Main Content Area

Financial Aid

Apply for Aid

A student applies for Financial Aid on a computer in the Welcome Center.

To Be Eligible - 

  • Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (for most programs, see if you eligible for CASFA, ASSET, or DACA) with a valid social security number (SSN).
  • Be working toward the completion of a financial aid eligible degree or certificate.
  • Have a high school diploma, a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or complete a high school education in a home school setting approved under state law.
  • Register with the Selective Service, if required.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at the school you are attending.

When To Complete FAFSA

FAFSA due dates for Aims students seeking financial aid.
Semester of Enrollment FAFSA to Complete Using Income From Submitted to Aims By
Spring 2024 2023/2024 2021* 11/1/2023**
Summer 2024 2023/2024 2021* 3/1/2024**
Fall 2024 2024/2025 2022* 6/1/2023**

*Starting with FAFSA year 2017-2018, the U.S. Department of Education has authorized early FAFSA filing (October 1 each year) which will require input of income from two years prior.   **Paperwork submitted by this date gives you the best opportunity for the availability of funds by the first day of classes.

After you Apply for Admission to Aims, follow the financial aid application steps below.

Follow the steps outlined below to create your FSA ID and apply for financial aid.

Step 1: Create your FSA ID

This federal username and password allows you to electronically sign your financial aid application and access other Department of Education websites.

  • If you are required to complete the FAFSA with your parents or contributors information, they must create an FSA ID as well.
  • Important – only the owner of the FSA ID should create and use the account. Never share your FSA ID.
  1. Access the FSA ID webpage at Federal Student Aid. ***
  2. Click on the “Get Started” button.
  3. Enter your social security number, date of birth and name exactly as it appears on your social security card. 
  4. We advise using your regularly accessed email address not your school associated email. (Parents or contributors must use a different email address for their FSA ID). 
  5. Be sure to make a note of your username and password. Click “Show Text” to confirm your password is correct.
  6. Please be sure to verify your mobile phone number for account recovery purposes.  Parents must use a separate mobile phone number.
  7. Make a note of the challenge questions you select.
  8. You should receive an email and text immediately with a verification code.  Be sure to verify both, you will then receive a backup code on your screen.  Be sure to make note of it.
  9. You will receive another email when your FSA ID is approved for use. 

***Additional help can be found at FSA ID - Getting Started; step by step videos are also available.

Step 2: Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid - FAFSA

Aims offers FAFSA/CASFA help sessions each Wednesday & Friday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday's session is held in the Student Commons, Room 240 and Friday's session in Room 228 in the Welcome Center both on the Greeley campus.  

 

When your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is processed, it may be selected for a process called verification by the U.S. Department of Education or Aims. If your application is selected for verification, additional documentation will be requested from you, your parents or both. If selected, the verification process must be completed prior to your financial aid being awarded.

Verification is a process that can take from four to six weeks to complete. The process will begin at the time that ALL requested documentation is received and ALL requested actions are taken.
 

If you receive an email from Workday there will be a link in the email requesting that you complete the required form. Please log into Workday to upload your required documents as this is the only way to authenticate your documents and resolve the requirement. 

Uploading your documents –

1.  Select the Action Item

2.  On the next screen you will see “Complete Action Item”

3.  Select your scanned document from your files or you may drag and drop your document from your computer to the box on this page

4.  Select the Submit button at the bottom of the page

2023-2024 Forms

2023-2024 Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose

 

 

Additional Resources

Instructions for Online Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note
How Financial Aid works 
(can be viewed in English and Spanish)
Federal Student Aid Eligibility Requirements
 

Once your financial aid has been processed, an offer notification will be sent to your Aims email with a link to Workday where you may view then accept or decline your awards.  Be sure to read your award offer thoroughly!  

1. FAFSA Submitted Online by Student

2. FAFSA Received by Aims in 5 to 7 business days

  • Check your myAims account and email for messages to complete any Action Items from the Office of Financial Aid.
  • Submit requested information (if any) to your Workday portal to satisfy your Action Items

3. Application Under Review

  • Continue to check your myAims Workday portal and email for messages and information from the Office of Financial Aid.

