Colorado scholarships and grants
Every program the state of Colorado runs for students, checked against its official page. For a list matched to you, answer a few questions.
Hide service scholarships (5) These pay for school in exchange for working in a job or place afterward.
Open to most students
Colorado Rural Student Teaching Stipend
Up to $4,000 for the student-teaching semesterColorado Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Center for Rural Education (University of Northern Colorado)
Open now · due October 31, 2026Service scholarshipThe catch: Commit to teaching in a rural Colorado district (2 or 3 years; official pages differ); repayment terms are on the official page.
Up to $4,000 for the semester you student-teach in a rural Colorado school district, if you commit to teaching in rural Colorado.
- What it takes: state application + transcript
- For undergrads, grad students
- Needs a 2.75+ GPA
- For education students
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
CTE Grant (Tuition Assistance for Short CTE Certificates)
Up to $7,395 (2025-26; equal to the maximum Pell Grant)Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE)
Apply any timeCovers tuition, fees and materials for low-income Coloradans in short career-tech certificate programs too short for Pell.
- What it takes: See how to apply
- For trade school students, adults going back to school
- Need-based: the FAFSA decides how much you get.
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen or national, eligible non-citizen, or citizen of the Freely Associated States; students without lawful immigration status qualify if they meet Colorado's ASSET high-school/presence rules
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
College Opportunity Fund (COF) Stipend
$116 per credit hour at public colleges; $58 per credit hour at participating private colleges (2026-27)Colorado Department of Higher Education (College Opportunity Fund, administered by College Assist)
Apply any timeState stipend that pays $116 per credit hour of in-state undergraduate tuition at Colorado public colleges for 2026-27 (half that at participating private colleges), but only if you apply once.
- What it takes: state application
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads, transfer students
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Colorado Graduate Grant
Varies; set by your collegeColorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE)
Apply any timeNeed-based state grant for Colorado-resident graduate students in approved 'critical career' degree programs.
- What it takes: FAFSA only
- For grad students
- For approved critical-career graduate programs students
- Need-based: the FAFSA decides how much you get.
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen or national, eligible non-citizen, or citizen of the Freely Associated States; students without lawful immigration status qualify if they meet Colorado's ASSET high-school/presence rules
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Colorado Promise: Two Free Years of College Expanded
Reimbursement of out-of-pocket tuition and fees for up to 65 creditsColorado Department of Higher Education (with the Colorado Department of Revenue)
Apply any timeTax credit, not cash up frontRefundable state tax credit that pays back your out-of-pocket tuition and fees for up to your first 65 credits at a Colorado public college if family income is $90,000 or less.
- What it takes: FAFSA only
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads, trade school students
- Need-based: the FAFSA decides how much you get.
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Colorado Student Grant
Varies by college; at proprietary schools Level 1 students get $1,000-$5,000 per year (2025-26 guidelines)Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE)
Apply any timeColorado's main need-based grant for resident undergraduates, awarded by your college from your FAFSA or CASFA.
- What it takes: FAFSA only
- For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students
- Need-based: the FAFSA decides how much you get.
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen or national, eligible non-citizen, or citizen of the Freely Associated States; students without lawful immigration status qualify if they meet Colorado's ASSET high-school/presence rules
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Special Services Provider Stipend (Rural)
Up to $6,000Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Center for Rural Education (University of Northern Colorado)
Check datesService scholarshipThe catch: Work full time at least 3 years in a rural Colorado school district after licensure; repayment terms are on the official page.
Up to $6,000 toward program costs for students training to be school counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, therapists or other special services providers who commit to rural Colorado schools.
- What it takes: state application
- For grad students, undergrads
- For school counseling, school psychology, school social work students
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
COSI Matching Student Scholarships (Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative)
Varies by local programColorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), Colorado Department of Higher Education
Check datesState-matched scholarships for lower-income Colorado students at public colleges, awarded through local county, college and nonprofit scholarship partners.
- What it takes: FAFSA only
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads, trade school students, adults going back to school
- Need-based: the FAFSA decides how much you get.
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Colorado Rural Teaching Fellowship
$10,000 ($5,000 from CDHE + $5,000 from your college)Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Center for Rural Education (University of Northern Colorado)
Opens laterService scholarshipThe catch: Teach 2 years in the rural Colorado school or district of your residency year; repayment terms are on the official page.
$10,000 for teacher candidates who do a year-long clinical residency in a rural Colorado school and commit to teach there for two years.
- What it takes: school nomination
- For undergrads, grad students
- For education students
- Usual timing: Applications for the next school year accepted roughly April 30 - August 15.
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
For specific students
Military families, foster youth, certain careers and more. Each card says who qualifies.
