Student Financial Services
Important: Financial Aid Disbursement Deadlines
Please complete any outstanding requirements for financial aid disbursement by the following dates for each semester:
- December 1st — Fall Semester
- May 1st — Spring Semester
- July 20th — Summer Semester
For the fall and spring semesters, financial aid disbursement occurs on the Wednesday before the first day of full term classes.
Summer financial aid disbursement will occur within the first two weeks of the semester.
Exceptions to these deadlines may be made on a case-by-case basis.
PLEASE NOTE: Having an offer package does not mean it has been disbursed to your account. Please review your student bill to ensure your financial aid has been disbursed. If it has not, check what items you need to submit and complete those outstanding requirements by the published deadlines above.
Financial Aid and Institutional Data
To learn more about CSU Pueblo and the Financial Aid that is offered to students, please visit the IPEDS Data Center .
Financial Aid Timeline
Before the Term
Complete FAFSA, accept/decline aid, resolve verification.
Billing Posted
Review charges and enroll in a plan if needed.
Disbursement Window
Aid begins disbursing at the start of term.
Refunds
Set up direct deposit for fastest delivery.
Financial Aid Checklist: Complete these 8 steps early to avoid delays in disbursement.
Fall/Spring disbursements: Wednesday before full-term classes • Summer: first two weeks.
Fall/Spring disbursements: Wednesday before full-term classes • Summer: first two weeks.
First Steps for Financial Aid
- Create your FSA ID (student & parent if dependent). Create FSA ID
- Complete the FAFSA — list CSU Pueblo code: 001365. Start FAFSA
- Apply for Scholarships — opens Dec 1, due Mar 1. Scholarships
- Check PAWS To-Do & Awards (verification/docs). PAWS Login
- Accept, Reduce, or Decline Student Loans. If borrowing, complete your Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling at studentaid.gov.
Eligibility: You must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours for undergraduate loans, or at least 5 credit hours for graduate loans (including summer semesters). - Set Up Direct Deposit to electronically receive excess aid or work-study earnings. Log into your PAWS account and select Student Billing.
If you do not sign up for direct deposit, refund checks are mailed every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Friday of each month to the address listed on your PAWS account. - Maintain Eligibility — meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and minimum enrollment requirements each term.
Forms & Resources
Financial Aid
Scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions
Why hasn’t my aid disbursed?
Confirm your eligibility, enrollment, and any outstanding requirements. Check for financial holds or missing documentation in your PAWS account.
How do I know if I am eligible for financial aid?
To receive financial aid from federal and state aid programs, you must first complete the FAFSA and meet all of the following criteria:
- Demonstrate financial need, except for some loan programs
- Be admitted as a student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program
- Maintain at least 6 credit hours of enrollment per semester (for most types of aid)
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Have a valid Social Security Number
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Certify that you will use student aid only for educational purposes
- Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant
How is the amount of aid determined?
Financial need is the difference between the Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Student Aid Index (SAI). SAI is determined from information provided on your FAFSA.
For each student, the COA, SAI, and financial need will be different. Financial aid is offered to help students cover their financial need depending on specific qualifications and available funding.
For each student, the COA, SAI, and financial need will be different. Financial aid is offered to help students cover their financial need depending on specific qualifications and available funding.
How to Find My Financial Aid
New students entering the fall semester are awarded beginning in March each year. New students will receive a financial aid award letter once all admissions and financial aid application requirements are completed. The award letter contains instructions on how to acknowledge the award online.
Continuing students will be notified via email that they have been awarded and can view their award through their PAWS account.
Continuing students will be notified via email that they have been awarded and can view their award through their PAWS account.
When will I receive my financial aid?
The following criteria must be satisfied before financial aid will be applied toward a student’s account or disbursed:
- Must be admitted to the University in a degree-seeking program
- Must be enrolled in the minimum number of credit hours for specific aid programs
- Must not be on academic or financial aid suspension
- Must sign and return all requested documents to Financial Aid
- Must acknowledge the award through the PAWS account
- First-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers must complete Entrance Counseling and a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note
Where can I find Spanish-based resources?
Students, parents, and counselors can find information in Spanish about Federal Student Aid, programs, and FAQs through the Federal Student Aid website.
Finaid.org also provides a compiled list of available Spanish-language resources, including scholarship opportunities and tips.
Finaid.org also provides a compiled list of available Spanish-language resources, including scholarship opportunities and tips.
