We’re committed to providing access to all qualified applicants, regardless of their income and background. As part of that commitment, we offer application fee waivers and enrollment deposit deferrals when payment presents a financial hardship that could otherwise prevent a student from enrolling at CSU. In some cases, students affiliated with key CSU partnership programs may be offered a fee waiver by invitation.
What’s an application fee waiver?
All applicants to degree-seeking programs are required to submit an application fee unless they qualify for a fee waiver. A waiver means that the fee is no longer required to complete an application. There’s no later point in time when the application fee becomes due.
Colorado State University offers undergraduate application fee waivers for the following:
- All Colorado students qualify for Free App EVERY day. You are considered a Colorado student if you have attended a Colorado high school or college/university or you currently live in Colorado. Choose the “Colorado Free App EVERY Day” waiver type in the CSU questions in the Common App.
- U.S. military active duty, veterans, and reserve or National Guard members also are eligible to apply for free. Choose the “Active Duty, Veteran, Reserve” waiver type in the CSU questions in the Common App.
- If paying the application fee presents a financial hardship.
How you submit your waiver request depends on your student type. Find your application guide to learn more.
What’s an enrollment deposit deferral?
All freshmen and transfers admitted to on-campus programs are required to submit an enrollment deposit. A deferral, granted in cases of financial hardship, allows a student to complete orientation and other enrollment steps without paying the deposit right away. Instead, the charges are deferred, or pushed back, to be due with the student’s first semester bill after financial aid has been disbursed. In this way, students don’t pay the deposit out of pocket.
You can request an enrollment deposit deferral through RAMweb when you tell us your plans. You’ll automatically qualify for an enrollment deposit deferral if you’re granted a need-based application fee waiver. Students who are granted a need-based enrollment deposit deferral also automatically qualify for one complimentary guest at orientation and a waiver of the housing deposit for on-campus housing.
What counts as financial hardship?
To qualify for a fee waiver or enrollment deposit deferral, students generally fall into one or more of these federally defined categories:
- Ward of the state
- Live in a foster home or in foster care
- Receive public assistance/public benefits (e.g., Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, etc.)
- Homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- Eligible for or participate in the free or reduced-price lunch program (FRLP)
- Participate in a federally funded TRIO program (i.e., Talent Search, Upward Bound, Educational Opportunity Center)
- Awarded Pell Grant as part of a financial aid package
- Student (if emancipated) or family income meets federally established guidelines for support
- Testing fee was waived for the ACT or SAT
- Students who will have their full cost of attendance covered by a third party, such as international sponsorship or GI Bill benefits
We recognize that students and their families also may experience short-term or unexpected circumstances that create a financial hardship that don’t fit into the categories above. Students in these situations also are encouraged to request a waiver or deferral.
If you have questions about whether your circumstances may qualify you for a fee waiver or deposit deferral, be sure to contact your admissions counselor.
