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The 2025-26 application for financial aid is now open. Families should complete the to receive an aid offer for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. The , which allows undocumented Colorado students to apply for aid, is now open as well. The FAFSA would typically open on Oct. 1. This year, the launch of the application was delayed for the 2025-26 school year.

The Office of Financial Aid will email you when we get your FAFSA starting in late December. While the application is open, CU Boulder expects delays as information is sent to schools. 

Timeline for Fall 2025 & Spring 2026 Financial Aid

• Nov. 1: CU Boulder Scholarship Application open
• Nov. 21: FAFSA open
• Late Dec.: CU Boulder begins receiving financial aid applications. Â鶹ÒùÔº will be emailed & their status in the student portal will be updated. 
  CASFA opens (for undocumented students only)
• March 15: Recommended date to apply for some scholarships that require financial need

Why the delay 

The Department of Education announced that it's continuing it's work to improve the FAFSA experience. That included taking more time to test the application this fall before the application launched in late November. 

"In close collaboration with partners, Federal Student Aid (FSA) is confident we will deliver not only a better product but also a smoother process than last year," said  FAFSA Executive Advisor Jeremy Singer. "One that makes higher education more accessible and within reach for more Americans."

The FAFSA was also delayed for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 school year while the department simplified the application for students. 

Next steps 

   Stay in the loop: The Office of Financial Aid will begin emailing CU Boulder students when the application opens. The Office of Financial Aid will continue to update this article as we learn more from the federal government about the delay. 

 &²Ô²ú²õ±è;​&²Ô²ú²õ±è;Be proactive: Â鶹ÒùÔº and families should , which is needed to apply for financial aid. If you already have an FSA ID and have trouble logging in, review . 

 &²Ô²ú²õ±è;​&²Ô²ú²õ±è;Possible impacts: Because CU Boulder relies on information from the FAFSA to develop financial aid offers, it's possible the delay could impact when the university can send aid offers to students. If this happens, the Office of Financial Aid will email students and update this article. Keep in mind, the FAFSA delay will not impact the amount or types of financial aid students are eligible for. 

 &²Ô²ú²õ±è;​&²Ô²ú²õ±è;Estimate your aid: Â鶹ÒùÔº and families have access to the , which gives you an idea of how much aid you may be eligible for. 

This is a developing story. We’ll continue to update this article as new information becomes available.