Financing Your Education

How to pay for college is a concern for most students. There are, however, many resources available to students at the University of Colorado that can assist you in creating a budget for college and in finding ways to meet your expenses. We hope the information below will help alleviate some of the stress regarding financing your college education.

Cost of Attendance
One of the most important things is knowing up front what your education is going to cost. View our estimated expenses page to get a better idea what expenses, including engineering course fees, are involved in being a student at CU.

College Opportunity Fund
Beginning in fall 2005, all in-state, undergraduate students should sign up for the College Opportunity Fund voucher program. Tuition vouchers are not dependent upon financial need, but rather represent a change in the way the state of Colorado allocates money for higher education. Click here for more information about the voucher program, and sign up before the fall semester gets under way to be sure your voucher is reflected on your bill.

Loans, Grants and Other Assistance
More than half of CU-Boulder students receive some form of financial aid, usually through a combination of loans, scholarships, work-study and grants from institutional, private, state and federal sources.

To apply for financial aid, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applications are available from the Office of Financial Aid, located in Regent Administrative Center, Room 175, or on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For more information, visit the Office of Financial Aid.

Engineering Scholarships
The College of Engineering and Applied Science offers a variety of scholarships to undergraduate students enrolled in the College. Scholarships fall within the following general areas: merit scholarships, scholarships for specific categories of students, scholarships for students majoring in specific disciplines, and scholarships for students meeting other criteria designated by the scholarship donor.

For more information visit the Engineering Undergraduate Scholarships page or call the College scholarship coordinator at 303-735-2440.

Other Scholarship Resources
There are also many scholarships available through the Office of Financial Aid. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's Scholarship page for further information about scholarships offered through the University of Colorado and private organizations. You can also view the CU-Boulder Scholarship Guide, which is published annually.

Jobs and Internships
Students can also help finance their education through part time jobs during college. The office of Student Employment compiles lists of available jobs both on and off campus that students can apply for. Work study jobs are available to those students awarded federal work study by the Office of Financial Aid and hourly jobs are available to all students regardless of financial need. You can visit the Student Employment website to get more information and view jobs that are currently available.

Internships are another great way to enhance, and possibly finance, some of your education. Visit Career Services for more information about internships opportunities and services available to CU-Boulder students.

Tax Credits for Education
Some tax credits are available to parents and college students. Visit the Bursar's Office website to get more information about these benefits.

Veteran's Services
Please see the Veteran's Services Office for more information on financial aid available to U.S. Armed Forces veterans and dependents.