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✔️ Edited by Unigo Staff

When it comes to paying for college, many Colorado students find themselves wondering how they'll cover the cost. If you're a resident of the Centennial State, there are plenty of scholarships and grants available to help make your college journey more affordable.

Known for its breathtaking mountain ranges, world-class skiing, and iconic landmarks like Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains, Colorado is also home to renowned universities such as the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), Colorado State University (CSU), Colorado School of Mines, Metropolitan State University, Regis University, and the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA).

Nearly 275,000 students are enrolled in one of Colorado's colleges or universities as of 2024. If you're looking to attend school in Colorado, these scholarships can help you save on tuition, fees, and even other educational related expenses like room and board!

List of Colorado Scholarships for College

Check out our list of 56,651 Colorado Scholarships for College worth $274M.

ASLA Council of Fellows Scholarship

$20,000 Award Amount

4 Awards

Feb 1 Deadline

This scholarship is open to U.S. students who are in their third, fourth, or fifth year of undergraduate study in landscape architecture at a LAAB-accredited institution. Students must be members of ASLA and demonstrate financial need.

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Horatio Alger Colorado Scholarship Program

$10,000 Award Amount

9 Awards

Oct 25 Deadline

This award is for high school seniors with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher who demonstrate critical financial need and are residents of Colorado.

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Bucknell University Campus Enrichment Scholarship

$100,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Jan 15 Deadline

This award is available for U.S. students enrolling at Bucknell University. First generation college students, students from outside the university's traditional geographic area, and those who bring cultural and intellectual diversity to the campus will be considered.

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Al Schuman Ecolab Undergraduate Entrepreneurial Scholarship

$4,250 Award Amount

2 Awards

Mar 15 Deadline

U.S. undergraduate students currently enrolled in a foodservice-related program at a participating college are eligible for this award. Students must enroll in nine or more credit hours and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

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LTU Bulldog Out-of-State Fee Waiver for Incoming Transfer Students

$2,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 1 Deadline

This award is for U.S. and International students who are planning to attend Louisiana Tech University as an out-of-state transfer student. Students must have complete at least 12 semester hours of college credit and have a grade point average of 2.75 or higher.

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Stephen T. Kugle Scholarship

$3,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Mar 1 Deadline

U.S. college sophomores or juniors currently enrolled in a public college or university in one of the states in ASME District E (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming) are eligible for this award. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and major in mechanical engineering.

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Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation Scholarship

$2,400 Award Amount

27 Awards

May 31 Deadline

U.S. undergraduate American Indian or Alaskan Natives who have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher and demonstrated financial need are eligible for this award. Students must be Colorado residents or members of the Southern Ute tribe or Ute Mountain Ute tribe.

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Traveler's Foundation Scholarship - Non-Tribal College Students

$4,000 Award Amount

1 Award

May 31 Deadline

This scholarship is open to U.S. college sophomores, juniors, and seniors of American Indian or Alaskan Native descent who attend school or reside in CA, CO, CT, FL, IL, MN, or TX. Students must be majoring in business, accounting, computer science, computer technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or a related field; have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher; and have demonstrated financial need.

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ASSE Foundation Four Corners Chapter Scholarship

$1,000 Award Amount

1 Award

May 2 Deadline

This award is for international and U.S. college juniors and graduate students who are pursuing a degree in occupational safety and health or a closely related field. The applicant must enroll full time and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Priority will be given to students residing in or attending classes in New Mexico or Colorado.

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CESDA Diversity Scholarship Application

$1,000 Award Amount

7 Awards

Jan 18 Deadline

This award is available for graduating high school seniors from the state of Colorado who plan to enroll in an accredited college or university in Colorado. Applicants must have a grade point average of 2.8 or higher, and must be a member of a minority group or a first-generation college student.

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LAEF General Scholarship

$1,500 Award Amount

111 Awards

Nov 24 Deadline

This award is available for Colorado students of Hispanic heritage who are currently enrolled in or planning to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

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Nancy Penn Lyons Scholarship Fund

$20,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Jan 22 Deadline

This scholarship is available to Georgia high school seniors with demonstrated financial need who have been accepted for enrollment at selective private or out-of-state institutions (students attending public Georgia institutions ineligible). Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, and an SAT score of 1000 or higher or an ACT score of 22 or higher.

