The 2025-26 Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) is open!
The CASFA is the state financial aid application for CASFA is for students who are not eligible for Federal Student Aid, undocumented students or students from mixed immigration status families who don’t feel it is safe to share their parents’ personal information with the federal government. Students who complete a CASFA are applying for state and institutional aid only (NOT Federal Student Aid). The CASFA bridges equity gaps and creates access to postsecondary education for qualifying students. Students who do not have lawful immigration status and who do not meet Colorado ASSET qualifications are still encouraged to apply for institutional aid using the CASFA.
If you work directly with students, please encourage them to complete the 2025-26 CASFA as soon as possible. Applying sooner will encourage financial aid offices to process and award aid with improved timeliness.
The 2025-26 FAFSA is open!
The FAFSA has undergone major transformations to improve and streamline the application processes for millions of learners and their families.
Some of the changes include:
A new Student Aid Index (SAI), which replaces the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Expansion of federal Pell grant eligibility
Automatic population of federal income tax data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
More details about the school’s cost of attendance (COA)
Maintaining Progress
Students and contributors should start their FSA ID creation process four (4) business days prior to completing the FAFSA form or attending any FAFSA completion event. When students and contributors create their FSA ID, the use of their FSA ID will be restricted to completing, signing, and submitting an original (first-time) FAFSA form. They will have to wait one (1) to three (3) days for their information to be confirmed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) before they can use their FSA ID. Once their information is verified, they will receive an email letting them know that their information was successfully matched with the SSA.
Sign up for FAFSA-related training and events. Learn more about the series. View CDHE’s trainings.
The Financial Aid Toolkit provides federal student aid information and outreach tools for counselors, college access professionals, nonprofit mentors, and other advisors.
- Students and Families
Creating an FSA ID (Students and contributors should start their FSA ID creation four days prior to completing the FAFSA form or attending any FAFSA completion event)
Federal Student Aid Estimator Tool
- Professionals
Federal Student Aid - Financial Aid Toolkit for Counselors
2025-26 Better FAFSA Preview Presentation
FAFSA Completion by High School and Public School District
How to Host a FAFSA Completion Event
FAFSA Provisions for Homeless and Foster Youth
Updated Federal FAFSA Guidance for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth – as of July 19, 2024
Quick Guide for Counseling Staff Working with Students Experiencing Homelessness
Higher Education Resources Spotlight with SchoolHouse Connection
Back to School Higher Education Resources
Youth Homelessness and Higher Education: An Overview
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Youth Homelessness