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The Metropolitan State University of Denver financial aid program provides assistance and advice to students who would be unable to pursue their education at the university without such help. Scholarships, grants, loans, and part-time employment are available singly or in various combinations to meet the difference between what the student and the student’s family could reasonably be expected to provide and the expected cost of attending MSU Denver.
For information on financial aid and scholarships, click on a link to be taken to the entry below.
Eligibility and Need
To qualify for financial aid, a student must submit a FAFSA; be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen (students who do not meet the citizenship eligibility requirements but are designated as an ASSET student may submit a CASFA); be degree seeking in an eligible program and be enrolled at least half-time for most type of financial aid; be making satisfactory academic progress; and cannot be in default or in an overpayment on a federal education loan or owe a repayment on a federal grant.
Application Procedures
Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov or if designated as a Colorado Asset Student, the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) at cdhe.colorado.gov. MSU Denver’s Title IV School Code is: 001360.
Students should complete and submit the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA to the federal processor as early as possible (after October 1st of each year) and submit all requested documents to the MSU Denver Office of Financial Aid by March 1st.
Detailed information concerning application procedures is provided on our website, msudenver.edu/financial-aid.
Financial Aid Programs
The amount of funds made available to students depends on the maximum award allowed by regulation of each program, the student’s established financial need, duration of the student’s enrollment, and funds allocated to the university by the state and federal government.
Grants
Grants are gift money from the federal or state government or the institution and do not have to be repaid.
Federal Pell Grants are federal grant funds awarded to undergraduate students who have high financial need determined by the submission of a FAFSA and who have not yet received a bachelor’s degree. The amount of the award varies and is based upon the Department of Education’s need analysis formula and the number of hours for which the student is enrolled.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are federal grant funds awarded to undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need as determined by the submission of a FAFSA and have not yet received a bachelor’s degree. The amount of FSEOG awards varies from year to year depending on the funding amounts and number of students who meet eligibility requirements.
Colorado State Grant (CSG) is a state grant fund awarded to Colorado residents with demonstrated financial need who are pursuing an undergraduate degree. Eligible students cannot have a prior bachelor’s degree, must establish eligibility by completing a FAFSA or CASFA, are enrolled at least half-time (at least six credit hours) at MSU Denver and must meet all other financial aid eligibility requirements.
Scholarships
Most scholarships require a student to be enrolled at least half-time, be degree-seeking, be making satisfactory academic progress, and not be in default on a federal education loan or owe a repayment on a federal or state grant to receive a scholarship.
Students should refer to the MSU Denver scholarship website, msudenver.edu/financial-aid/scholarships, for information regarding a comprehensive list of scholarships including access to free online scholarship searches.
Presidential Scholarships: MSU Denver’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships offers Presidential Academic Achievement Scholarship awards to both incoming, continuing and transfer students. These scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Due to limited funding, it is recommended that students complete a FAFSA or CASFA as soon as the application becomes available and complete any remaining financial aid documents requested as soon as possible. Students who have a completed financial aid file and a most recent GPA of 3.25 or better will be considered, there is no additional application required.
Foundation Scholarships: The MSU Denver Foundation offers numerous scholarship opportunities for both incoming and continuing students. By submitting the Metropolitan State University of Denver Scholarship Application by March 1st “Priority Consideration Deadline” each year, you will automatically be considered for all MSU Denver Foundation scholarships for which you are eligible for the next academic year. While a FAFSA or a CASFA is not required, it is highly recommended that students complete one of these applications to maximize scholarship opportunities. The MSU Denver Scholarship Application is available for online submission at msudenver.academicworks.com.
Athletic Scholarships: MSU Denver has a limited number of athletic scholarships. For additional information, contact the MSU Denver Intercollegiate Athletics Office (303-615-0888).
Receipt of a scholarship may affect a student’s financial aid award because students receiving federal and/or state aid are limited in the maximum amount and type of aid that can be received. A student whose full need has been met by other types of financial aid prior to receipt of a scholarship will have that aid reduced by the amount of the scholarship. If the student’s full eligibility has not been met, the scholarship will be allowed to satisfy the unmet need. Each student’s situation is treated individually. All scholarships are based on the student’s continued eligibility and available funding. Scholarships are awarded based upon Fall and Spring enrollment, if a student does not return for Spring semester that funding may be reallocated to another student.
