Only 45% of students in Colorado complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year, and Colorado students leave close to $30 million in federal financial aid unclaimed.
One way faculty and staff members can help students stay enrolled is by encouraging them to complete the FAFSA and Colorado Application for State Financial Aid using Metropolitan State University of Denver’s school code: 001360. This is key to accessing financial aid that can help students pay for college and persist to graduation.
Important deadlines
- Oct. 1: FAFSA and CASFA open for the next academic year. After filing, students should vigilantly watch their email in November for their aid package.
- Students are encouraged to file and complete all their financial-aid requests before summer to ensure that they have aid when they arrive on campus for fall.
- June 1: FAFSA priority deadline for Roadrunner Promise.
- Dec. 1: The MSU Denver Scholarship Application opens.
- March 1: The Scholarship application closes.
- March 1 is also the overall priority date for students to have completed the FAFSA and submitted scholarship applications, admissions application and unofficial transcripts. By completing these actions by the date, students have the best opportunity to receive grants and scholarships.
Frequent issues and how to mitigate them
According to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, the best way to help students is to encourage them to frequently check their email or the Student Hub for missing requirements and provide the office with documentation quickly. If students have questions, the Financial Aid and Scholarships team is prepared to help.
Support services
- The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships offers FAFSA Wednesdays each week, where students can drop by the office to receive filing assistance from the Educational Opportunity Center.
- The Office of Immigrant Services is prepared to help students who do not have lawful immigration status complete the CASFA.
- The University’s Student Care Center, the Roadrunner Food Pantry, the Student Emergency Retention Fund, the Epic Scholars Program and Single Stop, a one-stop shop to help Roadrunners find out whether they qualify for public benefits, are all great resources for students. Find even more here.