Refund and Waiver Policies

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For enrollment-related fees, Colorado State University offers waivers and deferrals.

Application fee waivers

Colorado State University offers undergraduate application fee waivers for the following:

  • All Colorado students. You are considered a Colorado student if you have attended a Colorado high school or college/university or you currently live in Colorado.
  • U.S. military active duty, veterans, and reserve or National Guard members.
  • Those for whom paying the application fee would present financial hardship.

How you submit your waiver request depends on the type of applicant you are. Freshman applicants can request a waiver within the application for admission. Transfer applicants can request a waiver after submitting their application for admission.

Application fee refunds

The $50 application fee is not refundable if an applicant is denied, withdraws their application, or changes their mind about attending CSU. The application fee can not be applied to tuition and fees if the student enrolls.

Applicants who inadvertently pay the application fee more than once or who pay and then are approved for an application fee waiver will be refunded accordingly. This includes Colorado students eligible to apply for free. No refund request is necessary. Refunds typically are processed to the original form of payment within 7-10 business days after submission but may take longer depending upon volume and time of year.

Enrollment deposit deferrals

Deferrals

All freshmen and transfers admitted to on-campus programs are required to submit a $300 enrollment deposit. The deposit opens access to the housing application and orientation sign-up. If paying the enrollment deposit presents a financial hardship, students can request an enrollment deposit deferral.

A deferral 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’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.

You can request an enrollment deposit deferral through RAMweb.

Refunds

Refunds are not available for enrollment deposits. If you update your starting term at CSU, your enrollment deposit may be applied to the new term.

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.