General Scholarship Strategies

Remember this important fact: The bulk of financial assistance is from colleges (institutional aid) - often called merit aid.

There are, though, many thousands of organizations that provide scholarships. Most of those scholarship awards are modest amounts from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Often these take almost the same time and effort as scholarships with higher awards. “97% of students that are awarded (non-institutional) scholarships receive $2,500 or less.” Source

Summary of the process you should follow: Plan, research, and apply early. This is a great task to tag team with parents or family members. Have them research for interesting scholarships, then hand off to the student to check details and write essays, etc.

Be wary of scams! Watch for these warning signs.
- A fee is required
- “Guaranteed” winners
- Requests sensitive information
- Unsolicited congratulations (especially if you haven’t applied)
- Pressurized language like “Act Now!” or “Time limited offer!”
- Watch for poor grammar or spelling
Check with your high school counselor - they often have excellent knowledge of local scholarships
These types of organizations often give scholarships
- State scholarships
- Religious organizations
- Service organizations (e.g. Lions, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, etc.)
- Activity organizations like Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts
- Employers of parents or grandparents
- Often alumni of colleges will set up scholarships for a specific college. Those can be found on the college website.
Read the qualifying rules carefully. Often it is based on residency, but can be based on many things.
Be prepared
- Have current activities list or resume
- Check if SAT or ACT scores are required - for the largest scholarships, this is typically required
- If applying to multiple organizations, track them on a spreadsheet with due dates, essay requirements, etc.

“You’re off to great places. Today is your first day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”

— Dr. Seuss

Specific Scholarships With Larger Awards

QuestBridge - Designed for low income families (typically under $65,000 adjusted gross income for a family of four). Many selective colleges participate, including Colorado College. A complicated process but if matched, the student gets a full ride for all four years. We were thrilled to have a student match this year.

The Gates Scholarship - Designed for Pell-eligible underrepresented minorities with 3.3+ GPA.

Daniels Fund - Full cost of attendance at 15 Colorado partner schools, up to $25,000/yr non-partner or out of state schools. Any accredited US school. Household income of (AGI) of $100,000 or less, 3.0+ unweighted GPA, ACT or SAT required.

SMART Scholarship-for-Service (DoD) - Full tuition + $30,000–$46,000 annual stipend + health insurance + summer internships. Open to U.S. citizens pursuing STEM degrees in one of 24 approved disciplines at any accredited U.S. institution, including all Colorado schools. Requires minimum 3.0 GPA and ability to obtain security clearance. Service commitment of one year of DoD civilian employment per year of scholarship. Excellent for low-income students given full coverage plus substantial stipend.

Barry Goldwater Scholarship - Awards $7,500/year for sophomores (2 years) or juniors (1 year) pursuing STEM research careers. Requires institutional nomination. CU Boulder and Colorado School of Mines regularly have recipients.

Sachs Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship - Exclusively for Black/African American Colorado residents (minimum 3-year residency) pursuing full-time undergraduate study. No stated minimum GPA or test score requirement; selection considers academic merit, recommendations, personal statement, and financial need (FAFSA required). Finalists participate in a required program in Colorado Springs in June. Can be used at any accredited institution nationwide.

Colorado specific scholarships

Boettcher Foundation Scholarship - $20,000/yr from the foundation plus institutional match (public) or full tuition (private). Typical recipients are in top 2% of their class with 1400 SAT on average. Purely merit based, no financial need consideration.

Astronaut Scholarship Foundation - Awards up to $15,000 to STEM students (not pre-med) who are U.S. citizens in their junior or senior year. Students cannot apply directly—faculty nomination required. Participating Colorado schools include Colorado School of Mines, CU Boulder, and Colorado State University. Deadline: March 30.

Puksta Scholars Program - Awards $7,500/year renewable for four years ($30,000 total) plus access to project funding, trainings, and retreats. Limited to Colorado residents with demonstrated financial need and interest in social justice and community engagement. Requires separate application and interview after admission to CU Boulder, CU Denver, CSU, DU or Metropolitan State University. Well-suited for low-income students with service orientation.

ARCS Foundation Colorado Chapter - Awards $6,500/year to outstanding STEM students with financial need at partner schools including Colorado School of Mines, CU Boulder, and CSU. Selected by department heads; applications open in July.

