Guide to Your 202425
Financial Aid
Estimate
Sample Estimated Aid Oer
Congratulations on your admission to the University of Denver! Please use this guide as
a reference when reading through the estimated nancial aid oer you received from DU.
Review the sample letter on the opposite page and the descriptions below to learn what each
section of your estimate means. (Note: Your oer will likely look dierent than the sample; it
may not include all of the types of aid listed or may include other aid not shown here.)
1
HOW YOUR ESTIMATE IS DETERMINED
Your nancial aid eligibility is based on a combination of factors,
including your academic prole, household size, and the income
and asset information listed on your CSS Prole. This section of
your aid oer shows your housing plans (on campus, o campus,
or with parent). Since this can aect your aid eligibility, be sure to
contact us if it’s not correct.
2
DIRECT COSTS
This section shows an estimate of the costs that will appear
on your University bill.
Tuition: This is the cost if enrolled in 12-18 credits
each quarter (which is considered full time).
Fees: This number includes the technology fee, health fee,
and the student activity fee (which covers the cost of a
Denver-area bus and rail pass).
Housing: This is the average cost of on-campus housing.
Food: This is the cost of the 175 Block Meal Plan, which oers
approximately 17 meals per week on campus. Visit
du.edu/housing for more information on meal plan options.
3
INDIRECT COSTS
These are estimated costs associated with attending DU
(such as books and personal expenses), but they will not
appear on your University bill.
4
GRANT, SCHOLARSHIP AND WAIVER ELIGIBILITY
This section lists all of the “gift aid” you’re eligible to receive at
DU, which you do not have to repay. Grants and scholarships
can be merit-based (determined by your academic prole) or
need-based (determined by your nancial aid application).
The Estimated Need-Based Grant amount is a combined total
of the federal, state, and institutional need-based aid you may
be eligible to receive. Once you submit the FAFSA, your nal
nancial aid oer will itemize this amount with individual grants.
5
STUDENT LOAN ELIGIBILITY
This section lists the federal student loan(s) you are eligible to
borrow during the 2024-25 academic year. These funds must be
repaid after you graduate if you choose to accept them. Your nal
nancial aid oer will list specic subsidized and/or unsubsidized
loan amounts here.
Subsidized loans are oered to students who demonstrate
nancial need (as determined by the FAFSA). The federal
government pays the interest on this loan while you’re taking
classes, which means that until you’re no longer enrolled,
they’re interest-free.
Unsubsidized loans are available to all students, regardless
of nancial need. Interest begins accruing on these loans
immediately after they’re disbursed (sent to DU).
Find more information about Federal Direct loans
on page 8 of this booklet.
6
ESTIMATED NET PRICE
This section estimates your net price (total cost of attendance
minus nancial aid) for the 2024-2025 academic year. Because
the net price calculation includes indirect costs that are not billed
by DU, this is not an estimate of the bill you’ll receive.
Estimated Net Price Without Loans: This is an estimate of
your net price after your grants and scholarships have been
applied.
Estimated Net Price With Loans: This is an estimate of your
net price after your grants and scholarships have been applied
if you also choose to borrow the full amount of students loans
oered to you.
Find more information about estimating your costs
on page 6 of this booklet.
7
ESTIMATED WORKSTUDY
Some students will see work-study listed on their nancial aid
estimate. This is a program that provides part-time employment
opportunities on campus (or with an approved o-campus
employer). You can earn up to the amount listed on your estimate
over the course of the 2024-25 academic year. Earnings are
not applied directly to your tuition bill; instead, you will receive a
paycheck every two weeks for hours worked to use for personal
expenses, books, etc.
2
University Hall 255 | 2197 S. University Blvd. | Denver, CO 80208 | 303-871-4020 | Fax 303-871-2341 | www.du.edu/financialaid
2024-2025 Estimated Financial Aid Offer
Max Goldman, 871234567
December 1, 2023
Dear Max,
We are pleased to provide you with this statement of your estimated financial aid for the 2024-25 academic year. The costs and financial
aid in this letter assume you will live on campus and be enrolled in 12–18 credits per term (which is considered full time). If this is not
correct, please contact our office.