Early Childhood Education Innovation Scholarship
Varies (tuition for ECE coursework, last-dollar)Colorado Department of Higher Education with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood
Open now · due December 31, 2026Last-dollar tuition scholarships for people working in licensed child care who are enrolled in an early childhood education program at a Colorado public college; funds run through December 2026.
- Who it's for: Employed in a licensed child care program serving children birth through five
- What it takes: See how to apply
- For undergrads, grad students, adults going back to school, transfer students
- For early childhood education students
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
EmpowerEd
Full remaining cost of attendance after other aidColorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE)
Open now · due January 15, 2027Covers the full remaining cost of attendance at Colorado public colleges for students who experienced homelessness (McKinney-Vento) during high school in Colorado.
- Who it's for: Identified by school personnel as homeless under the federal McKinney-Vento Act while living in Colorado between the start of 9th grade and the end of 12th grade
- What it takes: state application + FAFSA
- For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
FosterEd
Full remaining cost of attendance after other aidColorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE)
Open now · due January 15, 2027Covers the full remaining cost of attendance at Colorado public colleges for students who were in Colorado foster care (or non-certified kinship care) at age 13 or older.
- Who it's for: Was in Colorado foster care, or in non-certified kinship care and adjudicated neglected or dependent, on or after age 13
- What it takes: state application + FAFSA
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students, trade school students, adults going back to school, transfer students
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Native American Tuition Waiver (Fort Lewis College)
Full tuition (2026-27: $8,328 in-state / $21,024 out-of-state)Fort Lewis College; state-funded through the Colorado Department of Higher Education
Apply any timeFree tuition at Fort Lewis College for enrolled citizens, and children of enrolled citizens, of any federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native village; no Colorado residency required.
- Who it's for: Enrolled citizen, or child of an enrolled citizen, of a federally recognized American Indian Tribal Nation or Alaska Native Village
- What it takes: membership
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students, transfer students
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Colorado Second Chance Scholarship
Up to $5,000 per year, for up to 4 yearsColorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), Colorado Department of Higher Education
Apply any timeUp to $5,000 a year for up to 4 years for Coloradans released from a Division of Youth Services commitment facility within the last 5 years.
- Who it's for: Committed to and released from a Colorado Division of Youth Services (juvenile correctional) facility within the past five years
- What it takes: state application
- For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students, adults going back to school
- Need-based: the FAFSA decides how much you get.
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Educator Recruitment and Retention (ERR) Program
Up to $7,500 (2026-27, per State Board action April 2026)Colorado Department of Education (CDE)
Opens laterService scholarshipThe catch: Teach 3 years in a shortage area in a Colorado public school, or return the funds.
Up to $7,500 toward educator-preparation program costs for paraprofessionals, alternative-licensure teachers and rural CTE instructors who commit to 3 years teaching in a Colorado shortage area.
- Who it's for: Employed in a Colorado public school as a paraprofessional, alternative/TEE teacher in a shortage area, or rural CTE instructor
- What it takes: state application
- For undergrads, grad students, adults going back to school
- For education students
- Usual timing: Window opens July 1 each year (2026: July 1 - August 20); possible second window around December if funds remain.
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Colorado National Guard State Tuition Waiver
Up to 100% of remaining in-state tuitionColorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
Opens laterService scholarshipThe catch: Stay in the Colorado National Guard through the end of each semester you use it; any repayment terms are on the official page.
Up to 100% of in-state tuition at Colorado public colleges for members of the Colorado Army and Air National Guard.
- Who it's for: Member of the Colorado Army or Air National Guard in good standing (basic training completed; ROTC cadets excepted)
- What it takes: state application + FAFSA
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students, trade school students, adults going back to school
- Usual timing: Apply each term: Fall June 1-20, Spring November 1-20, Summer April 1-20.
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Dependent Tuition Assistance Program (DTAP)
Tuition plus on-campus room and board at Colorado public colleges (fees not covered)Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE)
Opens laterTuition plus on-campus room and board for children of Colorado police, firefighters and National Guard members killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty, and of POWs/MIAs.
- Who it's for: Child of a Colorado law enforcement officer or firefighter killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty, a Colorado National Guard member killed or permanently disabled on state active/authorized training duty, a prisoner of war, or a person missing in action
- What it takes: state application + FAFSA + transcript
- For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students
- Needs a 2.5+ GPA
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen or national, eligible non-citizen, or citizen of the Freely Associated States; students without lawful immigration status qualify if they meet Colorado's ASSET high-school/presence rules
- Usual timing: Application window March 1 - June 30 each year (program page); the 2025-26 guidelines also say fall starters apply by Aug 31 and spring starters by Dec 31.
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.