How to Apply to Naropa
Undergraduate Costs & Aid for 2023–24

Aligning Aspirations with Budgets
Aligning Aspirations with Budgets
At Naropa University, we work to keep things authentic. Here's the yearly cost for a Naropa education with no scholarships or financial aid applied:
2023–2024 Academic Year
$34,600 Tuition & Fees
+$5,980 Student Housing at Snow Lion (shared room in an apartment)
+$2,992 Student Health Insurance
$43,572 Total Direct Cost
Most Naropa students do not pay this amount. Over 70% of our undergraduates received grants and/or scholarships to help with their education-related expenses in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Financial Aid Available to Undergraduates (Per Year)
Gift Aid-
- Naropa Grant:
- aid based on need
- up to $24,000
- Transfer Scholarship:
- $5,000
- Academic Achievement, Academic Honors, and Academic Excellence Scholarships:
- $5,000–$10,000
- Internal Scholarships:
- Outside Scholarships:
- monies awarded by non-Naropa sources
- Federal Pell Grant:
- Federal aid based on financial need
- up to $6,895
- Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG):
- Federal aid based on financial need
- up to $1,000
- Colorado State Grant:
- State aid available to Colorado residents.
Self-Help Aid-
- Federal Direct Loans:
- $5,500 to $12,500 depending on FAFSA dependency status and credits earned
- Parent PLUS Loan:
- Federal credit-based loan available to parents to of dependent students
- Covers the gap between aid and cost of attendance
- Work-Study:
- On-campus and off-campus employment opportunity
- based on need
- Naropa Student Employment:
- on-campus employment opportunity for international students or student who do not demonstrate need.
Undergraduate Scholarships
Application Deadline
The scholarship deadline is April 1, unless otherwise noted.
Scholarship Requirements
To be considered for Naropa’s institutional scholarships, students must meet the following criteria by the scholarship deadline:
- Be admitted into a degree program
- Be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours each semester
- Students must be enrolled full-time for both fall and spring (exceptions: Transfer Scholarship, Academic Achievement Scholarship, Academic Honor Scholarship, and Academic Excellence Scholarship may be awarded to eligible full-time students who are starting in the spring semester)
- Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA (returning students only)
- Have a complete financial aid application on file (FAFSA or International Financial Aid Application), unless otherwise stated in the scholarship description
- The 2022–2023 FAFSA is considered complete when the application contains complete 2020 tax information and any outstanding items have been resolved.
Additional Information
- Scholarships range from $500 to $10,000/academic year
- Receiving more than one institutional scholarship could affect your eligibility for, or the amounts of other forms of aid, including scholarship awards
Undergraduate Scholarships
Here you can get a complete list of scholarships available to undergraduates.
Grants
Naropa Grant
Awarded to full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students who demonstrate high financial need.
Federal Pell Grant
Federal grant based on financial need.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Need-based federal grant awarded to a limited number of applicants who demonstrate high financial need.
Colorado State Grant
Undergraduates must meet Colorado residency guidelines and demonstrate financial need in order to qualify for Colorado-funded financial aid.
Undergraduate Employment
Work-Study
Students with a work-study award can apply for a work-study employment position on-campus or through one of our approved off-campus work-study sites as part of the community work-study program. Students can work 5 to 20 hours per week. Students are paid twice per month. Earnings are paid to the student and are subject to taxation. Students must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for work-study. Receiving a work-study award is not a guarantee of employment.
The Resident Assistant position does not require students demonstrate financial need. This position requires a student live in University Housing for which a full housing scholarship is given. This is a 20-hour-per-week position in which students are paid twice per month. Please note that receiving more than one institutional form of aid (including the RA position) could affect your eligibility for, or the amounts of, other forms of aid, including scholarship awards. If you are awarded an RA position and you have already requested the maximum in the Grad/Parent PLUS Loan, we will need to reduce the Grad/Parent PLUS Loan to make room for the RA position payment and housing scholarship. If the application is open, it can be found via the work-study positions link below.
View and apply for work-study positions
Community Work-Study
Naropa employs a small percentage of students at the following nonprofit organizations in the Boulder area through the community work-study program:
Community work-study is a great opportunity to be of service to the community and work with children and adults in tutoring, counseling, and teaching. You must be eligible for work-study and be a United States citizen to hold a work-study job at a community work-study site.
View and apply for community work-study jobs
How to Apply for a Community Work-Study Job
- Contact the site/organization directly to inquire about available jobs and the application process
- If the site selects you for a position, students must also complete Naropa’s employment application and new hire process:
- Background check release and authorization
- New hire paperwork
- Once you’ve completed the above listed forms, take them to Human Resources along with your work authorization documents noted on the third page of the I-9 Form
- Common forms of identification include passport, driver’s license, and social security card or birth certificate. These documents need to be presented to Human Resources within 3 business days of your first day of work
- Human Resources is located at 1630 N 63rd St, Boulder, CO 80301
- Phone: 303-245-4700
- humanresources@naropa.edu
- If the site/organization selects you for a position and you have successfully completed Naropa’s new hire process, Student Financial Services will contact your site supervisor to confirm you can start working in your position
Naropa Student Employment (NSEP)
Naropa Student Employment is a form of employment with the University. NSEP is a university-funded form of financial aid that allows international students to work on-campus and earn a semi-monthly paycheck. Student employment earnings are not applied to a student’s tuition bill. NSEP is awarded to international students who demonstrate high financial need. Receiving an NSEP award is not a guarantee of employment. Open work-study positions are posted on Naropa’s employment webpage.