Estimated Costs for the 2024-2025 Academic Year: Your estimated total cost of attendance is $82,634.
Financial Aid Offered for the 2024-2025 Academic Year:
Fall 2024
Winter 2025
Spring 2025
Summer 2025
Total
Grant, Scholarship and Waiver Eligibility:
University Scholarship
Residence Hall Grant
Estimated Need-Based Grant
$9,000
1,000
8,000
$9,000
1,000
8,000
$9,000
1,000
8,000
$27,000
3,000
24,000
Total Grants, Scholarships and Waivers:
$18,000
$18,000
$18,000
$54,000
Student Loan Eligibility:
Estimated Federal Student Loan
$1,833
$1,833
$1,834
$5,500
Total Loan Options:
$1,833
$1,833
$1,834
$5,500
Total All Aid:
$19,833
$19,833
$19,834
$59,500
Estimated Net Price (total cost of attendance minus financial aid) for the 2024-2025 Academic Year:
Estimated Net Price Without Loans ($82,634 minus $54,000):
$28,634
Estimated Net Price With Loans ($82,634 minus $59,500):
$23,134
Please note that the Net Price calculation includes indirect costs that are not billed by DU. Find estimated billing worksheets and
options to help manage your out-of-pocket costs on our website at www.du.edu/financialaid.
Estimated Work-Study: $2,500
Your financial aid estimate includes work-study, which is a type of need-based aid that allows you to earn money through part-time
employment. This is the maximum you can earn for the 2024-2025 academic year. Work-study earnings are paid directly to you every
two weeks for hours worked (not applied to your tuition bill). Learn more at www.du.edu/studentemployment.
Questions? We have much more information to help you understand this financial aid offer online at www.du.edu/financialaid. We are
committed to helping you fund your DU education; please contact us with further questions.
Sincerely,
John Gudvangen, Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment and Director of Financial Aid
Direct Costs (estimated charges billed by DU):
Tuition
Fees
Housing
Food
Total Direct Costs:
$60,084
1,350
10,928
6,831
$79,193
Estimated Indirect Costs (not billed by DU):
Books
Personal Expenses
Transportation Expenses
Average Loan Fees
Total Indirect Costs:
$1,000
1,746
627
68
$3,441
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Understanding Your Financial Aid Estimate
3
Terms & Conditions
These are the most common types of nancial aid oered to University of Denver
students. Your nancial aid estimate from DU may not include all of the items listed
below, or may include aid not described here. All types of nancial aid require students to
remain in good academic standing throughout their time at DU.
TYPE OF AID
WILL I HAVE IT FOR 4
YEARS?
MUST I REAPPLY FOR
FINANCIAL AID EVERY YEAR
TO RECEIVE IT?
WILL THE AMOUNT
BE THE SAME
EVERY YEAR?
ARE THERE OTHER
REQUIREMENTS TO
RECEIVE IT?
Merit Scholarship Yes No Yes Full-time enrollment
and maintain good
academic standing
Residence Hall Grant No, only the years you
live on campus
No Yes (for the years you
live on campus)
Full-time
enrollment and live on
campus (grant pays
toward tuition)
Estimated Need-Based
Grant
Yes, as long as the data
on your nancial aid
application is similar
each year
Yes. The CSS Prole
and/or FAFSA are
required.
No. The amount you
receive each year
depends on the
data from your aid
application.
Full-time enrollment
Work-Study Yes, as long as the data
on your nancial aid
application is similar
each year
Yes. The FAFSA is
required.
The amount increases
after your rst year.
Remain enrolled at least
half time.
Federal Direct Student
Loans
Yes Yes. The FAFSA is
required.
