Frequently Asked Questions
We recognize that there are a lot of questions and uncertainty surrounding the changes implemented by DU to safeguard our community. We want to assure you that even though are staff is working remotely, and in-person counseling and front desk services have been suspended, we are still open and available to help!
How to Contact Us:
Our phone lines are open Monday-Friday from 11:00am-4:30pm. While our response times may be delayed, we are responding to all inquiries as quickly as we can. Email is the the most efficient way to communicate with our office. If you have a question, please send it to finaid@du.edu.
Find a list of FAQs and updates related to COVID-19 on the DU Coronavirus page.
Applying for Aid:
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What's the deadline to apply for financial aid for next year?
The priority deadline for current DU students to apply for financial aid for the 2021-2022 academic year was March 15th. If you missed that deadline, that's OK! You won't miss out on funding—you just might not receive your financial aid offer as quickly as those who met the deadline. You should still apply for aid as soon as possible.
If you're a prospective DU student, you should submit your application ASAP.
Learn more about the application process:
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I have to submit additional forms/documents. Is there a deadline to get them in?
If you're a current student applying for financial aid for next year (the 2021-22 academic year), the priority deadline to submit all additional requested documents is April 15th. If you miss this deadline, that's OK. You won't miss out on funding—it will just take longer for you to get your financial aid offer.
If you're a prospective student, you should submit any additional documents we've requested as soon as possible.
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What's the best way to submit documents to your office? How do I know you've received them?
We highly recommend that all students upload their documents instead of emailing or faxing them, as it's a much more secure method of transfer. Please note that it typically takes 1-2 business days for the status of documents to be updated once submitted.
- Prospective undergraduates: View the status of your requirements and upload documents by visiting your application status page.
- Prospective graduate students: View the status of your requirements and upload documents by visiting your application status page.
- Current DU students: Visit the Student tab of PioneerWeb and click on the "View Requirements/Upload Documents" link.
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When will I receive my financial aid offer?
All students must be admitted to the University in order to receive a financial aid offer. If we've requested additional documentation after you applied for aid, you must submit those documents and an advisor must review your file before a financial aid offer can be generated.
- Current DU students: We'll begin sending 2021-22 financial aid offers in mid-June. Be sure you don't have any outstanding requirements listed on the Student tab of PioneerWeb.
- Prospective undergraduate students: We send financial aid offers on a weekly basis to students who have been admitted and have completed the financial aid application process.
- Prospective graduate students - fall 2021 start: We send financial aid offers on a weekly basis to students who have been admitted to a graduate program and have applied for aid.
- Prospective graduate students - summer 2021 start: We send financial aid offers on a weekly basis to students who have been admitted and have completed the application process. (Note: If you've submitted the FAFSA and believe you should've received your financial aid offer but haven't, be sure you submitted the 2020-21 FAFSA—not the 2021-22 FAFSA.)
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Do I have to apply for financial aid to receive my merit scholarship?
No. You only have to apply for financial aid if you're interested in receiving need-based grants and scholarships. The FAFSA and/or CSS Profile is not required in order to receive a merit scholarship.
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When applying for financial aid for the 2021-22 academic year, am I required to report my 2019 financial information?
Yes. The 2021-22 FAFSA and CSS Profile require income and tax information from 2019—you are not permitted to use 2020 figures.
If you're an undergraduate student whose financial situation changed in 2020 and the 2019 information reported on your FAFSA and/or CSS Profile is no longer an accurate representation of your circumstances, you may submit an appeal after you've received your initial financial aid offer.
Summer Aid:
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How do I apply for financial aid for the summer?
If you are interested in receiving aid for the summer term—and you don't already have it included in your aid offer—you'll need to submit a summer aid application through PioneerWeb.
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I need to change the number of credits I initially reported on my summer aid application. What do I do?
If your enrollment for the summer will be different than what you initially reported, please send an email to finaid@du.edu. No further action is required. (Note that if you do not have any additional questions, you may not receive a response. We'll make the appropriate adjustments to your summer aid.)
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I'm a new student starting classes in the summer. Do I need to submit the summer aid application?
No. If you've been admitted to DU and plan to start classes in the 2021 summer term, you just need to submit the 2020-2021 FAFSA. Be sure to complete the 2020-21 FAFSA, not the 2021-22 FAFSA. Once submitted, you'll receive a financial aid offer via email within about two weeks.
Please note: The 2020-21 FAFSA is only available through June 30th. After that date, you will no longer be able to receive federal aid (including loans) for the summer term.
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What types of aid are available for summer?