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Bellarmine University Out-of-State Grant

$6,000 Award Amount

3 Awards

Feb 1 Deadline

U.S. incoming freshmen who are not residents of Kentucky and demonstrate financial need are eligible for this award. Students must attend Bellarmine University in Kentucky.

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Landscape Forms Design for People Scholarship

$3,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 1 Deadline

This scholarship is for international and U.S. students who are in their final year of full-time undergraduate study in landscape architecture at a LAAB-accredited institution. Applicants must show a proven contribution to the design of public spaces that integrates landscape design and the use of amenities to promote social interaction.

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Steven G. King Play Environments Scholarship

$5,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 1 Deadline

This scholarship is open to international and U.S. students who are in their final two years of undergraduate study or are in graduate programs at a LAAB-accredited institution. Students must be studying landscape architecture with a demonstrated interest and aptitude in the design of play environments.

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The Alexander Foundation Scholarship Fund

$1,650 Award Amount

11 Awards

Mar 16 Deadline

This scholarship is available for Colorado LGBT students who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at a college or university in Colorado.

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Colorado Lamplighters Endowment Scholarship

$500 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 1 Deadline

This scholarship is for U.S. and international undergraduate and graduate students who are residents of Colorado. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

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Les Dames d'Escoffier (LDEI) Colorado Chapter Scholarship Program

$2,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Apr 2 Deadline

This scholarship is open to U.S. female students attending a Colorado postsecondary institution with a focus in a food-related industry (such as culinary, food science, dietetics, nutrition, beverage and fermentation, hospitality and restaurant management, animal science, agriculture, or family and consumer sciences). Students must have one to two years experience in their chosen industry.

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AH&LEF Annual Scholarship Grant Program

$6,000 Award Amount

1 Award

Feb 15 Deadline

This scholarship program is open to U.S. undergraduate students who are enrolled full time in a hospitality management degree-granting program. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (with the exception of the Conrad Hilton Fund, which accepts students with grade point averages of 2.0 or higher).

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Henry Sachs Nursing and Health Science Scholarship at UCCS

$18,000 Award Amount

5 Awards

Mar 15 Deadline

This scholarship is available for African American students who are majoring in nursing or health sciences at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Selection is based primarily on academic achievement and unmet financial need.

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Morris A. Esmiol, Jr. Scholarship

$24,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Mar 15 Deadline

This scholarship is available for African American students who are majoring in engineering at the University of Colorado at Colorado springs. Applications will be primarily evaluated on academic achievement and unmet financial need.

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Sachs Foundation University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine Scholarship

$7,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Mar 15 Deadline

This scholarship is available for African American students who are attending the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Colorado. Applications will be evaluated on a combination of academic achievement and unmet financial need.

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Sachs Foundation Scholarship for Pharmaceutical Sciences

$14,000 Award Amount

2 Awards

Mar 15 Deadline

This scholarship is available for African American students who are enrolled at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado. Selection of award recipients will be based on demonstrated academic performance and unmet financial need.

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Traveler's Foundation Scholarship - Tribal College Students

$4,000 Award Amount

1 Award

May 31 Deadline

This scholarship is open to U.S. college sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are of American Indian or Alaskan Native descent, attend selected tribal institutions, and are residents of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Florida, Minnesota, or Texas. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and demonstrated financial need, and must major in business, accounting, computer science, computer technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or a related field.

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NFMC/Irma Carey Wilson Music Therapy Award

$500 Award Amount

1 Award

Mar 1 Deadline

This award is available for currently enrolled U.S. college sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. Students must be pursuing a degree in music therapy or interning for music therapy, and must attend a school accredited by the American Music Therapy Association.

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Cost of College in Colorado

Snow-covered mountains tower over a sunlit forest in Colorado, glowing with golden hues.

Before diving into the numerous grants and scholarships available to Colorado students, it’s important to understand the cost of attending college in the state. For Colorado residents attending CU Boulder, tuition and fees in 2024-25 will be $14,002 to $19,882, depending on your field of study. Non-residents will pay up to $47,520 in tuition and fees.

At Colorado State University, tuition and fees are $13,373 for in-state students and $34,751 for out-of-state students. Non residents, however, who come from a state that is part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange might be eligible for substantial savings on non-resident tuition at schools like Colorado State, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and Metropolitan State University, to name a few.

