Colorado National Guard State Tuition Waiver
Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
Up to 100% of in-state tuition at Colorado public colleges for members of the Colorado Army and Air National Guard.
- How much
- Up to 100% of remaining in-state tuition
- Who qualifies
- Member of the Colorado Army or Air National Guard in good standing (basic training completed; ROTC cadets excepted)
- Must be classified in-state at a state-designated public institution and remain in the Guard through the end of the semester.
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students, trade school students, adults going back to school
- When to apply
- Opens later Apply each term: Fall June 1-20, Spring November 1-20, Summer April 1-20.
- How to apply
- Complete the FAFSA or CASFA, establish in-state residency, then apply on the DMVA tuition waiver portal during the 20-day window for each term with proof of acceptance, FAFSA/CASFA submission, basic training (and any MOS training) completion, and ETS/MRD dates
- Give the emailed Award Letter/FERPA form to your college before add/drop
- What you'll need
- state application + FAFSA
- Last checked
- October 30, 2026, against the official page (dmva.colorado.gov) and page 2
The details
Under HB26-1386 (effective July 1, 2026, replacing SB25-247's program, which itself replaced the old State Tuition Assistance program), colleges first apply all private, state and Federal Tuition Assistance; the waiver covers the remaining in-state tuition, split 50/50 between the college and DMVA. Covers undergraduate and graduate credit-bearing courses in an approved degree or certificate plan, part- or full-time, fall/spring/summer, at state-designated public institutions. Not covered: mandatory fees, books, out-of-state tuition, non-degree courses. Credit limits: associate up to 65, bachelor's up to 130 (145 combined), one certificate, master's 60, doctoral 90, professional 150 (graduate needs DMVA approval). First-degree seekers get priority. A new application is required every semester.
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.