The Roadrunner Promise:
Free Tuition & Fees for New and Continuing Students

First time freshman students:

• Dependent students whose parent(s)’ Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is less than $60,000.
• Independent students whose AGI is less than $60,000. If you are married, the AGI is based on student + spouse income.

All students who do not qualify for RRP $60k, whose EFC is 2400 or less.

The EFC is determined by the financial information submitted on your FAFSA or CASFA.

Roadrunner Promise is available to all qualified students beginning with the Fall 2022 term. New recipients may enroll at the start of any fall, spring or summer term.

You will receive an email once awards have been placed onto the account indicating eligibility for the Roadrunner Promise.

US Citizens and Permanent Residents should file the FAFSA.

All other students who are Colorado Residents should file the CASFA.

No. Roadrunner Promise is available to students seeking their first bachelor’s degree.

Yes. Summer counts as one-half term of use.

Students who qualify for 2400 EFC and $60K AGI criteria are required to take a minimum of 6 credits in the summer if they want to receive Roadrunner Promise.

There are other financing options! Students are strongly encouraged to file the FASFA or CASFA annually along with the MSU Denver Scholarship Application.

Yes, but if you pass the same course twice while receiving financial aid, you will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid for that specific course moving forward.

For example, you take a course while receiving financial aid and pass with a D grade. You decide to retake the same course for a higher grade, receive financial aid, and pass with a C grade. If you decide to retake the same course for a third time, you will not be eligible to receive financial aid for that course for the third time.

This is a requirement from the Department of Education.

For RRP $60k criteria: Yes, you must be enrolled in at least 12 credits each semester, and paid for a maximum of 15 credits each semester.
Students enrolled in 16 credits or more, will pay for the additional credits with other financial aid or out of pocket.

For RRP 2400 EFC criteria: Funding is available for students enrolled in 1-15 credits.
Students enrolled in 16 credits or more will pay for the additional credits with other financial aid or out of pocket.

Roadrunner Promise recipients may receive up to 10 semesters of funding toward their first bachelor’s degree.

We encourage you to use this funding wisely and work with your academic advisor to make a plan to finish your degree within the 10 semesters available.

No. Roadrunner Promise is available to students seeking their first bachelor’s degree.

Roadrunner Promise pays for up to 15 credits each semester. Students enrolled in 16 credits or more will pay for the additional credits with other financial aid or out of pocket.

While Roadrunner Promise in not available to assist in paying for classes taken at other schools, students are encouraged to file the FAFSA or CASFA to see what other financing options are available.

While Roadrunner Promise in not available to assist in paying for Study Abroad, students are encouraged to file the FAFSA or CASFA to see what other financing options are available.

Please connect with MSU Denver’s admissions office to determine or change your residency status.

Visit our Admissions Contact page to find and connect with your admissions counselor.

No. Roadrunner Promise is automatically awarded to eligible students who have completed the FAFSA or CASFA. No separate application is required. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will notify eligible students.

Incoming students who do not have their FAFSA or CASFA submitted by the priority deadline, but otherwise would be eligible, will have their applications reviewed based on remaining funding. Note that funding is limited and there is no guarantee for students whose FAFSA or CASFA is received after the deadline for the semester that they first enter MSU Denver.

Students must authorize COF. Students who choose lifetime authorization only have to complete this process once during their time as an undergraduate student at MSU Denver.

Students who run out of COF eligibility while still eligible for Indigenous Grant should first complete a COF Waiver. If denied or ineligible, please reach out to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and an exception will be made to cover the COF portion of tuition.

Student success is extremely important and we encourage you to take advantage of existing support services.

Census Date is the last date of the registration adjustment period, 15% of the term beginning and end date. This date is also the last day to drop full-term classes for a 50% refund.

You can find the specific census dates for each semester on the academic calendar here.

Any increases in AGI that occur in subsequent tax years will not impact eligibility for this program.

There are other financing options! Students are strongly encouraged to file the FASFA or CASFA annually along with the MSU Denver Scholarship Application.

Any increases in Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that occur in subsequent years will impact your eligibility.

Students must complete all requirements to be a Colorado Resident for tuition purposes and eligible for financial aid disbursement by the Census Date of each term to ensure coverage by the Roadrunner Promise. Students who meet eligibility later in the Term will be eligible for funding at the start of the next Term.

Students who lose Colorado resident status will be removed from the program for future terms, though they may still be eligible for other sources of financial aid.

No, financial aid will only be adjusted based on your enrollment as of census date OR if you qualify for a Frozen Hours Appeal*.

*Federal regulations dictate that you may only have your frozen hours reviewed if you did actually begin your attendance in your classes prior to census date but due to a registration issue you were not able to have the credit hours posted onto the system before census date.