Amount oered will
increase in future years
(see page 8).
Remain enrolled at least
half time.
YOUR FINAL FINANCIAL AID OFFER
Remember that your nancial aid estimate is just that—an estimate of your DU nancial aid eligibility. To receive a nal
aid oer, you must submit the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (expected to be available in late December 2023)
and any other requested documents. We’ll begin sending nal nancial aid oers in March 2024 to students who have completed the
application process.
Learn more about the next steps you need to take and
when to expect your nal nancial aid oer at du.edu/
nancialaid/apply.
4
As you compare nancial aid oers from each school,
keep these things in mind...
FOCUS ON OUTOFPOCKET COST,
NOT TOTAL AID OR STICKER PRICE.
A school that has oered you a larger grant or scholarship
may be a more expensive choice if they also have a higher
sticker price. On the other hand, a school with a high sticker
price may be the most aordable after all grants and
scholarships are applied.
LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE TYPES OF AID OFFERED.
Some colleges include a Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan in
their nancial aid oer, which can make the out-of-pocket cost
seem very low (or even $0). While qualied parent borrowers
may get this credit-based loan, it’s not guaranteed nancing
and should not be used when determining what you will
pay to attend.
PLAN FOR ALL FOUR YEARS.
As you compare aid oers, be sure to plan for all four years
of your education. Your out-of-pocket cost for the 2024-2025
school year will likely be similar over the next three years as well.
DOES DU MATCH FINANCIAL AID OFFERS
FROM OTHER SCHOOLS?
Your oer from DU includes the maximum amount of nancial
aid we’re able to provide. We do not negotiate aid oers.
MY FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION DOES NOT FULLY
CAPTURE MY FAMILY’S FINANCIAL SITUATION.
IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?
If you and/or your family have experienced an unexpected
change to your nancial situation since you led your 2022
tax return, and that information is not reected on your FAFSA
and/or CSS Prole application, you may be eligible to submit a
special circumstances form (also known as an “appeal”)
after
you’ve received your nal nancial aid oer
. Examples that
may constitute a special circumstance include loss or reduction
of employment or wages, bankruptcy, foreclosure or loss of child
support. For more information, please contact our oce or go to
du.edu/nancialaid/appeal.
WILL I RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF NEEDBASED
FINANCIAL AID EVERY YEAR I’M AT DU?
If the information on future nancial aid applications remains
similar to your 2024-2025 application, DU will make every eort
to provide you with a comparable nancial aid oer each year,
provided you apply for aid on time and there are no signicant
changes in available federal and state funding. Your merit
scholarship will remain the same each year.
I NEED MORE FINANCIAL AID TO ATTEND THE
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Our oce will help in every way possible, but only you and your
family can decide if it’s nancially feasible for you to enroll. We
encourage you to use scholarship search services and apply
for as many private scholarships as you can. Credit-based loan
programs and payment plans are also available. Learn more
about these options on page 7.
Things to Consider and Frequently Asked Questions
5
LINE ITEM ON BILL AMOUNT
Tuition $60,084
Fees $1,350
Housing $10,371
Meal Plan $6,831
Total Bill: $78,636
FINANCIAL AID AMOUNT
Merit Scholarship $
Residence Hall Grant $
Estimated Need-Based Grants $
Other Grants & Scholarships $
Student Loans $
Other Aid $
Total Financial Aid: $
Total Bill
-Total Financial Aid
=Estimated Cost
$
Out-of-Pocket Cost
Sample Worksheet
Use this short worksheet to estimate what your University of Denver bill might look like
for the 2024-2025 academic year (excluding the summer term) after your nancial aid
is applied. (Note: You may not have been oered every type of aid listed below.)
Find additional resources to help you calculate cost—including an
estimated billing worksheet and a nancial aid oer comparison
worksheet—on our website at du.edu/nancialaid/aidoer.
