The University of Colorado Boulder provides some grant and work-study assistance for Colorado resident students who are eligible under the Colorado Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) Bill or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Nonresident students are ineligible for need-based assistance or the Colorado ASSET Bill benefit, but are encouraged to apply for scholarships.

ASSET vs. DACA

  • ASSET: Effective Fall 2013, undocumented students who meet the qualifications for in-state tuition (attended a Colorado high school for at least three years & graduated from a Colorado high school, for example) under the Colorado ASSET bill can apply for state and university-funded financial aid. These students will be identified through the admissions application process.
  • DACA: Eligible students may request consideration for deferred action for a period of two years and would then be eligible for work authorization (making them eligible to be considered for a work-study financial aid award).

Students who qualify for ASSET do not automatically qualify for DACA, and vice versa. A student may qualify for one but not the other, qualify for both, or qualify for neither.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Grants and Scholarships

Depending on your eligibility (including enrollment and financial need) and available funding, ASSET students may receive either the CU Promise grant (beginning Fall 2020) or a combination of CU Boulder-funded and Colorado state-funded grants ranging from $2,400 - $10,300 per year. You are also eligible to apply for the First Generation Scholarship.

Work-Study

DACA students may be eligible for state-funded work-study up to $2,500. ASSET students with DACA may be eligible for both grant funding (through ASSET) and work-study (through DACA).

Summer School

ASSET students are eligible to be considered for the CU Achieve Summer Grant Program.

All ASSET and/or DACA students do not qualify for federal funding (including grants or loans).

How to Apply

ASSET students interested in receiving financial aid should fill out the 2020-21 ASSET Financial Aid Application (también disponible en Espanol) beginning October 1 for the 2020-21 school year. ASSET students should complete this form instead of the 2020-21 FAFSA. If you completed the FAFSA, you do NOT need to complete this form. For assistance, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 303-492-5091 or financialaid@colorado.edu.

PDF Form Tip: You will need to download/save the PDF form before you fill it out if you wish to save it. All PDF forms need to be printed and signed before submitting them to our office.

Any CU Boulder Scholarships you have or will receive based on your admissions application (i.e. automatic consideration scholarships) will not be impacted by your ASSET/DACA status.

The CU Boulder Scholarship Application is available until March 13 with some scholarships with deadlines as early as February 15. Most scholarships do not require U.S. citizenship. ASSET students are considered for scholarships that require Colorado residency, including the First Generation Scholarship. For a list of scholarships available through this application, view the CU Boulder Scholarship Search Tool.

Here are a few of good resources:

Students receiving private scholarships from outside the university should follow these instructions to have the checks sent to our office for processing.

Once admitted to CU Boulder, ASSET students should follow the instructions listed on the Registrar's website on how to apply for COF, which is a state benefit that reduces the amount of undergraduate in-state tuition you pay.

The CU Boulder Student Relief Fund Emergency Grant is designed to assist enrolled students with a financial emergency in the current term that is impacting their ability to stay on track towards graduation. Students must be either in danger of withdrawing due to an unexpected, temporary financial hardship resulting from an emergency or crisis situation; or struggling with debilitating financial circumstances which may impede their academic progress and ability to complete classes. The emergency grant is only available to students who face a legal barrier to accessing federal or state financial aid. The costs must have been incurred while enrolled at CU Boulder; costs for a future academic year will not be considered.

Emergency funding is provided in the form of one-time per year awards. It is not intended to provide ongoing relief for recurring expenses. These awards are grants and do not need to be repaid.

Estimated 2020-21 Timeline

  • Beginning in August: Apply for Admission. The deadline for freshmen applicants to apply for fall is January 15.
  • October 1: Apply for financial aid by completing the 2020-21 ASSET Financial Aid Application (también disponible en Espanol) as soon as possible after October 1 for the upcoming school year. Applications received by February 15 will be considered for the maximum financial aid.
  • November 1: Apply for scholarships through the CU Boulder Scholarship Application. Deadline to apply is February 15 though some scholarships may have later deadlines. 
  • Late January - March: We will email an Estimated Financial Aid Award letter which will provide you with a financial aid estimate for your planning purposes.
  • Mid-February: We will send emails to notify new students of their official financial aid offer. Grants, scholarships, and work-study are automatically accepted for you.
  • May: Submit your official high school transcripts to the Admissions Office. Be sure to request your transcripts before you graduate high school and leave for the summer.
  • Prior to first day of class: Apply for College Opportunity Fund (COF).