit scholarships or DU Educational Grants must be enrolled for at least 12 credits in order to receive their award.

Q: How will my financial aid be affected if I withdraw from classes?
A: A portion of your loans may have to be returned. Please review our Refund and Withdrawal Policy for more information.

Q: What are the academic requirements for maintaining my financial aid status?
A: In order to keep any federal aid, you must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Denver to monitor the academic progress of all students receiving financial aid toward the completion of their degree. You will be notified after SAP is determined if you do not meet the listed criteria.

Tuition and Types of Aid

Applying for Aid:

Understanding your Award and Next Steps:

Eligibility and Policies:

Tuition and Types of Aid

Applying for Aid

Understanding Your Award and Next Steps

Eligibility & Policies