Colorado State University will extend its enrollment deadline for incoming first-year students from May 1 to June 1. 

The extension, announced today, comes after the U.S. Department of Education announced that colleges and universities will not receive 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data from applicants until the first half of March.  

Ultimately, this means there will be a delay in delivering financial aid awards to prospective students and a shorter window for them to make decisions about where they will choose to attend college.   

“As a land-grant institution, we remain committed to our mission of access and inclusion,” said CSU Executive Director of Admissions Heather Daniels. “Those core values guide CSU and our belief in the transformational power of education. We are dedicated to supporting our future Rams through this time. For many students, knowing exactly what financial aid they will be receiving is a major consideration in the decision-making process. We have extended this date to offer families as much time as possible to make their decision.”

For students who are ready to make the decision to enroll at CSU, submitting their enrollment deposit and beginning the next steps for housing and orientation are important. For students and families who are waiting on financial aid packaging, the CSU Office of Financial Aid is ready and will begin processing student financial aid offers as soon as it receives the necessary information from the U.S. Department of Education.   

The CSU Office of Financial Aid can assist in working with federal, state and university resources to help students manage their finances and meet their educational goals. Funding strategies may include outside scholarships, federal or private loans, on-campus work opportunities or a flexible payment plan.

Colorado resident students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant qualify for both the state’s need-based aid program, Colorado Student Grant and CSU’s Tuition Assistance Grant. The combination of these grant programs covers not only tuition and fees but also a portion of housing and food. CSU still covers the cost of tuition for residents who are just outside of Pell Grant eligibility. 

CSU uses the FAFSA and CASFA (for undocumented students) to determine eligibility, and continuing students are encouraged to renew their 2024-25 FAFSA as soon as possible.  Typically, continuing students receive their financial aid notifications after fall registration opens around late May, and the university anticipates that timeframe to hold true for this year. 

For more information on Financial Aid and changes to the 2024-25 FAFSA, please visit the Office of Financial Aid website.