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The FAFSA Opens On October 1st
The FAFSA Opens On October 1st
Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1st! Financial aid is time sensitive so the sooner you apply, the better!
Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1st! Financial aid is time sensitive so the sooner you apply, the better!
Class of 2022: Make sure you and your parents have filed your 2020 tax returns before Oct 1st.
Class of 2022: Make sure you and your parents have filed your 2020 tax returns before Oct 1st.
What can I do now to prepare for the FAFSA?
What can I do now to prepare for the FAFSA?
File your and your parent's 2020 tax returns (if you haven't done so already)
Solidify your College List so that you know which colleges to send your FAFSA to
Gather your materials:
Parents’ 2020 tax returns, W2s, and/or other records of money earned
Student's 2020 tax returns, W2s, and/or other records of money earned (if applicable)
Your and your parents' social security number or alien registration number
Students without a social security number should not fill out FAFSA - see section below for different process.
Parents without a SSN or ARN can still fill out FAFSA: your parent will be prompted to sign a paper form at the end which will need to be mailed into FASFA. These forms can take up to two weeks to process, so sending it in soon is crucial!
Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
What is the CSS Profile?
What is the CSS Profile?
The CSS Profile is an additional financial aid application that many private colleges and universities, including the University of Denver, require. Click here to see a list of colleges that require the CSS profile.
We recommend filing the CSS Profile at the same time as the FAFSA, since you will answer many of the same questions on both forms.
Some families will qualify for a fee waiver for the CSS Profile, but others will be asked to pay to submit this application to their colleges. Please reach out to your college counselor if you do not qualify for a fee waiver but have trouble paying the CSS Profile's application fee.
Resources for DACA and Undocumented Students
Resources for DACA and Undocumented Students
If you (the student) do not have a social security number or alien registration number, you will not file the FAFSA.
You will, however, be able to fill out college-specific Institutional Aid Forms and the CSS Profile (if any of your colleges require it). These forms will ask about your family's financial situation, but none of the information on these forms will be reported to the federal government. Colleges will use these forms to determine your eligibility for need-based financial aid.
Additionally, the Colorado ASSET Bill allows undocumented students in Colorado to pay in-state tuition and qualify for the College Opportunity Fund (COF).
Along with the Colorado ASSET Bill, the Colorado Department of Higher Education has established an program similar to FASFA called the CASFA. The CASFA is a program that allows non-U.S. citizen residents, non-residents, ,and DACA students to receive state and institutional funding for colleges within the state of Colorado. Reach out to your college counselor and we will help you with the process!
Click here to see how the financial aid process works for DACA/undocumented students at one college. Your college counselor will help you navigate this process for all the colleges you are interested in.
Finally, make sure to check out our scholarship page for other resources to help you pay for college.
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