Typically, financial aid offers are available beginning in early March for the upcoming year. Review the financial aid timeline for more details.
  1. Log in to Buff Portal.
  2. Navigate to the Financial Aid card.
  3. Select the appropriate aid year from the year drop-down near the top of the card
  4. Click View Financial Aid. At the bottom of the card, click Accept or Decline Aid.

What will the screens look like?  |  Having trouble with your account?

Accepting or Declining Aid

  • Grants, work-study and admissions-based scholarships are automatically accepted.
  • Loans (except Parent loans) will need to be accepted if you wish to receive them.
  • Students offered other CU Boulder Scholarship(s) may need to accept them to receive them. Recipients will be emailed with specific instructions.

Calculate How Much You Need

Before accepting any loans, figure out how much you will need for the academic year.

 Estimated Cost
+ Estimated Indirect Costs
– Grants & Scholarships
= Remaining Amount

  • Calculate your estimated cost
  • Add your estimated indirect costs from the budget examples
  • Subtract grant & scholarship amounts (available in your portal)
  • The remaining amount is what you will need to cover with loans, personal savings or payments throughout the year

Only Accept What You Need

You may choose to accept all, part or none of the loans offered to you.* We strongly encourage you to only accept the amount of loan that you need. The less you borrow now, the less you will owe after graduation.

Reducing or Cancelling a Loan Amount

* Be sure to include loan origination fees in the amount you choose to borrow if you accept less.

How to View Estimated Expenses

To see a list of your estimated expenses (also known as “cost of attendance”):

  • Log in to Buff Portal.
  • Navigate to the Financial Aid card.
  • Select the appropriate aid year from the year drop-down near the top of the card.
  • Click the card menu, then click View estimated expenses (opens new browser tab).