FAFSA
For students with social security numbers. FAFSA should be completed soon after it becomes available on Oct. 1.
Filling out FAFSA as early as possible can help students get a jump on other financial aid applications such as the Bright Futures grant.
After students apply for FAFSA and receive a PDF copy of their Student Aid Report (SAR) which also includes the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), they should save it in an easily accessible location as they will need this PDF to upload with their Bright Futures application.
CASFA
CASFA is a safe alternative to FAFSA for students without documentation who will graduate from a Colorado high school and have been physically present in Colorado for at least 12 consecutive months prior to enrolling in an institution, making them an ASSET student eligible for in-state tuition.
The ASSET flow chart is below.
Non-U.S. citizens and those that are not permanent residents of the U.S. can use the CASFA to apply for institutional aid. Unlike the FAFSA, students will not receive a SAR report or any correspondence via email. To view the EFC, log into the student portal and click the “View an application” icon (shaped like an eye). This will open a PDF of the completed application. The calculated EFC is visible at the bottom of the application, just above the signature section.
