Completing your CASFA/FAFSA – steps and required documents

The FAFSA and CASFA are online forms that require you to enter personal and sensitive information. If you visit our office to get help with either form, and if you prefer not to use a public computer, then you should bring your own laptop. However, computers are available in our lobby for your convenience.

CASFA/FAFSA may not function properly on mobile devices or tablets, so using a desktop or laptop is strongly recommended.

A student is determined to be a “dependent” student if parent information and (digital) signatures are needed for your form to be accepted. An “independent” student does not need to provide parent information. Age, marital status, and any dependents such as biological or adopted children) on your tax return determine whether you are a “dependent” or an “independent” student.

If you’re unsure whether you are considered dependent or independent, you can check this federal student aid webpage to determine your dependency status. Although this webpage was created by FAFSA, the guidelines for dependency apply equally to CASFA.

There is no established deadline, but the 2026–2027 CASFA and FAFSA applications will remain open until June 30, 2027. However, the university recommends that you complete your application by March 1, 2026, as some financial aid is awarded on a first‑come, first‑served basis according to the order in which CASFA/FAFSA forms are submitted.

Students can begin completing their 2027-2028 FAFSA  or CASFA application as early as October 1, 2026.

Dependent students (see above for an explanation) will need to provide their parent’s information, including tax information or estimated earnings, for a previous calendar year. Specifically, you need to go back two years. Completing the 2027-2028 CASFA/FAFSA, for example, means providing (or importing) 2025 tax information.

Independent students who are married will need to include information about their spouse.

Not sure what your dependency status is? Check this federal student aid webpage to determine your dependency status. Although this webpage was put together by FAFSA, dependency guidelines are the same for CASFA.

– **Federal Student Aid:** FAFSA

– **State Financial Aid:** FAFSA or CASFA (awarded on a first-come, first-served basis)

– **Institutional Aid:** CASFA or FAFSA (awarded on a first-come, first-served basis)

Many off-campus scholarship programs (such as those provided by your high school, a company, or a non-profit organization) also require a completed financial aid application.

The MSU Denver general scholarship application will be available on December 1 2027 for the 2027/2028 year.

Check out other scholarship opportunities here

Do not submit both applications. If you are unsure which application to use, please refer to this guide. If you’re still uncertain, connect with our friendly ISP staff for a one-on-one consultation.

The financial aid office at MSU Denver will start processing applications in the spring, prior to the beginning of the school year. Once your application is processed, you should be able to view your Student Aid Index (SAI – the amount of money your household can put towards your tuition) in your ‘My Financial Aid‘ portal.

If you do not see your SAI in the portal, it’s important to reach out to the financial aid office for assistance. Please note that it may take up to two weeks for your SAI to become available in your financial aid portal after submitting your financial aid application.