College Opportunity Fund (COF) Stipend
Colorado Department of Higher Education (College Opportunity Fund, administered by College Assist)
State 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.
- How much
- $116 per credit hour at public colleges; $58 per credit hour at participating private colleges (2026-27)
- Who qualifies
- Classified as in-state for tuition (includes ASSET students); undergraduate-applicable courses at a participating college; 145-credit lifetime limit. Private-college students must also be Pell-eligible and Colorado high-school/home-school graduates.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads, transfer students
- When to apply
- Apply any time Apply once any time before registering; authorize each term (or lifetime) with your college.
- How to apply
- Create your COF account once at cof.college-assist.org (age 13+), then authorize the stipend with your college when you register (many colleges offer a lifetime authorization)
- Re-authorize at each new college
- What you'll need
- state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (cdhe.colorado.gov), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
COF is a state trust fund that pays part of every eligible resident undergraduate's tuition, per credit hour, directly to the college. For 2026-27 the stipend is $116 per credit hour at public colleges and $58 per credit hour at participating private colleges. You apply once and get a lifetime allotment of 145 undergraduate credit hours (plus 30 more hours if you earned a bachelor's while using COF); waivers for additional hours are possible. You must also authorize your college to bill COF when you register. If you don't apply or authorize, you pay the stipend amount yourself. Public colleges: in-state students taking courses toward an undergraduate degree. Private colleges: in-state students who graduated from a Colorado high school or home-school program and are Pell-eligible, not pursuing a theology professional degree.
More money from Colorado
- CTE Grant (Tuition Assistance for Short CTE Certificates)Up to $7,395 (2025-26; equal to the maximum Pell Grant)
- COSI Matching Student Scholarships (Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative)Varies by local program
- Colorado Graduate GrantVaries; set by your college
- Colorado Promise: Two Free Years of College ExpandedReimbursement of out-of-pocket tuition and fees for up to 65 credits
- Colorado Student GrantVaries by college; at proprietary schools Level 1 students get $1,000-$5,000 per year (2025-26 guidelines)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.