Undergraduate Loans
Federal Direct Loans
The following federal Direct student loans are available to undergraduates:
Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans:
- 4.99% interest rate* (based on 2022-2023 rates)
- 1.057% origination fee (for loans disbursed after 10/1/2021, but prior to 10/1/2022)*
- 6-month grace period
- Subsidized loan—interest is subsidized by the federal government while student is enrolled in at least 6 credits per semester
Lending Limits—Dependent Students
1st Year: $5,500 ($3,500 may be subsidized)
Sophomore: $6,500 ($4,500 may be subsidized)
Junior/Senior: $7,500 ($5,500 may be subsidized)
Lending Limits—Independent Students
1st Year: $9,500 ($3,500 may be subsidized)
Sophomore: $10,500 ($4,500 may be subsidized)
Junior/Senior: $12,500 ($5,500 may be subsidized)
Parent Plus Loan
Federal loan available to credit qualifying parents to assist in paying a dependent student’s educational expenses.
- 7.54% interest rate* (based on 2022-2023 rates)
- 4.228% origination fee (for loans disbursed after 10/1/2021, but prior to 10/1/2022)*
- Parents can borrow up to a student’s cost of attendance minus other forms of aid a student has been awarded
*Interest rates and origination fees for future academic years change yearly based on the auction of the Treasury bill in the spring. Learn more.
Review Federal Student Loan Borrowing History
Students can review information regarding their federal grants and federal student loans, including borrowing history, through the Federal Student Aid Website.
- You will need your Federal Student Aid ID (FSA-ID) to enter the site
- You must Create an FSA ID, if you haven’t already done so, in order to access Department of Education websites, such as FAFSA
Loan Repayment
There are various loan repayment plans available through the Department of Education. A few repayment plans are listed below:
- Standard Repayment
- Income Contingent Repayment Plan—ICR*
- Income-Based Repayment—IBR*
- Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan*
- Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan*
*Students may be eligible for loan forgiveness
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Individuals employed full-time with a public service organization may be eligible for loan forgiveness.
Private Student Loans
Naropa University awards educational loans primarily from the Direct federal student loan program. Some lenders advertise private loans that “mimic” the federal student loan program, but which differ in important ways. Private student loans:
- Cannot be included in a federal consolidation loan
- Are not eligible for income-driven repayment plans
- Are not eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- Result in an additional monthly student loan payment for the borrower
Aid from all sources cannot exceed a student’s estimated cost of attendance. Please send an email to finaid@naropa.edu with the words “Private Loan” in the subject line if you would like to start the process of requesting the inclusion of a private loan in your financial aid package.
Naropa University does not endorse or promote any private loan program or lender. Borrowers are encouraged to review federal student loan options before considering private loans since federal loans will generally have more favorable terms and conditions.
State Aid
Undergraduates who are residents of Colorado, may be eligible for Colorado-funded, state aid. Students must complete the FAFSA. They must also submit documentation of in-state status and the:
- 2021-2022 Residency Classification for State Financial Aid for Undergraduates
Awards are limited to fulltime students with significant financial need. Students may retain their Colorado-funded state aid in subsequent years provided they maintain fulltime status, maintain satisfactory progress, and continue to demonstrate significant financial need. They must also maintain state residency.
Types of Aid
Colorado State Grant
Awarded to Colorado residents who demonstrate financial need.
Colorado Work-Study
Students awarded Colorado work-study may apply for on-campus work-study jobs.
Student Veteran Benefits
Can I use Veterans’ Benefits at Naropa?
Naropa University is approved by the Colorado Office of Veterans Education and Training (COVET) for Veterans Education Benefits. Students can use their VA education benefits for approved degree programs.
Individuals with questions about their eligibility for VA benefits in general, please review the VA website or contact your local Veterans’ Administration branch.
Yellow Ribbon Program
What is Yellow Ribbon?
Yellow Ribbon is an agreement between the Department of Veteran Affairs and the school, which helps cover required out of pocket tuition and fee costs that exceed the annual Chapter 33 cap.
Is Naropa eligible?
Yes, Naropa participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Naropa University’s agreement allows for a matching grant up to $10,000 for 100 eligible students in a given year (50 graduate/50 undergraduate).
What students are eligible?
Students who are eligible for Chapter 33 benefits (Post 9/11) at the 100% rate
Note: At this time, you’re not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program if you’re an active-duty service member or a spouse using the transferred benefits of an active-duty service member.
Starting on August 1, 2022, you may become eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program if you’re currently an active-duty service member who qualifies at the 100% level (you already served on active duty for at least 36 months) or if you’re a spouse using the transferred benefits of an active-duty service member who meets these qualifications.
Have Questions?
Schedule an appointment with a VA school Certifying Official
or email us at vabenefits@naropa.edu
Undergraduate Cost Calculator
Naropa University Net Price Calculator

At Naropa, we strive to make a Naropa education accessible to as many students as we can.
To get a better idea of what you might pay at Naropa, run your numbers through Naropa’s Net Price Calculator.
*Average scholarships and grants reflect the average of those students receiving this type of aid.