4. Aid Awarded

  • An email will be sent to your Aims email instructing you to log onto Workday to see your award offer.

5.  Accepting awards

  • Log into myAims student portal
  • Access Workday from your myAims page
  • Select the Finances App on your Workday landing page
  • Select "Accept/Decline Awards" in the box on the lower right of the screen
  • Select the institution (Aims is your only option) and the award year by selecting the three bars on the right of each box
  • Select "OK"
  • Select the three bars on the right of the "Decision" box for each semester (fall and spring) and make the choice to either Accept or Decline your award
  • Select "OK" at the bottom of the screen

If borrowing a federal student loan:

6. Aid Disbursed (Paid)

  • Check your myAims account and email for messages and information from the Cashier's Office and the Office of Financial Aid. 
  • Financial aid is disbursed (paid) to your Aims tuition account and excess funds are made available (refunded) to you within two to seven business days of the date of disbursement. Refunds are not available prior to the start of the semester.

7.  Special or Unusual Circumstances -

If your household has encountered any of the following circumstances causing a change to the information included on your FAFSA, please contact our office to inquire about a Professional Judgement.

  • Changes to family income, assets, etc.
  • Recent unemployment
  • Dislocated worker
  • Housing change due to homelessness
  • Human trafficking
  • Refugee or asylee status
  • Parental abandonment, incarceration, etc.
  • Unable to contact parents
  • Contact with parents poses risk

Check your myAims Workday portal and your email for instructions to view your awards and award letter

  • Log into myAims student portal
  • Access Workday from your myAims page
  • Select the Finances App on your Workday landing page
  • Select "Accept/Decline Awards" in the box on the lower right of the screen
  • Select the institution (Aims is your only option) and the award year by selecting the three bars on the right of each box
  • Select "OK"
  • Select the three bars on the right of the "Decision" box for each semester (fall and spring) and make the choice to either Accept or Decline your award
  • Select "OK" at the bottom of the screen

After you submit your accept/decline decision, be sure to check to see if you have any Workday Action Items that will keep your financial aid from being paid to your Aims Student Account.

Potential Unsatisfied Requirements

  • Your financial aid satisfactory academic progress 
  • Holds on your account

If your financial aid award(s) does not cover all tuition and other costs, you will owe the balance. Find out more on the Cashier’s Office Payment page.

Learn more about Aims General Financial Aid Requirements for students. 
 

CASFA

casfa
Colorado Application for State Financial Aid

In 2022, the General Assembly passed HB22-1155, In-state Tuition Classification for Colorado High School Graduates, which allows state aid to be awarded to students who do not have lawful immigration status. Student must have resided in the state for at least one year before the date they graduated from a Colorado high school or passed a high school equivalency exam in Colorado, and have been physically present in Colorado for at least 12 months prior to enrolling at the college.

The Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) is the application by which students who meet the qualifications can apply for this aid. Students who are eligible for Federal Title IV aid by completing the FAFSA should not complete the CAFSA. 

What is the difference between Asset and DACA?

asset_daca

Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow, or the Colorado ASSET law, allows eligible students of undocumented status to pay in-state tuition at Colorado public colleges.

What is the Colorado ASSET bill?

Senate Bill 13-033, also known as the Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) bill, allows U.S citizens, permanent residents, and students without lawful status to receive in-state tuition through attendance and graduation from a Colorado high school or through attendance at a Colorado high school combined with obtaining the GED. You must meet these requirements to be eligible:

  • Enrolled for at least one year at a public/private Colorado high school immediately preceding graduation or earning a GED.
  • If you graduated from high school or completed a GED before September 1, 2013, but did not get accepted into a Colorado institution of higher education within 12 months, you must provide proof of being physically present in Colorado on a continuous basis for at least 18 months prior to the start of the semester.