FIRSTYEAR HOUSING OPTIONS
The cost shown here is for a double room in Johnson-
McFarlane Hall, Centennial Halls and Dimond Family
Residential Village.
MEAL PLAN OPTIONS
The cost shown here is for the 175 Block Meal Plan,
which oers approximately 17 meals per week on
campus. Other plans are available.
Learn more about housing and meal plan options at
du.edu/housing.
STUDENT LOANS
Most rst-year students are oered $5,500 in federal
student loan funding as a part of their nancial aid
oer. Remember, any amount you borrow in student
loans will have to be repaid after you graduate. You
have the choice to borrow the full amount of all loans
oered to you, only borrow a partial amount or not
borrow at all.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT INDIRECT COSTS
There are additional expenses associated with
attending college that won’t appear on your University
bill, such as books and supplies. You’ll see a list of
these indirect costs on your nancial aid oer—
don’t forget to factor these in when determining
your college nancing plan.
6
Options To Pay Your
Out-Of-Pocket Cost
You can oset the dierence between your expenses and
your nancial aid with any combination of these options.
OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
Organizations of all types sponsor college scholarships, and
there are many websites that make it easy to nd the ones you
qualify for. Deadlines vary, but the majority have application
due dates between November and July. Apply for as many as
you can! Get started with your search at du.edu/nancialaid/
privatescholarships.
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
Consider earning money through a part-time job. If you have
work-study listed on your nancial aid estimate, you can use
those funds to help pay for things like books and personal
expenses. Weren’t oered work-study? Our Student Employment
Oce can help you nd other part-time jobs on or o campus.
Learn more at du.edu/studentemployment.
PAYMENT PLANS
The University of Denver oers no-interest tuition payment plans.
For a $50 enrollment fee, your amount due each quarter will be
split into two or three payments. More information is available
through the Bursar’s Oce website at du.edu/bursar/payment/
payment-plans.
CREDITBASED LOANS
Many students and families who are seeking additional nancing
will consider a credit-based loan. There are two supplemental
loan options: the Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan (for parents
of dependent students) and a private education loan through
a bank or credit union. Find additional information about these
options on the next few pages.
ARE YOU A COLORADO RESIDENT?
If you graduated from a Colorado high school and have the
Federal Pell Grant listed on your nancial aid oer, you may
also be eligible for the College Opportunity Fund (COF). For the
2023-2024 academic year, this fund provides a stipend of $38.67
per credit hour that pays directly to your tuition bill (the amount
for 2024-2025 will be announced over the summer). Learn more
about eligibility requirements and the steps to apply on our
website at du.edu/nancialaid/cof.
Out-of-Pocket Cost
7
Federal Direct
Student Loan Basics
All students who apply for nancial aid at DU will see at least one federal student loan
in their aid oer. If you need a loan to help cover the cost of college, consider federal
student loans rst. All student loans are borrowed funds that you must repay after you
graduate, but federal student loans usually have lower interest rates and more exible
repayment options than a private loan from a bank or credit union.
I HAVE A SUBSIDIZED AND UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN
ON MY AID OFFER. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Subsidized loans are oered to students who demonstrate
nancial need (as determined by the FAFSA). The U.S.
Department of Education pays the interest on these loans while
you are enrolled, which means that as long as you’re enrolled,
they’re interest-free.
Unsubsidized loans are available to all students, regardless
of nancial need. Interest begins accruing on these loans
immediately after they’re sent to DU to pay toward your bill.
INTEREST RATE: 5.50%
The interest rate is determined annually by Congress and is
xed throughout the life of the loan. This is the rate for loans
borrowed during the 2023-24 academic year (the rate for next
year will be announced in May).
LOAN FEE: 1.057%
The federal government charges a fee to help oset the cost of
processing these loans. This fee is assessed when loan funds
are sent to DU. So, the amount that pays toward your bill will be
slightly smaller than the amount you borrow.
