While most commonly regarded for its large public research universities such as The University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, and the University of Denver, Colorado is home to higher education institutions of all shapes and sizes.
Whether you’re a high school student looking at attending a Colorado college or university, or you’re a current undergraduate or graduate student at one of Colorado's two or four-year institutions, this post highlights over a dozen great scholarships and resources for you to take advantage of.
Let's go over a few notable Colorado scholarships for students.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: June 30, December 31
Before we get into all of the Mississippi-specific private scholarships, check out our very own no-essay scholarship open to high school students of all years!
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31
Eligibility: Open to high school, college and graduate school students. Open to US residents, undocumented students, and international students studying in the US. No essay required!
Amount: $25,000
Deadline: Monthly
Details: This monthly scholarship is open to all college students! Just fill out one simple registration form.
Amount: $4,700
Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Applicants must also be the natural child, adopted child, stepchild or full dependent of a worker who was injured or killed in a compensable work-related accident during the course and scope of employment with a Colorado-based employer and was entitled to receive benefits under the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act.
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: This scholarship is for a full-time student pursuing a Certificate or Associates degree in Welding. Preference will be given to residents of the state of Colorado and first-generation college students.
Amount: up to $7,000
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: The Winifred R. Reynolds Education Scholarship supports students pursuing graduate degrees focused on early childhood education (ECE), Child Development, or an equivalent field with coursework focused specifically on ECE. Minimum 3.5 GPA.
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Open to Colorado high school seniors or continuing college students, who will attend a college/university within the State of Colorado. CCHS/CR is a voluntary organization and therefore the primary selection criterion for this scholarship will be Volunteerism/Community Service.
Amount: $40,000 - $50,000 total
Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Open to black students who are high school seniors and planning to pursue undergraduate degrees beginning in the upcoming autumn.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 18
Eligibility: Open to qualified students in foodservice/hospitality management programs.
Amount: up to $3,000 per year
Deadline: March 22
Eligibility: Open to Colorado residents who self-identify as Latino or are committed to serving the Latino community in the state of Colorado. Minimum GPA of 3.0 and must be a high school senior.
Amount: $3,000
Deadline: April 5
Eligibility: Open to students pursuing degrees at an accredited institution of higher education in the state of Colorado. Selection for awards are based on merit, need, and service to the LGBTQ+ community.
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Open to women 25 years of age and older who are Colorado residents.
Amount: Up to full tuition*
Deadline: October 18
Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors who are residents of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
Amount: $20,000 per year
Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Merit-based scholarship available to graduating seniors in the state of Colorado. Selection based on academic achievement, leadership, service and character.
Amount: up to $5,000/year
Deadline: First deadline is November 14
Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors who are planning to attend 4-year, accredited institutions. Must be a resident of one of the following states – California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New York, or North Carolina, and have a minimum un-weighted, cumulative GPA of 3.5. Financial need required.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: The scholarship is available to non-traditional students in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming who are enrolled in undergraduate degree programs at select two- and four-year colleges and universities. Must have demonstrated financial need.
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Award available to declared accounting majors at Colorado colleges and universities with accredited accounting programs.
In conjunction with browsing the Colorado scholarships listed above, The Colorado Department of Higher Education is a great resource and starting point for Colorado students looking for more information on higher education, financial aid and paying for college. Students can access a ton of great resources through the CDHE, some of which are listed here:
Colorado student debt snapshot
According to Chalkbeat.org, nearly 800,000 Colorado borrowers owe nearly $30 million in student debt, with the average Colorado student borrowing $37,000 through student loans to help pay for college.
There are a few ways students can work to minimize the amount of money borrowed to help pay for school, but scholarships is a big one! As you can see from the opportunities listed above, Colorado scholarships come in all shapes and sizes.
In addition to private scholarship opportunities available through companies and non-profit organizations, students should also be sure to file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to be considered for federal aid but also state-specific grants.