Colorado Instutition specific scholarships

General Scholarships
Colorado School of Mines offers several full-tuition named scholarships with separate application requirements through their General Scholarship Application (deadline: March 1).
Grewcock Presidential Scholarship stands as Mines' flagship award: full tuition and mandatory fees plus leadership programming funding, totaling $80,000–$168,000 over four years. Funded by a $30 million gift from Kiewit Corporation Chairman Bruce Grewcock (Mines '76), only 10 recipients are selected annually through a competitive essay and interview process. No specific GPA requirement, but emphasis is on character and leadership potential.
Harvey Scholarship Program covers full tuition and mandatory fees (after COF for Colorado residents), approximately $20,000/year for residents or $42,000/year for non-residents, renewable for eight semesters. Requirements include maintaining 3.0 GPA and attending monthly enrichment luncheons through the PASCAL Center.
E-Days Scholarship provides full resident tuition for four years (~$80,000 total) exclusively to Colorado residents. Selected by student committee based on high school credentials and a competitive essay, with a 2.5 GPA maintenance requirement.
Starzer Service Scholarship awards $5,000–$10,000 annually (renewable) with preference for Colorado residents and service-oriented leaders. The Bliss Scholarship specifically targets first-generation college students with wraparound support and advising.
Monfort Scholarship is CSU's premier full-ride award: full tuition, fees, room and board stipend, and book allowance totaling approximately $25,000–$30,000+ annually. Eligibility requires Colorado residency and placement in the top 5% of graduating class (or #1–2 in classes under 40), plus demonstrated leadership and outstanding character.
The application process requires admission by February 1, completion of the Colorado State University Scholarship Application (CSUSA) by March 1, plus two additional letters of recommendation postmarked by March 1. The program has expanded to specifically target students with demonstrated financial need—excellent for low-income high achievers.
President's Leadership Class (PLC) serves as the umbrella for several named scholarships. The Ruyle Family Scholarship provides $10,000/year for four years ($40,000 total) specifically for Colorado residents who are underrepresented, first-generation from rural areas, or members of federally recognized Indian tribes. Female students are especially encouraged to apply. Requires separate PLC application with a February 15 deadline.
FirstBank Scholars awards $4,000/year for four years ($16,000 total) to PLC members considering both merit and need. The Tim Pestotnik Scholarship provides $2,500 to two recipients annually, specifically targeting PLC students with high demonstrated financial need (nomination-based, no separate application).
UCCS website with various scholarships.
Kane Family Foundation Scholarship covers full tuition, fees, and books for up to four years, worth approximately $60,000 total. Funded by Wanden and Andy Kane of Fountain, Colorado, eligibility requires Colorado residency, 3.5+ high school GPA, consistent extracurricular involvement, and typical placement in top 10% of class. Deadline is February 1 through the UCCS Scholarship Application.
Chancellor's Leadership Class Scholarship provides $4,000/year for four years ($16,000 total) for high school seniors with minimum 3.5 GPA demonstrating leadership potential and service commitment. Application deadline is February 1, followed by finalist interviews in March.
College scholarship website.
Barnes Scholarships (Otis A. and Margaret T. Barnes Trusts) cover full tuition worth approximately $65,000+/year (~$260,000 over four years) for STEM majors including chemistry, biochemistry, biology, environmental science, geology, physics, psychology/neuroscience, mathematics, and computer science. Requires U.S. citizenship, strong math/science coursework, and a separate Barnes Interest Form with 600–800 word essay plus additional STEM faculty recommendation. Financial need is considered. Deadline: January 4.
El Pomar Scholarship covers full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board) worth approximately $80,000+/year (~$320,000 total). Limited to Colorado residents who qualify for need-based aid and demonstrate interest in public policy or nonprofit careers with significant community service. Requires El Pomar Interest Form, resume, essay, additional recommendation, and virtual interview for finalists. Deadline: January 18. This is exceptionally well-suited for low-income students interested in public service.
Woman's Educational Society (WES) Scholarship awards up to 37% of tuition (~$24,000/year) for students aligned with gender equity values. U.S. citizenship required; need-based aid eligible students specifically encouraged. Requires 500–700 word essay on furthering gender equity. Deadline: January 18.
QuestBridge National College Match provides a full four-year scholarship worth $325,000+ at Colorado College (partner since 2013). This is specifically designed for high-achieving, low-income students with household income typically under $65,000. Requires the complete QuestBridge application, separate from Common App, with a deadline in late September/early October. This is among the nation's premier opportunities for academically advanced low-income students.
General webpage.
Puksta Scholars Program awards $7,500/year renewable for four years ($30,000 total) plus access to project funding, trainings, and retreats. Limited to Colorado residents with demonstrated financial need and interest in social justice and community engagement. Requires separate application and interview after receiving DU admission. Well-suited for low-income students with service orientation.
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tuition Scholarship covers full standard tuition (~$55,000/year, $220,000 total) for enrolled members of the Cheyenne & Arapaho of Oklahoma, Northern Cheyenne of Montana, or Northern Arapaho of Wyoming. Awarded automatically upon providing tribal enrollment number on Common Application.