WHEN WILL I BEGIN REPAYMENT, AND HOW MUCH
TIME DO I HAVE TO REPAY MY LOANS?
No payments are required while you’re enrolled at DU. Once
you graduate, you’ll have a six-month grace period before you
must start repayment. You’ll have between 10–25 years to repay
your loan, depending on your total loan debt and the repayment
plan you choose. Plans that base your monthly payment on your
income are available for federal student loans.
HOW MUCH CAN I BORROW?
The amount you can borrow depends on your dependency status
and year in school. There is also a limit to how much of your total
loan eligibility can be in the form of a subsidized loan.
YEAR IN
SCHOOL
MAXIMUM
ANNUAL
TOTAL
MAXIMUM
SUBSIDIZED
Dependent
Students
1st Year $5,500 $3,500
2nd Year $6,500 $4,500
3rd/4th Yr $7,500 $5,500
Independentt
Students
1st Year $9,500 $3,500
2nd Year $10,500 $4,500
3rd/4th Yr $12,500 $5,500
DEPENDENCY STATUS
You are considered an independent student if you are one of the
following. If none of these apply, you are considered a dependent
student.
• at least 24 years old
• married
• a parent
• a graduate student
• a veteran
• a member of the
armed forces
• an orphan, ward of the
court or unhoused
Estimate your future monthly payments
with the Federal Loan Simulator at
studentaid.gov/loan-simulator.
8
DU BY THE NUMBERS
39%
of full-time, rst-year
undergraduate students
borrow federal student loans.
All data reported by the U.S. Department
of Education and CollegeScorecard.ed.gov.
Student Loans & Smart Borrowing
6 Strategies For
Smart Loan Borrowing
1
BUDGET BEFORE YOU BORROW
Calculate what your out-of-pocket cost will be for your rst year
after your grants and scholarships are applied. Multiply that
number by 4 so you have an idea of what you might need in order
to graduate. Find resources to help you calculate this cost at
du.edu/nancialaid/aidoer.
2
EXHAUST ALL OTHER FINANCIAL AID OPTIONS
Apply for outside scholarships and consider part-time
employment to help pay for personal expenses before borrowing
any loans. Find a list of scholarship search sites at
du.edu/nancialaid/privatescholarships.
3
DON’T BORROW MORE THAN YOU
CAN AFFORD TO PAY BACK
Aim to borrow less for your entire education than the expected
starting salary for your eld of study. Find the average annual
salary for a wide variety of careers using the Federal Student
Aid Career Search at studentaid.gov/resources/prepare-for-
college/students/career-search.
4
BORROW FEDERAL LOANS FIRST
Consider private education loans from a bank or credit union
only after you’ve exhausted your federal loan options. Federal
student loans have historically had lower interest rates and more
repayment plans than private loans, as well as forgiveness options
for students who work in public service.
5
MINIMIZE DEBT
Borrow only what you need (not what you can). Don’t treat
loan limits as targets—you can choose to borrow less than the
amounts included in your nancial aid oer. Remember: every
dollar you borrow will have to be paid back after you graduate
(with interest!).
6
LIVE LIKE A STUDENT WHILE YOU’RE IN SCHOOL,
SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE A STUDENT
AFTER YOU GRADUATE
Buy used textbooks. Limit eating out. Take public transportation.
Make a budget—and stick to it.
$21,844
is the median total federal loan
debt at graduation of students
who borrowed.
$232/mo
is the typical monthly loan
payment for borrowers if repaid
over 10 years.
$68,764
is the median annual salary of
former students who received
federal nancial aid.
9
Federal Direct
Parent PLUS Loans
Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans—commonly referred to as PLUS loans or Parent PLUS
loans—are xed-interest, federally guaranteed loans available to credit-worthy parents
of dependent students. Many parents opt to borrow a Parent PLUS loan to help cover the
out-of-pocket cost of their student’s education. This loan is not automatically included in
nancial aid oers at DU (although you may see it on aid oers from other schools).
