How Financial Aid is Calculated

Each year the Financial Aid Office sets up budgets reflecting the average cost for resident and non-resident students to attend UCCS for one academic year. These budgets include average room and board costs for the campus residence halls, costs to live off campus, or costs to live with parents. Students interested in their cost of attendance may use the budget calculator to calculate their estimated cost of attendance online.

All of your expected and anticipated resources are subtracted from the appropriate cost budget to determine your financial need and eligibility for need-based financial aid.

Funds from the various aid programs administered by the Financial Aid Office are then combined and presented in your "award package."

Undergraduate students without a bachelor's degree are always packaged with a Federal Pell Grant first, if they are eligible. State of Colorado need-based grant is packaged according to State policy. According to this policy, students whose Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is 150 percent of the EFC required to receive a minimum Federal Pell Grant, will receive first priority for funds. For the year 2008-2009 this EFC was $6,062. Residents for tuition purposes will be considered for need-based State grant for a minimum of $850 and a maximum of $5,000. In addition to the Pell, grants will include Colorado Student Grant (CSG), Colorado Leveraging Educational Assistance Grant (CLEAP), Supplemental Educational Assistance Grant (SLEAP), and UCCS Tuition Grant.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) will be awarded to students with the highest Federal Pell grant eligibility. Federal Perkins Loans will be packaged in the same manner as State of Colorado need-based grants, once grant funds are exhausted in packaging (for undergraduate and graduate students).

To help the highest need non-residents meet their higher tuition cost, up to an additional $4,000 (undergraduates) and $6,000 (graduates) in Federal Perkins Loans will be considered for those who meet the application priority date.

For Colorado residents, UCCS implements a multi-year packaging policy. If you receive some grant aid in your award package in the current year, and if we receive your Student Aid Report by the following year's priority date of April 1st, and your financial situation does not change significantly, your total grant award offer will not change significantly for the following academic year.

Low-cost Federal and private supplemental loans are available to fund room and board, transportation and miscellaneous expenses not covered by grants, scholarships, work study awards, or other resources.

NOTE: Financial Aid is awarded on a continuous basis after April 1st. You will not be considered for financial aid unless you have been admitted to UCCS. You will lose priority status if you are not admitted as of the date the first awards are made.

Budget adjustments may be made for child care and special costs incurred by handicapped students. If you require increased budgets for any of these reasons, submit a adjustment request form to the Financial Aid Office.