Undergraduates: Most students are eligible to receive a summer grant comparable to the amount of merit- and need-based funding received during the other quarters of the academic year. Learn more >>
Graduate/Law students: Aid for the summer term is not automatically included in financial aid offers for most students, and additional aid typically comes in the form of student loans. Contact your academic department directly to learn about institutional aid opportunities for the summer. Learn more >>
Covid-Related Questions:
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The COVID-19 pandemic has affected my family’s financial situation. Can I submit an appeal for more financial aid?
Yes. If you are an undergraduate student and your family has experienced a loss or reduction in wages or employment, you can submit an appeal for re-evaluation of your financial aid offer. Learn more >>
The Student Assistance Fund is also available to all currently enrolled students (undergraduate and graduate) who are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of temporary hardship related to an unexpected situation. Visit Student Outreach and Support for more information.
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How will my financial aid be affected If I chose to exercise the Pass Plus/Pass/No Pass grading option for a class?
Choosing the Pass Plus/Pass/No Pass option has no impact on your GPA or cumulative course completion rate, which means it will not affect your requirements to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Courses for which you receive a standard grade will still be counted in SAP calculations.
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How do I apply for the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEERF) Grant?
Find eligibility and application information on the financial aid website.
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What changes have been made to federal student loans?
For more information on the changes the U.S. Department of Education has made to federal student loans, please visit StudentAid.gov.
Scholarship Questions:
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I'm an undergraduate student. Do you have a list of additional private scholarships I can apply for?
Various entities not affiliated with DU offer an array of scholarship opportunities. These sources can include community organizations as well as women's, ethnic or religious organizations. Many of these opportunities are not broadly advertised, so be sure to speak with any such organizations near you, particularly those you're already affiliated with, to see if they offer scholarship funding.
We also have a list of the most common private scholarship search engines on our website.
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I'm a graduate student. Do you have any scholarships I can apply for?
Most available scholarships are merit-based and are awarded by individual academic departments. For many merit-based scholarships, you're automatically considered when you apply for admission. Some, however, will require a separate application. Contact your academic department for more information on DU scholarship opportunities.
Various entities not affiliated with DU also offer an array of scholarship opportunities. These sources can include community organizations as well as women's, ethnic or religious organizations. Many of these opportunities are not broadly advertised, so be sure to speak with any such organizations near you, particularly those you're already affiliated with, to see if they offer scholarship funding. We've included some of the most common private scholarship search engines on our website.
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Are there any DU scholarships for my specific major?
There are over 500 gift and endowed scholarships awarded every year to current undergraduate students by academic departments on campus. The majority of these scholarships are available to students entering their second, third or fourth year at the University after they’ve taken classes in their chosen major. To be considered for one of these scholarships, students must submit the Departmental Scholarship Application, which opens in the spring each year. A majority of departmental scholarships require financial need, so you should apply for financial aid prior submitting the departmental scholarship app. (Please note the departmental scholarship application for the 2021-22 academic year closed on April 9th.)
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Where should my private scholarship check be mailed?
The check can be sent to the following address:
University of Denver
Office of Financial Aid
2197 S. University Blvd.
Denver, CO 80208The scholarship provider should write the check out to the University of Denver and include your name and DU ID in the memo. If the organization has a specific way they would like the scholarship applied (split evenly over the academic year or a specific quarter), please have them include that information with the check.
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How will my private scholarship be applied onto my account?
Once we receive the scholarship, we'll see if the organization sent information on how they want the funds to be applied. Some organizations want it to be applied evenly over the academic year while others would like it to be applied to one quarter specifically. Unless otherwise specified, we'll split the scholarship evenly over the fall, winter, and spring quarters.
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My private scholarship hasn't been applied to my account. What should I do?
We may have not received your scholarship check yet. Please contact your scholarship organization directly to confirm they have sent the check and verify it has been sent to the correct address.
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I have an outside organization asking for information for a private scholarship. What should I do?
- If the organization is asking for an enrollment verification, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 303-871-4095 or registrar@du.edu, or request enrollment verification through PioneerWeb.
- If the organization is asking for a copy of your bill, please log in to DUPay to find your most recent statement. Contact the Bursar's Office at 303-871-4944 or bursar@du.edu for more information.
- If the organization is asking for specific information about your financial aid, please email the request to finaid@du.edu. We can't provide any FAFSA data or aid eligibility information to a third party without your written consent, so we'll reach to you to obtain authorization. Please submit requests at least two weeks prior to the organization's deadline (if applicable).
Contact
Financial Aid
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303-871-2341
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2197 S. University Blvd.
Denver, Colorado 80210 -
M - F 8am-4:30pm
FAFSA Code: 001371
CSS Profile Code: 4842