Paying for CCU's College of Undergraduate Studies

There are generally three types of financial aid available to students in CCU's College of Undergraduate Studies:

• Scholarships and Educational Grants — Aid that does not have to be repaid; awarded based on academic and other achievements as well as financial need.

• Education Loans — Aid that must be repaid.

• Student Employment Program — CCU-provided job opportunities to help students pay for their education while gaining valuable job skills.

Qualifying for Federal Financial Aid

To receive any federal aid, whether a grant or a loan, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on an annual basis. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible to maximize the possibility of receiving certain grants and loans that have limited funding. You may submit the FAFSA as early as October 1 for the next fall. Students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA via the Internet at studentaid.gov, and use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing the FAFSA. An undergraduate student must provide proof of high school or GED completion before financial aid can be disbursed.

Some students will be selected by the government for a process known as verification. If this happens, the student will need to supply the University with a completed verification worksheet and other information as requested. Families are encouraged to file their federal tax forms early because awarding will not be done until the verification process is complete.

Most, but not all, federal aid is based on need. A student's financial need is determined by federal methodology using information supplied on the FAFSA. Students who do not qualify for need-based aid may qualify for federal non-need-based loans. The FAFSA form takes into account family size, family income, assets, and the number of family members attending college. Exceptional circumstances should be addressed to the Service Central office. All students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid.

Students may request an electronic refund of the credit balance in their CCU account created by the disbursement of financial aid.  To request an electronic refund, students must do so by logging into their Self-Service account and creating an electronic funds transfer into their individual bank account.

Financial aid will not be disbursed in time to purchase books for any semester, and alternative plans for necessary purchases should be arranged. To help facilitate obtaining textbooks in a timely manner, CCU has made arrangements with the CCU Bookstore to allow students to charge the purchase of educationally related items against their CCU student account. Students can also make purchases using cash, check, or credit card at the campus bookstore. Note that textbook rentals require a credit card in the event of non‐return of the rental.

Federal Financial Aid

Colorado Christian University administers the following federal aid programs: the Federal Pell Grant program, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program,  the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH Grant), the Federal Work-Study program, the Federal Perkins Loan program, the Federal Stafford Loan program (both subsidized and unsubsidized), and the Federal Plus Loan program. General information about these programs is available through the Service Central office or the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

College Opportunity Fund

Students at Colorado Christian University may be eligible to receive Colorado's College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipends to offset their cost of attendance. COF stipends are paid to eligible undergraduate students by the State of Colorado when they attend a participating institution of higher education. The stipend is a per credit hour dollar amount that is determined by the Colorado State Legislature, and is subject to annual state funding availability.

Eligible students who attend a private Colorado college or university must meet the following criteria:

• Be a documented Colorado resident

• Be a graduate of a Colorado high school OR

• Successfully complete a non-public home-based educational program in Colorado

• Demonstrate financial need as determined by federal Pell Grant eligibility

• Authorize CCU to receive the COF stipend

Colorado Student Grants

CCU undergraduate students who are residents of Colorado with high financial need may qualify for Colorado Student Grants. Students must file a FAFSA to qualify for Colorado state financial aid funding.  

Veteran's Benefits

CCU is approved for federal veteran's education benefits to qualified students. Applicants for these benefits may secure forms from the Veteran's Benefits Office. CCU will not impose any penalty, or require any borrowed funds, because of a student's inability to meet a financial obligation to CCU because of a delayed VA disbursement. CCU may require additional payments or financial arrangements for amounts that are the difference between the student account charges and the VA benefit disbursement. See our website for additional information on CCU's Veteran's Benefits.

Institutional Financial Aid

The University funds a variety of grants and scholarships for qualifying students. Awards are available for, but not limited to, the following:

• Students who have academically excelled

• Students participating in music ensembles and/or orchestra.

