Online Financial Aid & Tuition Assistance

A Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID is a user-selected username and password that will authenticate your identity and allow you to access your federal student aid information. This login process will be used to access the StudentAid.gov website. The FSA ID is a single sign-on process that makes applying for aid quick and easy. Remember, your FSA ID is private and should never be shared with anyone.

Individuals required to enter their information on the FAFSA^® form are called “contributors”. Each required contributor needs to have their own FSA ID to log in to StudentAid.gov and complete their section of the FAFSA. Independent student contributors include yourself and your spouse, when applicable. Dependent student contributors include yourself, a parent, and your parent's spouse, when applicable. The contributor section must only be completed by the specified contributor. To complete the application, all contributors must provide consent to link their income and tax information from the IRS to the FAFSA. StudentAid.gov provides a helpful chart to determine whom you would need to include as a contributor.

Students are considered dependent or independent for federal financial aid purposes based on criteria established by Congress, and must provide information from any necessary contributors to determine aid eligibility. Dependent students are required to have their parents as contributors on the FAFSA. Independent students who are married may be required to have their spouse as a contributor on the FAFSA. Check with the financial aid office to determine your dependency status if you are unsure.

Students and any contributors must provide consent to transfer federal tax information to the FAFSA® form to help complete the Financials section, which is needed to fully complete the FAFSA form and calculate your eligibility for Federal Student Aid (FSA) funds. By not consenting on the FAFSA form, you remain ineligible for FSA grants and loans and any other potential student aid since the FAFSA cannot be completed without your or your contributor(s) consent and federal tax information. Consent from yourself and any contributors must be provided annually.

Financial aid may cover all or part of your educational expenses, depending on your eligibility, the types of aid awarded, and your total cost of attendance. Some students may be eligible for enough grants, scholarships*, and loans to cover tuition and fees in full, while others may need to supplement with personal funding or other resources, such as employer tuition reimbursement. Your CTU Financial Aid Advisor can help you review your specific award package and understand what portion of your costs is covered and help you plan for any remaining balance.

CTU encourages students to explore scholarships in addition to completing the FAFSA^®. You can start by reviewing CTU's Grants & Scholarships opportunities, where you'll find institutional awards and eligibility details.

You can also research external scholarship options using a variety of scholarship search websites. Researching and applying can be time-consuming, but your effort may be worth it if you find extra funding. A word of caution: do not use agencies that charge fees to find scholarships. You can do this search on your own and free of charge.

A Federal Direct loan is a federal loan available for those who qualify to help students pay for their education. Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized educational loans have lower interest rates and require no credit check. A private loan is an unsecured loan made by a lender which may have higher interest rates and usually requires a credit check.

A grant* is free money and usually does not have to be repaid. Loans are borrowed money and must always be repaid regardless of whether you complete the program or are unsatisfied with your educational experience. Failure to repay your loans can result in serious consequences and negatively impact your ability to obtain credit in the future.

Determining your dependency status is a key part of the FAFSA^® and affects what contributor information is required. FAFSA dependency rules are set by federal law, and they may be different from how you think of “dependent” in everyday life or for tax purposes. CTU doesn't assign this status; it's determined by your answers on the FAFSA. Students are typically considered independent if they meet certain criteria, such as:

• You are at least 24 years old before January 1 of the current award year
• You are married as of the day you sign your FAFSA
• You're enrolled in a master's or doctoral program
• You have children or other dependents who receive more than half of their support from you
• You are a U.S. veteran
• You are currently serving on active duty (not for training purposes)

If you don't meet any independent criteria, you'll usually be considered dependent and must include parent contributor information on your FAFSA. If you're unsure of your dependency status, a CTU Financial Aid Advisor can walk through your situation with you.

Regardless of how much money you or your parents make, you should still complete the FAFSA^®. Some sources of financial aid are not need-based and are available to those who qualify. You can also review the types of aid available.

Repayment on most Direct Loans will begin six months after the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time. Some loans are subsidized, meaning the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest while the student is enrolled. Interest may accrue on other loans even while the student is enrolled. Check in with the Financial Aid Office at Colorado Technical University; they can help explain the differences between loan types and the types of loans you may be awarded. In all cases, loans must be repaid regardless of whether you complete the program or are satisfied with your educational experience. Failure to repay your loans can result in serious consequences and negatively impact your ability to obtain credit in the future. If at any point in the financial aid process you have questions or need more information, a CTU Financial Aid Advisor can assist. You can also learn about how to manage your federal loan repayment on the Federal Student Aid website.

There is Congressionally determined set of formulas used to assess financial need for Federal Student Aid programs. The process starts with the FAFSA^®. Once your FAFSA form is submitted, a formula called the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculates your financial aid needs and determines your eligibility, based on your completed FAFSA data. Once the SAI is established, the amount will be subtracted from the Cost of Attendance and other financial assistance used in your enrolled program, and determines your need-based financial aid. These calculations vary each award year, based on the information you or your contributions provide on each FAFSA.

Federal Parent PLUS loans are part of the Federal Student Aid Program. Parents who co-sign on a private loan are just as responsible for repaying the loan (usually at higher interest rates) as the student if the student fails to make payments. In other words, whether one is the borrower or co-borrower, both the Federal PLUS loan and the private loan appear on a credit report and the potential financial responsibility is the same.

If the federal financial aid amount you're eligible for doesn't cover the full balance, CTU offers flexible payment options to help you manage remaining costs. You can make monthly or term-based payments through the Student Accounts office. A CTU Student Accounts Specialist can also assist you in setting up a payment plan that fits your budget and timeline.

Colorado Technical University delivers your refund with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. Visit RefundSelection.com for more information or to choose your refund preference.

A Student Accounts Specialist is available to speak with you regarding any account balances with the University. If you have any questions about your student account, you may contact us through the methods listed below. Account information is available at any time in the Student Accounts link on the CTU student portal. If you are having difficulty paying the balance due on your student account, please contact us to discuss options available to you. We aim to find reasonable payment options that work for both the student and the University.

If you contact us in writing, please include your name, student ID number (if known), a phone number and e-mail where you can be contacted, and a description of your request for assistance. We will respond to you as quickly as possible, typically within 24-48 hours of receiving the request.

These accounts do not charge interest or fees and the University does not require a cosigner. You may request a payoff statement for your account at any time by contacting us through a method listed above. Be advised that the payoff amount will be equal to your current account balance listed in the student portal.

CTU collects payment from students who have account balances directly with University. This is different than the government or private lending sources referenced in other FAQs and has rules and policies that are different from those programs. Our Student Accounts Specialists work on behalf of the University and are part of an affiliated company (CEC Employee Group, LLC or CEC Educational Services, LLC).

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Note: In certain instances, your account may be serviced by TFC Tuition (License Number: 1708442) on our behalf. If applicable, you will be contacted by TFC Tuition with their contact information included.