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO BORROW A PLUS LOAN?
The borrower must be the biological or adoptive parent (or, in
some cases, the stepparent) of a dependent undergraduate
student and must pass a credit check with the U.S. Department of
Education.
WHAT DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
LOOK AT DURING A CREDIT CHECK?
They’re looking to see if the borrower has an adverse credit
history. However, debt-to-income ratio, credit score, employment
status or lack of credit is not taken into account during this credit
check. A borrower is considered to have adverse credit if:
• they have one or more debts with a total combined outstanding
balance greater than $2,085 that are 90 days or more delinquent
as of the date of the credit check, or that have been placed in
collection or charged o during the two years preceding the
date of the credit check; or
• during the ve years preceding the date of the credit report,
they have been subject to a default determination, discharge of
debt in bankruptcy, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien,
wage garnishment, or write o of a federal student aid debt.
INTEREST RATE: 8.05%
The interest rate is determined annually by Congress and is
xed throughout the life of the loan. This is the rate for loans
borrowed during the 2023-2024 academic year (the rate for
next year will be announced in May).
LOAN FEE: 4.228%
The federal government charges a fee to help oset the cost
of processing these loans. This fee is assessed when loan funds
are sent to DU. So, the amount that pays toward the bill will be
slightly smaller than the amount you borrow.
HOW MUCH CAN A PARENT BORROW?
The maximum annual amount is the total cost of attendance
(listed near the top of the nancial aid oer) minus the total of
all other nancial aid received.
HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR A PLUS LOAN?
Over the summer before the start of classes, the parent must
submit an application and complete a Master Promissory Note
online at StudentAid.gov.
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS IF THE BORROWER IS DENIED?
Parents who are denied because of adverse credit may reapply
with a credit-worthy cosigner or contact our oce, as their
student may be eligible for an additional $4,000 in Direct
Unsubsidized loan funding.
Want more information?
Visit the Federal Student Aid website at
studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/
loans/plus/parent.
10
Parent PLUS Loans / Additional Resources
Additional
Resources
You can nd a lot of additional information about nancial aid and the University of Denver
on our website and through the resources listed below, but please feel free to contact us
at 303-871-4020 or [email protected]du if you have any questions. We’re here to help!
FINANCIAL AID & LOAN RESOURCES
Understanding Your DU Financial Aid Oer:
du.edu/nancialaid/aidoer
Federal Student Aid Website:
studentaid.gov
Federal Loan Repayment Plans:
studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans
Federal Loan Repayment Simulator:
studentaid.gov/loan-simulator
Private vs. Federal Loans:
studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/federal-vs-private
DU’s Historical Private Loan Lender List:
du.edu/nancialaid/privateloans
LEARN MORE ABOUT
Next Steps for Admitted Students:
du.edu/undergradadmit
DU Payment Options:
du.edu/bursar/payment
Campus Life:
du.edu/campus-life
Housing & Residential Education:
studentaairs.du.edu/housing
Campus Dining:
dudining.sodexomyway.com
Health and Counseling:
studentaairs.du.edu/health-counseling-
center
Campus Safety:
du.edu/campussafety
Academic Calendar:
du.edu/registrar/calendars-deadlines
11
We’re here
to help.
FINANCIAL AID
303-871-4020
du.edu/nancialaid
UNDERGRADUATE
ADMISSION
303-871-2036
du.edu/admission
BURSAR
BILLING & PAYMENT
303-871-4944
du.edu/bursar
HOUSING & RESIDENTIAL
EDUCATION
303-871-2246
studentaairs.du.edu/
housing
DISCOVERIES
ORIENTATION
studentaairs.du.edu/
orientation
HEALTH & COUNSELING
CENTER & STUDENT
HEALTH INSURANCE
303-871-2205
studentaairs.du.edu/
health-counseling-center
Financial Aid
2197 S. University Blvd
Denver, CO 80280-9401