• Students participating in intercollegiate athletics

• Students who have shown leadership abilities

• Students exhibiting higher than average financial need

To qualify for institutional aid, a student must meet the following requirements:

• Be enrolled full-time in the College of Undergraduate Studies

• Not be receiving tuition waivers as employees or dependents of employees

For detailed information regarding CCU's institutional grants and scholarships, contact the CUS Financial Aid office or the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. To maintain financial aid eligibility, students must be enrolled in coursework that satisfies the degree requirements for an eligible program of study.  

Maintaining Eligibility for Financial Aid

To remain eligible for financial aid, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. For financial aid purposes, the University has established the following standards for satisfactory academic progress. Questions about satisfactory academic progress should be referred to the Service Central office.

• A student must be enrolled as a regular student seeking a degree or diploma and registered in coursework that satisfies the degree requirements for an eligible program of study.

• An undergraduate student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. A graduate student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students failing to maintain the minimum cumulative GPA requirements will be put on financial aid warning and must bring their average up to the required standard in the next semester. Failure to do so will make the student ineligible to receive financial aid until the standard is met or the student successfully appeals, which will result in a probationary status.

• Students must successfully complete at least two-thirds of the courses they attempt. Courses with grades of W, FW, F, FX, or I will remain in the financial aid credit calculation and are not considered to have been successfully completed but are taken into account in calculating the completion rate. Students failing to successfully complete two-thirds of the courses they attempt will be put on financial aid warning. At the end of the warning semester, they must have successfully completed two-thirds of all courses attempted or they will become ineligible to receive financial aid. The ineligibility will continue until they meet the standard or successfully appeal, which will result in a probationary status.

• Students will no longer be eligible to receive federal, state, and/or institutional financial aid once they have attempted 150% of the number of credits needed to complete their degree, as stated in the CCU Academic catalog.  All terms in which a student is enrolled count toward the maximum time frame, even if the student withdraws from the school.  Terms of enrollment in which no aid is received will count toward the maximum time frame. Transfer credits will also be included in this calculation.

• Students who are on financial aid probation have one semester to come into compliance with both the quantitative (completion rate) and qualitative (cumulative GPA) components of the satisfactory academic progress policy. Those who do not will be ineligible to receive financial aid.

• A student is allowed to repeat a passed course one time and still be eligible to receive financial aid for the repeated course. If a student repeats a passed course a second time, financial aid cannot be used to pay for the course. The student's financial aid will be adjusted to reflect a lower number of credits that are eligible. Students will need to pay for the repeated course from their own resources.

• Students may repeat a failed course until it is passed and be eligible for financial aid. Once a student has completed any course with a passing grade, the student is eligible for only one additional retake of the course, regardless if the repeat of the passed course results in a failing grade. Students may not repeat a failed course in the same semester and be eligible for financial aid for both courses.

Because real progress in an academic program is of greatest concern, students are evaluated for eligibility every fall and spring semester, whether or not financial aid has been received. Students who become ineligible may appeal the decision with the Financial Aid Committee. The ruling of that committee is final.

Undergraduate students are required to take a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester in order to qualify for federal financial aid, except for provisions in the Federal Pell Grant Program that will allow less than half-time students to receive a Pell Grant. However, once students have received their first undergraduate baccalaureate degree, they no longer qualify to receive a Federal Pell Grant.

Undergraduate students are required to take a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester in order to qualify for institutional grants and scholarships. Full-time status is 12 hours or more, three-quarter time status is 9-11 hours, and half-time status is 6-8 hours.

How to Apply for Federal, State, and Institutional Aid

• Apply for admission. Entering students cannot be candidates for financial aid until they have been admitted.

• Complete and submit the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA forms via the Internet at studentaid.gov. Students and their parents are encouraged to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing the FAFSA.

• Students may receive requests for additional information or documentation. To help expedite the application, students should promptly submit the requested information.

• An undergraduate student must provide proof of high school or GED completion before financial aid can be disbursed.

Applications for financial aid should be submitted by April 1 for priority awarding. Applications completed after April 1 are considered only if funds are still available. Students are notified as awards are made.