Read about the project
Overview
Navigating financial aid is overwhelming, with confusing information, complex processes, and little transparency. To address this, I used a human-centered approach, interviewing students and financial aid staff to identify key pain points. I then designed a step-by-step financial aid guide, an enhanced student portal, and a staff-facing system to streamline the experience. These solutions improve accessibility, clarity, and support, making financial aid easier for students and CU Denver’s financial aid office to understand and manage.
The Problem
Understanding financial aid is difficult, and the confusion can lead to stress, missed deadlines, and lost opportunities. As someone who has personally struggled with navigating financial aid, I wanted to create a solution that simplifies this process for CU Denver students and financial aid staff.
My Process
This project started with research—interviews with students and financial aid staff, my own experiences, and an in-depth analysis of existing resources. The biggest challenge was the sheer scope of financial aid. It's an intricate system with countless policies, exceptions, and complexities. To make it manageable, I focused on students' most common pain points: understanding eligibility, navigating forms, and knowing where to get help.
I conducted interviews, recorded and synthesized insights, and mapped out key frustrations. Then, I designed an experience that presents financial aid information in a clear, intuitive way, prioritizing simplicity and accessibility.
My Designs
The final outcome is a streamlined, student-centered experience designed to cut through the confusion of financial aid. By combining visual storytelling, clear explanations, and an intuitive structure, this project transforms a complex, bureaucratic system into something students can actually understand and use.
Guiding Students Through Aid
A step-by-step financial aid guide that breaks down the essentials so you can better understand them:
What even is Financial Aid
What kinds of aid exist
How you apply to the ones you want
Breaking Down Your Aid
A break down of what types of aid you qualify for and an easy way to apply:
What are your aid options and how they differ
Clear pros and cons to support informed decisions
Helping you apply to the aid you want
A Smarter Aid Portal
Students stay in control with real-time updates:
Status tracking and next steps
Alerts for required actions
Transparent timelines for aid disbursement
Help When You Need It
Accessing support is effortless with a chatbot, direct contact options, and easy appointment scheduling.
Empowering Financial Aid Staff
A dedicated staff portal streamlines student interactions and keep track of everything:
Upcoming appointments at a glance
Key student concerns highlighted
Live chat for real-time assistance
Conclusion
Financial aid should empower students, not overwhelm them. This project was born from both personal frustration and a collective need for clarity. By taking a human-centered approach and designing for accessibility, I created a solution that makes financial aid easier to navigate—helping students focus on their education rather than paperwork.
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