Loans
Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loans: Offered to undergraduate students who are enrolled at least half-time (six or more credit hours) and demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA submission. Offered amounts are determined by a student’s financial need, dependency status, and year in school. Interest does not begin to accrue until six months after the student graduates or ceases to be enrolled in school at least half-time (six credit hours per semester). Interest rates vary from year to year but are fixed for the lifetime of the loan.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans: Offered to graduate and undergraduate students who have submitted and meet eligibility requirements as determined by the FAFSA and are enrolled at least half-time (six credit hours for undergraduates or three hours for a graduate student). Offered amounts depend on academic career level (graduate or undergraduate). For undergraduate unsubsidized loans, amounts offered also depend on dependency status and year in school. Interest accrues while students are in school and during the six-month grace period after a student graduates or ceases to be enrolled at least half-time.
Federal Perkins Loans are long-term federal loans that are awarded based on the student’s need and MSU Denver’s available funds. Federal Perkins Loans can range from $100 to $1,500 per semester. Repayment of the loan begins nine months after the student graduates or ceases to be enrolled in at least six credit hours each semester. The interest rate is 5 percent and interest begins to accrue at repayment. All first-time borrowers at MSU Denver are required to perform a Perkins Loan Entrance Interview over the Web before loan funds can be released to them.
Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans: are based on the student’s need as determined by the MSU Denver Office of Financial Aid. Interest does not begin to accrue until six months after the student graduates or ceases to be enrolled in school at least half time (six credit hours per semester).
Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans: These loans have many of the same terms and conditions as the Federal Stafford Loan. The main difference is that the students are responsible for the interest that accrues while they are in school and during the six-month grace period after they graduate or cease to be enrolled in at least six credit hours.
Federal PLUS Loans: PLUS loans are available to parents of dependent students and graduate students who have a completed FAFSA on file. Applicants apply for PLUS loans on studentaid.gov and will need to meet credit requirements for these loans. These loans are not guaranteed and can be denied through the application process.
Please refer to the MSU Denver Financial Aid website, msudenver.edu/financial-aid, for more detailed information regarding loans.
Work-Study
Work Study provides employment opportunities for students to assist with educational costs. Award amounts may vary from year to year depending on available funding. Work-study funds are paid to students for hours worked at an MSU Denver approved work-study position. Students must be offered work study as part of their financial aid package and be enrolled at least half-time per semester. The maximum hours a student may work is 30 hours per week while classes are in session and 40 hours per week between semesters. The majority of all work-study awards are need-based, however, there are a limited number of funds made available to students who do not demonstrate need as determined by the FAFSA. Students must submit a FAFSA to be considered for work study. Funding is limited for the work-study program and not all eligible students may receive a work-study award.
The Financial Aid Package
Once student eligibility is determined, an aid package is developed based on the availability of funds, the demonstrated need, and the eligibility of the applicant. To facilitate financial aid packaging requirements, applicants must obtain all requested information and forms from designated sources and submit them to the MSU Denver Office of Financial Aid before the established deadline.
Award Notification
After the Office of Financial Aid has determined the type and amount of aid for which a student qualifies (aid package), the student is emailed an Award Notification.
Disbursement Procedures:
- Awards are based on full-time enrollment. If a student is enrolled for less than 12 credit hours each semester, the award may be reduced/prorated. The final award adjustment occurs on census date (about the 12th day of school each fall and spring semester and the 8th day of the summer semester).
- Grants, Scholarships and Student Loans: All financial aid awards (with the exception of out-of-state loan checks, consortium checks and some scholarship funds) are disbursed into the student’s account. The Bursar’s Office deducts any outstanding balance owed, including current tuition and fees, and issues a check for the remaining funds. This check is either mailed to the student or the student can pick it up at the Cashier’s Office. This check can be used to purchase books and pay other educationally related expenses.
- Parent Loans: Any excess of Federal Parent PLUS funds is either sent to the parent borrower or to the student, whoever the parent indicated on the PLUS application.
- Work Study: Work-study earnings are paid biweekly and are treated as wages earned. Outstanding balances owed to MSU Denver are not deducted from these earnings; however, students are strongly advised to pay any outstanding balance as soon as a work-study check is received.
Please refer to the MSU Denver website, msudenver.edu, for information regarding proration of aid disbursements.
Repayment Policy
Students who receive financial aid and withdraw officially or unofficially from MSU Denver prior to completion of a term may be required to repay a portion or all of their financial aid and scholarship funds. Required financial aid repayments must be made to MSU Denver’s Bursar’s Office. Please go to MSU Denver’s website, msudenver.edu/financial-aid, and click on the undergraduate student financial aid section or the graduate student financial aid section as applicable for more specific information.
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