Understanding Your Financial Aid Offer
Planning for college is an exciting step, and understanding your financial aid is an important part of preparing for your future at UNC. This page explains how financial aid offers are issued, how to review them, and what to expect before you accept and receive your aid. You'll also find links to helpful tools and resources, including aid descriptions, rights and responsibilities, maintaining eligibility, and your cost of attendance (student budget).
Official Financial Aid Offers
Your official financial aid offer shows the financial aid available to you for the academic year. It is posted to your student account by the Office of Financial Aid.
Your offer shows the types and amounts of aid you may receive based on the information you submitted, such as your FAFSA or CASFA. The amounts shown assume full-time enrollment for undergraduate students and part-time enrollment for graduate students. If your enrollment changes, your financial aid may change.
When your offer is available, review it carefully to understand your costs and aid options. Some types of aid may require additional steps before funds can be applied to your account. The resources on this page can help you understand your offer and plan for college.
Receiving Your Official Financial Aid Offer
Watch this short video for a quick overview of what is included in your official financial aid offer.
Step-by-Step Guide to Receiving your Financial Aid
Need Help?
Contact the Technical Support Center:
Phone +1-970-351-4357 or
+1-970-351-4357
Toll free +1-800-545-2331 or
+1-800-545-2331
Email help@unco.edu
Online help.unco.edu
Visit Plan, Prepare and Succeed to access tools and resources to help you understand college costs, create a budget, and make informed financial decisions about your aid offer at the University of Northern Colorado for the upcoming academic year.
You may need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Explore the Cost of Attendance (Student Budgets) for your academic year and level to better understand your estimated cost.
NOTE: The 2026-2027 Cost of Attendance will be posted in June after final approval by the UNC Board of Trustees.
Please print and read the Standards of Academic Progress for your financial aid award offer.
When you’re notified through BearMail, sign in to your student portal to view your official financial aid offer. For the 2026–27 aid year, student loans may appear as offered. Loan acceptance will be available later, and we’ll notify you when that option opens.
Accepting or Declining Your Aid:
- Log in to Ursa at ursa.unco.edu.
- Select the “Financial” tab and click “View/Accept Award Offer”.
- Select the “Award Year” drop-down menu at the top right of the page to select the year.
- Your financial aid offer is available below the “Cost of Attendance on the Award Offer”.
- “Take Action” column and pick from the “Select” drop-down menu to accept, decline or modify.
- If you choose to modify, you may have the option to accept both or one of the terms, as well as change the amount to a lesser value.
- Once you have accepted, declined or modified your aid, confirm your selection by clicking either the “Submit” or “Confirm” button at the bottom.
- Click the “Home” tab. Any outstanding requirements will be listed on this tab. All outstanding requirements must be completed to avoid delays in aid disbursement. Some requirements may not impact aid, but it is important to review your account for any that do.
If you are a new borrower and accept a loan, don’t forget to do Entrance Counseling and complete an Master Promissory Note (MPN).
Nice work! Almost done…
Students who are going to accept and take out student and\or parent loans will have more to do.
Student and Parent Loan information for next steps.
Be sure to reach out to a financial aid counselor as soon as possible with any questions.
If you have difficulty accessing Ursa, please contact the Technical Support Center at 970-351-4357.
How Financial Aid is Offered
The Office of Financial Aid provides financial aid offers to eligible students that typically consist of a combination of scholarships, grants, work study and loan assistance. Offer amounts vary for each program depending on financial need and the eligibility of the student. Students who apply by June 1 receive priority consideration based on available funding and demonstrated need.
Our awarding process is designed to ensure the effective distribution of financial aid funds while maintaining fair and equitable treatment for all applicants.
Financial Aid and Disability Accommodations
If you have a documented disability and believe it may impact your ability to take full-time coursework, you should notify the Office of Financial Aid prior to awarding. The Office of Financial Aid will work with you and Disability Resource Center to determine if your disability documentation warrants a financial aid offer that reflects less than full-time attendance.