Students Eligible under Colorado ASSET Bill and/or DACA
There is an online application that allows ASSET students to apply for state and university-provided aid at Colorado universities. See 'How to Apply' for details.
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. Information on applying for aid is also available in Spanish ( solicitud de ayuda financiera disponible en español).
ASSET vs. DACA
- ASSET: Effective Fall 2013, undocumented students who qualify for in-state tuition (for example, attended a Colorado high school for at least 1 year & graduated from a Colorado high school) 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 work-study aid).
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.
How to Apply
ASSET students can apply for state and university aid each year beginning Oct. 1 by completing the ASSET Financial Aid Application, known as the CASFA. You will be prompted to create an account with Colorado Department of Higher Education the first time you access the application.
ASSET students should complete the CASFA instead of the FAFSA. If you already completed the FAFSA, you do NOT need to complete both applications. For assistance, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Types of Aid
Grants and Scholarships
Depending on your enrollment, financial need, and availability of funding, ASSET students may receive either the CU Promise grant or a combination of CU Boulder-funded and Colorado state-funded grants ranging from $2,400 - $10,300 per year. You're also eligible to apply for the First Generation Scholarship.
Work-Study
DACA students may be eligible for state-funded work-study up to $3,000. ASSET students with DACA may be eligible for both grant funding (through ASSET) and work-study (through DACA).
Please note that ASSET and/or DACA students are not eligible for federal funding, including grants or loans.
Summer Aid
ASSET students are eligible to be considered for the CU Achieve Summer Grant Program.
Scholarships & Other Financial Assistance
Any CU Boulder Scholarships you have or will receive based on your admissions application (i.e. automatic consideration scholarships) will not impact your ASSET/DACA status.
The CU Boulder Scholarship Application is available until March 15 with some scholarships with deadlines as early as Feb. 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 resources:
Students receiving private scholarships from outside the university should follow the instructions to send us scholarship money 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 provides temporary support to students who face legal barriers that prevent access to federal or state financial aid and who are experiencing a financial hardship that prohibits them for obtaining their education at the University of Colorado Boulder. Students with ASSET/DACA status are encouraged to apply and will receive preference.
Estimated 2025-26 Timeline
- Beginning in August: Apply for Admission. The deadline for first-year applicants to apply for fall is January 15.
- December: Apply for financial aid by completing the 2025-26 Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) as soon as possible. The CASFA would usually open on October 1, but this year it's expected to open in December for the upcoming school year. Applications received by March 1 will be considered for the most financial aid.
- November 1: Apply for scholarships through the CU Boulder Scholarship Application. Deadline to apply is March 15, though some scholarships have earlier deadlines.
- Early March: Financial aid offers begin to send to all new and continuing students.
- 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).