Private colleges, such as the University of Denver, charge significantly more than state schools in Colorado, with tuition and fees exceeding $61,000, annually. The good news is that Colorado students have access to scholarships and grants to help reduce the cost of going to school!

If you are interested in serving as an officer in the United States Air Force or Space Force, Uncle Sam will pay for the entire cost of your undergraduate education!

Here’s a breakdown of just a few of the grants and scholarships available to Colorado students:

Colorado State-Funded Scholarships and Grants

Colorado offers a number of generous scholarships and grants through state financial aid programs aimed at making college more affordable for Colorado residents. To be considered for most Colorado state financial aid programs, students will be required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) for undocumented students.

Here are just a few of the opportunities available:

Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI)

The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) is a need-based scholarship designed to provide financial aid to Colorado students pursuing higher education. COSI partners with local communities to offer additional scholarships to residents, with the goal of increasing college enrollment and completion rates. COSI recipients must have and maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and attend an eligible Colorado college or university. Award amounts vary based on school and determined student need.

Colorado Student Grant

The Colorado Student Grant (CSG) is available to undergraduate students who are Colorado residents with documented financial need, as determined by the FAFSA. The CSG grant is designed to help students with the cost of their education and can be used at eligible colleges and universities in Colorado. The grant provides awards of up to $5,000 per year.

Colorado Graduate Grant

The Colorado Graduate Grant (CGG) is available to graduate and professional students who are Colorado residents with documented financial need, as determined by the FAFSA. The CGG grant is designed to help students pursuing certain STEM fields of study, make their education more affordable.The grant provides awards of up to $4,000 per year and can be used at eligible colleges and universities.

Colorado Tuition Assistance Grant

If you are an undergraduate or who is a Colorado resident attending a public college or university in the state, you may be eligible for the Colorado Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG), which can cover between 50% and 100% of any remaining tuition you would otherwise pay after other state and federal financial aid is applied to your tuition and fees. TAG is a need-based grant and your eligibility as well as the amount of your award will be determined by your financial need as determined by your FAFSA or CASFA submission, whether you are a full or part time student, and school you are attending.

Colorado National Guard Tuition Assistance

If you are an eligible member of the Colorado National Guard, you may be eligible for grants that fund up to 100% of your tuition if you are attending an eligible public college or university in Colorado.

Federal Grants

Rock formations glow in vibrant orange at the Garden of the Gods, set against a pastel sky

In addition to state and private scholarships, Colorado students can apply for federal grants, such as the Pell Grant, which provides awards of up to $7,395 in 2024-25. Some students may also be eligible for Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) which can provide an additional $100 to $4,000 per year to fund your undergraduate education. Both Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are available to students from low-income households, and eligibility is determined by the FAFSA.

Institutional Scholarships at Colorado Colleges and Universities

Colorado colleges and universities also offer institutional grants and scholarships based on need, merit, or both. These awards are intended to help reduce the cost of tuition and encourage students to enroll. Here are a few examples of institutional scholarships:

CU Boulder Grants

CU Boulder Grants are available to eligible students who attend the University of Colorado at Boulder. The amount of the grant can vary by student and is based on need. Certain out-of-state residents may also be eligible for a CU Boulder grant provided they are Pell Grant recipients.

CU Boulder Promise

Colorado residents who are from low income households attending the CU Boulder may also be eligible for CU Promise, which provides free tuition and fees for eligible students, after all other state, federal, and institutional aid is applied. Certain students may also be eligible for up to $5,000 in additional grant assistance to cover other educational expenses beyond tuition and fees.

CU Boulder Presidential Scholarship

The CU Boulder Presidential Scholarship is awarded to high-achieving incoming freshmen attending CU Boulder, who are NOT residents of Colorado. This merit-based scholarship is renewable for up to four years and can provide awards of up to $55,000 for four years of study. To be considered for this scholarship, you must have a high school grade point average of at least 3.6 and demonstrate extraordinary academic achievement relative to other students at your high school.

