Known for its mountains and skiing, Colorado is also a great place to pursue higher education due to the abundance of financial aid options. Numerous Colorado state grants are available to students who qualify for need-based financial assistance.
Student aid in the state of Colorado is allocated by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to entitled institutions of higher learning and administered by the state legislature. The awards of student aid are granted to students based on the policies and procedures of the specific institution. Eligibility for any state funding in Colorado is based on the completion of the necessary Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms (details on submitting these forms can be found here!)
Here are the available Colorado state grant programs:
The College in Colorado Scholarship
The College in Colorado Scholarship is a grant program offered to high school students who are residents of the state of Colorado who have maintained at least a 2.5 GPA from 9th grade to 12th grade and plan on attending a state institution of higher learning in Colorado. An annual award of up to $1,500 is offered to students who are classified as in-need by the FAFSA.
The Colorado Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership
The Colorado Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership, also known as CLEAP, is a program that assists in providing grants to students who demonstrate they have a considerable financial need, to help them pursue higher education. It is funded jointly by the state of Colorado and the U.S. Department of Education. Up to $1,000 is offered on a yearly basis to match state and federal financial assistance dollar for dollar.
Enrollment in a minimum of six credit hours is required for all recipients. Another division of this program is the Supplemental Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Grant or SLEAP, a grant that may be intended for certain programs. It is based on the supplemental funds obtained for CLEAP. In general, the same eligibility requirements apply for this grant.
Colorado Student Grant
The Colorado Student Grant, CSG, is awarded based on financial need ranging from $500 to $5,000. To be eligible for this grant, students must be currently attending an institution of higher learning in the state of Colorado at least half time. The grant can be renewed every year and is open to all seniors in high school and undergraduate students of all majors. Approximately 30,000 CSG awards are granted per year.
Colorado Student Undergraduate, Graduate, and State Student Grant
Grant programs offered to Colorado residents who need financial assistance and without it would not have the ability to pursue higher education.
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State Student Incentive Grant
The state government of Colorado awards the State Student Incentive Grant to students who demonstrate an exceptional financial need with an expected family contribution of a ‘0’. Recipients are required to be residents of Colorado and be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours of a Colorado post-secondary institution. The award amount is based on the availability of funding with a maximum of $1,000 per year.
Colorado Diversity Grant
The Colorado Diversity Grant, CDIV, is a program established to increase the enrollment of underrepresented minority groups of students attending state institutions of higher learning. The program is open to all minority students pursuing any type of major and it renewable on a yearly basis. The amount of award varies on an individual basis. Approximately 5,000 awards are granted every year.
Colorado Part-Time Grants
Colorado Part-Time Grants are awarded to students who are enrolled less than full-time at an accredited Colorado post-secondary institution. The grants are available to students of all majors and renewable on a yearly basis. The amount of the awards varies and about 2,500 awards are granted every year.
It is important to note that any grants received must be used for attendance related expenses at a Colorado post-secondary institution such as tuition, feeds, books, and room and board.
For students who seek additional information about Colorado state grants and other financial aid opportunities, the Colorado Department of Higher Education provides an abundance of valuable information.
