There are three elements that assist us in determining students’ financial aid awards:

Financial need is calculated by subtracting the EFC from the student budget. Other factors that determine the types and amounts of awards are Federal Pell Grant eligibility, outside resources, class level, major, enrollment status, prior degree, aggregate loan limits, funding levels, residency, state and federal regulations, and institutional philosophy.

The student budget allows for education-related costs for the student only, not for family members, as described below.

  • Tuition and Fees:  Full-time instructional costs and mandatory fees, based on your Tuition Classification.
  • Living Allowance:  Average cost of housing, food, and utilities for students living on or off campus. Residence hall contracts vary by hall, room type, and meal plan choices.
  • Books and Supplies:  Average cost of textbooks and supplies.
  • Miscellaneous:  Allowance for transportation, recreation, health care, and personal expenses.
  • Health Care:  An allowance that could include cost of student health insurance policy for independent students at Colorado State University.

If you have unusual expenses or costs (i.e. daycare), please see unique circumstances.

What types of financial aid will be offered?

Once you have applied for aid, we will review your application and offer you an aid award based on what you qualify for. There are many different types of aid, see below for more information about what you could be offered.

Grants are a type of financial aid that does not need to be repaid. To qualify you must demonstrate financial need on your aid application. Visit our grants page to learn more about how grants are awarded.

A loan is a form of financial aid that is borrowed and must be repaid with interest. There are different types of loans. To learn more, visit our loans page.

Scholarships are gift aid and do not have to be repaid. These awards are based on different factors including merit, financial need, and other factors. To learn more about scholarships, visit our scholarships page.

Student employment is an opportunity for students to work part time and earn wages to help pay for living expenses. Wages earned are paid directly to students biweekly via direct deposit.

Work study may be included in a student’s financial aid award and is a type of student employment. To learn more about student employment and work study, visit our student employment page.

How do I view/accept my financial aid?

We will send you an email notification once you’ve been awarded financial aid. To view your awards or accept offered aid, login to your RAMweb account. You will then need to select the financial aid option from the homepage menu and click on to the Awards and Requirements link. Determine the appropriate aid year and then you will be able to review your eligibility for aid, requirements, and financial aid awards.