Special Services Provider Stipend (Rural)
Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Center for Rural Education (University of Northern Colorado)
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.
- How much
- Up to $6,000
- Who qualifies
- Enrolled in an approved Colorado college program for a CDE-recognized special services provider license; commit to 3 years full-time in a Colorado rural or small rural district.
- For grad students, undergrads
- For school counseling, school psychology, school social work students
- When to apply
- Check dates Not stated on the program page.
- How to apply
- Apply online through the Colorado Center for Rural Education (UNC) stipend page
- What you'll need
- state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (cdhe.colorado.gov), page 2 and page 3
The details
Covers costs during the final clinical experience: tuition and fees, licensing and exam costs, fingerprinting, application and transcript fees, and travel/technology for the clinical placement. Recipients commit to work full-time for at least three years in a Colorado rural or small rural school district after getting a Special Services Provider license. Eligible fields: school audiologists, counselors, nurses, occupational therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, physical therapists, psychologists, social workers and speech-language pathologists. If applicants exceed funds, a regional random lottery is used.
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.