Scholarships & Funding
In addition to scholarships that CU Denver offers some students, the College of Architecture and Planning manages many scholarships that are available exclusively to our students.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, academic achievement, financial need, or a combination of the three. Financial need is rarely the primary factor considered, but it is often used to make a decision among equally qualified finalists. The criteria of each scholarship depend on the values or goals of the group offering the scholarship, however, you must meet all criteria in order to be eligible.
Important to note - you don't have to be admitted to the College in order to apply for financial aid or scholarships. But you must be admitted at the time scholarship decisions are made to be considered.
The Office of Financial Aid offers more than $70 million in financial assistance to qualified students on the CU Denver Campus each year (divided among 12,000+ students). In addition to the Office of Financial Aid and the competitive CU Denver tuition rates, the College of Architecture and Planning offers its own students a list of awards and scholarship.
HELPFUL FINANCIAL AID HINTS:
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you proceed with the financial aid process:
Apply Early - the earlier you complete and submit your financial aid forms, the sooner you will receive your award.
Read Instructions Carefully - completing the FAFSA incorrectly will delay your financial aid process.
Follow Up - make it a point to check in with CU Denver's Office of Financial Aid periodically to check the status of your application.
Respond Quickly - if you are contacted by the Federal Processor or by CU Denver requesting additional information, a delay in your response may jeopardize your eligibility and award amount.
Keep Good Records - create a file exclusively for all of your financial aid forms and correspondence, and photocopy all of your completed application materials before you submit them. Write your name and student number on all documents. Note that all application materials are kept confidential. We recommend that you make and keep copies of all financial aid documents.
Do you live in a Western state? You may qualify for a reduced tuition rate.
The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) helps higher education systems in the western United States share
resources with each other, including tuition reciprocity.
Participating WICHE states and territories are:
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado*
CNMI/Guam
Hawai'i
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oregon
South Dakota
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
*If you are a resident of Colorado and are applying to a CU Denver program, you will not apply as a WICHE student. Apply as an in state resident.
WICHE-WUE for undergraduate students
If you are a resident of a WICHE state or territory, you are eligible to request a reduced tuition rate of 150% of resident tuition. You can find out more about how this program works at CU Denver through
Undergraduate Admissions.
WICHE-WRGP for graduate students
If you live in a WICHE state or territory, you can apply to any CAP graduate program as
a WICHE-WRGP applicant and, if you are accepted, pay Colorado in-state resident tuition.
When applying to a College of Architecture and Planning program, indicate you are a WICHE applicant, answer the residency questions and provide a
copy of your driver’s license that demonstrates you currently reside in a WICHE state or territory.
Students in the College of Architecture and Planning have opportunities to apply for a range of work positions: Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant positions, on campus employment as administrative or fabrication lab assistants, and other positions.
Our research centers often employ approximately 30 students who engage in design and planning work with local communities. We notify students of available positions via email and posters around the building.
CU Denver allows some students, primarily graduate students, to obtain in state residency after their first year at CU Denver. While CAP does not make residency determinations for continuing students, we recommend that all incoming students familiarize themselves with the guidelines, process and deadlines for requesting in state residency after a year. You can leanr more about qualifying for Colorado residency and changing your status on the Registrar's website.
Some students choose to defer their admission until after they qualify for residency. We do permit students who have been admitted to the college to defer attendance for one academic year without having to go through the admissions process again.
Students participating in WICHE programs are not eligible to become Colorado residents. All students are advised to explore their options prior to enrolling.