Student Rights
As a student consumer you have the right to know:
- What financial aid is available to (undergraduate and graduate) students from all federal, state, and institutional financial assistance programs;
- The deadlines, selection criteria, eligibility requirements, terms, policies, procedures, and regulations that apply to each of the programs, starting with how to apply (available for each type of aid);
- The financial aid available for education abroad programs;
- How your financial need is determined; this includes how costs for tuition and fees, housing and food, transportation, books and supplies, and personal expenses are included in your student budget;
- How and when financial aid is paid to students (payments and refunds);
- How to purchase books and supplies; you can purchase books and supplies through a vendor of your choice using your financial aid refund (if applicable) or you can charge books and supplies to your tuition and fee bill at the CU Book Store and your financial aid will pay the charges;
- How to continue to maintain eligibility for financial assistance; including how the financial aid office determines you are maintaining satisfactory academic progress and what happens if you are not;
- If you have a student loan (undergraduate or graduate), the terms of the loan such as the interest rate, total amount that must be repaid, the procedures for paying, the length of time you have to repay it, when repayment begins, cancellation provisions, deferment and forbearance possibilities, and any special consolidation or refinancing options;
- The terms and conditions applicable to student employment (work-study) provided as part of a financial aid package;
- CU Boulder withdrawal policy: the portion, if any of tuition and fees that are refunded to you if you withdraw before the end of the term, and the portion, if any, of the financial aid you must pay back immediately if you withdraw before the end of the term;
- You can accept, reject or reduce any or all types of aid;
- If you reduce or reject aid, we may not be able to reverse this action as some funds are limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis;
- Accepting more financial aid than necessary is not advised. We will not offer more aid than needed to attend (see how aid is determined); however, you may not need all that is offered. It is in your best interest to only accept what you need.
- The amount of funds that you or your parent can expect to receive under each financial aid program and how and when those funds will be disbursed. You will be notified of your aid and disbursement amounts by email and online in Buff Portal if you have consented to do business electronically with the University.
Student Responsibilities
It is your responsibility to:
- Understand and comply with the terms and conditions of aid that you receive;
- Use financial aid funds only for education expenses (tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies and other living costs);
- Respond promptly to all requests for supplemental information or documentation from the Office of Financial Aid;
- Know and meet the deadlines to apply and re-apply for financial aid;
- Complete all financial assistance applications and forms with thorough and accurate information;
- Read, understand and keep copies of all forms that you are asked to submit or sign;
- Notify the Office of Financial Aid if there is any change to information you reported on the FAFSA;
- Notify the Office of Financial Aid if there are any changes to your enrollment status or level;
- Notify the Office of Financial Aid if you receive any scholarships, grants, or other financial assistance from sources outside the university;
- Know and comply with university refund and withdrawal policies;
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue to be eligible for financial aid;
- Complete entrance interview and exit interview counseling if you receive a loan;
- Notify your lender of any changes in your name, address, or school status while you are attending school and after you leave school;
- Repay any student loans you receive regardless of if you successfully completed your program;
- Perform in a satisfactory manner work agreed upon for Federal Work-Study jobs;
- Understand that by signing the FAFSA, you agree that the information provided is accurate and complete and that if you purposely give false or misleading information, you may be fined up to $20,000, sent to prison, or both.
View the University's Consumer Information.