Dependent Tuition Assistance Program (DTAP)
Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE)
Tuition 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.
- How much
- Tuition plus on-campus room and board at Colorado public colleges (fees not covered)
- Who qualifies
- 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
- Must be accepted into the program before age 24; complete within 8 semesters / 6 years; first undergraduate credential only; unmarried while participating.
- For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students
- 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
- When to apply
- Opens later 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.
- How to apply
- Submit the DTAP application with supporting documents (birth/adoption/custody proof, parent eligibility documents such as FPPA award letter, FAFSA Submission Summary) through CDHE's secure ShareFile portal
- Email DTAP.Mailbox@dhe.state.co.us for the application link
- Also apply once for the College Opportunity Fund
- Renew with a FAFSA and FERPA release every year
- What you'll need
- state application + FAFSA + transcript
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (cdhe.colorado.gov), page 2 and page 3
The details
At Colorado public colleges DTAP pays tuition plus the base rate for double-occupancy on-campus housing and a mid-range meal plan (no room/board if you live off campus; $1,000 per semester toward living costs if you attend a non-residential public college and don't live at home). Required fees are not covered. At approved Colorado private colleges it pays up to the comparable public tuition and room/board. At out-of-state colleges it pays tuition only, up to comparable Colorado public tuition. Covers up to eight semesters, within six years of first enrollment, until a first bachelor's, associate degree or certificate. Summer/winter terms not covered. Must keep a 2.5 cumulative GPA (one year to reach it after entering). Dependents may not marry while in the program.
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
- College Opportunity Fund (COF) Stipend$116 per credit hour at public colleges; $58 per credit hour at participating private colleges (2026-27)
- 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
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.