Welcome New Students and Families!
For a smooth start at CU, here are a few things to know about bills,payments and refunds. You may also want to check out how financial aid works, the estimated cost and tuition classification for residency.
Fall 2026 important dates and deadlines
If you have charges after the initial bill is paid, such as textbooks, digital course materials, etc., you will receive a bill notification.
Financial aid and the bill
If you applied forfinancial aid, itwill pay toward the bill one week before the first day of class each semester.This fall aid checklist outlines what you need to do to make sure your aid applies to the bill on time.
Any financial aid in excess of the bill will be refunded and deposited into your bank account, provided you've set up direct deposit.There’s still time toapply for financial aidif you’re interested!
Payment plans
鶹ѰBoulder offers interest-free payment plans each semester. Payment plans allow you to pay the university bill in 2, 3, or 4 monthly installments. Payment plan enrollment opens in June for fall and December for spring. Re-enrollment is required every semester to continue paying on a monthly basis. Learn more about how to enroll in a payment plan.
Confirmation deposits
First-year and new transfer students pay the confirmation deposit in their admissions application status page when they confirm admission. Confirmation deposits release to student accounts during their first semester of enrollment.
To-do items
As a first-year student or transfer, you’ll see tasks in the To-Do section in Buff Portal that will let you know what to do and when. (You’ll see tasks at various times throughout your journey at CU.)If you don’t see them right away, don’t worry. They are scheduled to show when it’s time to complete them.
Set up your account
Authorize payers
What it is and why it’s important:
As a new student at CU, you are the only person who can view and pay the tuition bill online. This is due to federal privacy laws. But the good news is, you have the option to give up to five people “authorized payer” access so they can also view and pay the bill online. In general, they will see the same student account information and PDF statement as you. If someone else is helping you understand the bill and pay online, consider authorizing them as payers by early August so they will receive anemail notification of the first fall tuition bill.
Studentfinancial information is protected by federal privacy laws. There are three types of access available at 鶹Ѱthat you should consider for parents, guardians or other third parties (but not sponsors). They each providedifferent levels of access related to the university bill and your financial information while attending CU.
Learn more:
Make your health insurance selection
What it is and why it’s important:
Students are required to have health insurance while attending 鶹ѰBoulder. If you haven’t already, you will begin receiving emails from Academic HealthPlans about completing the 鶹ѰBoulder health insurance requirement. All 鶹Ѱstudents must complete the requirement every year in the fall. The emails explain the insurance requirement and outline the process of enrolling or waiving 鶹Ѱhealth insurance.
If you don’t take action to waive or enroll by the published deadline, you will be automatically enrolled in the Anthem Gold Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). This means that you will automatically be charged$2,648 on the tuition bill each semester for fall and spring. (You also have the option to enroll in the BuffCare Supplemental Coverage Program.) Please don’t ignore these emails! But just in case, you’ll see a To-Do item in Buff Portal as well.
Learn more:
- Student Health Insurance Requirements
- Anthem Gold Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
- BuffCare Supplemental Coverage Program
Set up direct deposit
What it is and why it’s important:
At some point, you're going to get a refund. They are typically a result of schedule adjustments, health insurance waiver, overpayment or financial aid. Tuition and fee refunds are always issued in the student's name regardless of who paid the bill (except for parentloanrefunds designated forthe parent borrower). Direct deposit allows for quick, secure deposit of refunds into your bank account. You'll get an email from the Bursar's Office when a refund has been processed.
Learn more:
Verifying Your Identity Over the Phone
If you are a new student, FERPA privacy laws apply to you starting on the first day of classes. Under FERPA, we are required to verify your identity if you or an authorized payer call our office for assistance.
If you are a student, we will ask for:
- Your 9-digit student ID number (availablein your studentprofile located at the top right after you log in to )
- YourSecurity Passphrase
If you are a parent, you will need to be an authorized payerfirst. To verify your identity,we will ask for:
- Your student's 9-digit student ID number
- Theemail address associated with your authorized payer account
Navigating Cost and Your Bill
Watch our recent virtual event and get the info you need to understand your bill this fall.