College is an expensive investment, remarkably so, but well worth it for most students. That said, looking for assistance in affording these steep costs is common. Most college aid is distributed by the federal government or by colleges themselves, but some states have their own aid programs for students, which can offer an excellent pipeline to help you afford an education. In this article, we’re going to look at the options Colorado has for its students, and what kinds of aid they can expect from the state. Colorado is not as wealthy as some other states, but does have a strong system of public colleges, notably CU Boulder, and plenty of opportunities to get financial help in attending them. Let’s find out how!
Colorado Application for State Financial Aid
This is an application for students who wish to apply for financial aid from the state of Colorado, but who do not wish to fill out the FAFSA. For other state scholarships from Colorado, you will generally be considered with the FAFSA alone; this is specifically an alternative created for students where the FAFSA is not a viable option.
This application can be completed entirely online, and opens each year on October 1, the year before aid would be awarded. In order to be eligible, you must have graduated from a Colorado high school (or received an equivalent after at least one year of living in Colorado), and must have been in Colorado for at least 12 consecutive months before enrolling in an institution.
If you are eligible for federal aid, then you should complete the FAFSA instead. Note that you do not need to be a US citizen in order to complete the CASFA. Note that you may still apply to CASFA if you do not meet all of the residency requirements; colleges in Colorado do use CASFA in place of FAFSA to calculate institutional aid awards, and you may still receive scholarship funding through that, though not through Colorado’s own state aid.
Note that the CASFA itself is not an aid award; it can be used as an application for other grants awarded by Colorado, or for institutional grants for public colleges in Colorado. Unlike the FAFSA, you will not receive an email with your Expected Family Contribution. Instead, you will need to sign back into the site to view this. You should continue to check the portal regardless, as communications from school financial aid offices may come through there.
For all following scholarships, we will note if the CASFA can be used to qualify for them.
College Opportunity Fund
This is a stipend for eligible students attending a college in Colorado. There are funds for both public and private colleges, though the eligibility requirements differ. These are offered based on credit hour; $116 per credit hour at public colleges, and $58 per credit hour at private colleges. You must apply to this fund directly through the COF website. All funds are disbursed directly to the college you are attending, based on your enrolled credit hours.
If you qualify for in-state tuition at a public college in Colorado, then you are eligible for the COF. Note that in addition to this, each college sets its own eligibility requirements to decide who to award funding to; you should speak with your college’s financial aid office to determine their specific requirements.
For students attending a private college, you must meet the following eligibility requirements (in addition to any requirements set by the college in question):
- The college must be approved by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education
- You must qualify as an in-state student, and either graduated from a Colorado high school or completed homeschooling in Colorado
- Demonstrate financial aid by qualifying for the federal Pell Grant
- May not be pursuing a professional degree in theology
You only need to apply for this program once. After you apply, your account will be able to disburse funding for up to 145 credit hours. If you transfer to another college which is eligible to participate in the program, you must authorize them to receive the funding, but the funding transfers with you. It is possible to appeal for more funding if you have not received an undergraduate degree after 145 hours.
Note that in some cases, colleges which do not use the COF will ask you to complete the application; these colleges use this information for their institutional aid calculations.
FosterEd
This is a scholarship program which covers the full cost of education for former foster students who are attending a public college or university in Colorado. In order to qualify for this program, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- You must be a current resident of Colorado
- You must have been in foster care in Colorado at the age of 13+
- You must be enrolled in a state university or college, in a terminal degree program
- You must reach out to the financial aid office at the school you are attending
There is no aid limit to this program. The program will cover up to 132 semester credits from the time you enroll in the program. Credits earned prior to enrolling in this program do not count against this limit. To apply for this program, you must complete the FAFSA or CASFA, and a FERPA consent form.
This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition, fees, reasonable housing expenses, books and supplies. This can also cover other necessary expenses, such as medical insurance; speak with your school’s financial aid office for more information. The deadline to apply and register is September 9 of the year you are seeking funding for.
Dependent Tuition Assistance Program (DTAP)
This program provides tuition assistance to the dependents of Colorado police officers, firefighters, or national guardsmen who died or became disabled in the line of duty. This covers tuition and room and board at public universities in Colorado, tuition and room and board charges at private institutions in Colorado up to what you would be charged at an equivalent public institution, or tuition expenses alone at an institution outside of Colorado, up to the tuition at a comparable Colorado institution.
Note that room and board benefits are only offered to students living on-campus in a residence hall. These benefits may be renewed for up to eight semesters, or until you earn an undergraduate degree, whichever comes first.
Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible for this program:
- You must be under the age of 24 and not already have a bachelor’s or equivalent degree when you apply for the program
- You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5, and complete the FAFSA each year to maintain eligibility
- You do not need to be a full time student, but only six years of funding will be authorized
- You must submit documentation of your dependent status and to verify the state of the qualifying deceased or disabled individual
Applications are open March 1 through June 30. You may complete the application online. You must complete the FAFSA in order to be eligible.
Reciprocity and Access Programs
These are not quite scholarships themselves, but are instead agreements Colorado has with a number of other states, which allow you to attend public colleges in those states while paying in-state tuition costs. In turn, students from those states may attend public colleges in Colorado and pay in-state costs. A great many states have similar programs, though the web of which ones have reciprocity agreements with each other is quite complicated.
Colorado specifically has agreements with two states: New Mexico and Nebraska. Additionally, they participate in a broader regional compact WICHE, which partners with almost every western state. This program allows you to only pay 150% of in-state tuition; still expensive, but a significant cost savings compared to normal out-of-state fees. This may not be the right option for all students, but is a great way to expand the list of colleges you may consider applying to.
Final Thoughts
College is expensive, but there are options out there to make it far more reasonable in terms of cost. Each state has their own set of programs and opportunities, and Colorado has a wide variety of great options to help their residents afford the cost of college. We hope this article has given you a good overview of these programs, and which you might qualify for.
If you are looking for advice on how to apply to any of these colleges, or the best application strategies to maximize your chances of getting great financial aid, then Ivy Scholars can help. Our mentors specialize in meeting students where they are, and helping you acquire the skills you need to get into a top college. If you want to learn more, or get advice tailored to your specific situation, then schedule a free consultation with us today. We’re always happy to hear from you.