Colorado State University Green and Gold Scholarships

If you are NOT a resident of Colorado and are interested in attending Colorado State University (CSU), CSU’s Green and Gold Scholarships can make doing so more affordable. Award amounts are based on your grade point average and range between $4,000 and $12,500 per year. To be eligible, you must be an incoming freshman and have a high school GPA of at least 3.3. These scholarships are renewable provided you maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and make satisfactory academic progress while at CSU.

Colorado School of Mines President’s Scholarship

The President’s Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that may be used to attend the Colorado School of Mines. The President’s Scholarship is available both to Colorado residents as well as non-residents. It is renewable for up to 8 semesters (4 years) of coursework. The President’s Scholarship covers tuition and fees. To maintain eligibility, students must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. For Colorado residents, awards range from $2,500 to $6,000 per year, while non-residents may receive between $12,000 and $14,000 per year

Private Scholarships for Colorado Students

Denver's skyline rises before the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, framed by sprawling suburbs.

While many students will qualify for state, federal, and private institutional scholarships and grants that can make a considerable difference when it comes to paying for college, most students will find they still will have educational expenses they still owe.This is where private scholarships can play an instrumental role for many students and their families.

Private organizations including companies, non-profit organizations, houses of worship, and foundations in Colorado offer a variety of scholarships to help students with their college expenses. Here are just a few of the private scholarships programs focused on Colorado students.

Boettcher Foundation Scholarship

The Boettcher Foundation Scholarship is one of Colorado’s most prestigious scholarships, having provided over $110 million in scholarship awards over the years! The scholarship provides awards of up to $20,000 per year to attend eligible colleges and universities in Colorado.

The Foundations awards two different types of scholarships – one that provides funding up to a recipient’s cost of attendance and the other up to the cost of full tuition and fees This is a merit-based scholarship that is awarded to high-achieving high school seniors who demonstrate leadership and academic excellence. The scholarship is competitive and typically recipients are in the top 5% of their high school class.

Daniels Fund Scholarship

The Daniels Fund Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship available to graduating high school seniors in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. To qualify, students must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States, have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0, and have minimum SAT or ACT scores. Recipients also must come from households with adjusted gross incomes of $100,000 or less. This scholarship provides awards of up to $25,000 per year and can be used for tuition, fees, room, and board at eligible partner schools in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Smaller awards of up to $7,500 per year may be available to attend non-partner colleges and universities in one of these four states.

Pinnacol Foundation Scholarship

The Pinnacol Foundation Scholarship supports students whose parents have been injured or killed in work-related accidents. This need-based scholarship helps students pursue higher education at most accredited colleges or universities in Colorado or across the U.S. To be eligible to apply, you must be between the ages of 16 and 25 and have a minimum GPA of 2.0. The scholarship provides up to $4,700 and may be used for qualified educational expenses. While renewable, recipients must reapply each year.

Scholarships for Adult Learners in Colorado

Colorado also offers opportunities for adult learners returning to school. Whether you’re completing a degree or pursuing a new career, these scholarships can help cover educational costs:

Finish What You Started Program

The Finish What You Started Program is available to Colorado residents who have completed some college coursework in the past but did not graduate. Award amounts vary and funds can be used to attend a public college or university in Colorado. In addition to funding, Finish What You Started provides important support services for returning students to help them complete their educational journey.

Applying for Scholarships in Colorado: Tips for Success

A serene lake reflects vibrant autumn foliage and the Maroon Bells under a bright sky

Securing scholarships requires careful planning and a focused approach. Here are some tips to help you maximize your chances of success securing scholarships to make your college dreams a reality!

Complete the FAFSA or CASFA early: Many scholarships require students to demonstrate financial need, so it’s important to submit the FAFSA as early as possible. For Colorado students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, you will want to complete the CASFA.

Stay organized: Keep track of deadlines, requirements, and application materials for each scholarship you apply to. Many scholarships require students to apply in high school.

Write a compelling personal essay: Your personal statement can do wonders in setting you apart from your competition! Be sure and highlight your accomplishments, goals, and passion for learning.

Get strong letters of recommendation: Ask teachers, clergy members, employers, or coaches who know you well and can speak to your strengths, whether academic or extracurricular, to write a letter of recommendation. Make sure and ask early and provide any recommender with a good amount of time.

Don’t overlook local opportunities: Many small scholarships are offered by local organizations, houses of worship, companies, high schools, and community foundations – right in your own community!