Colorado Student Loan And Financial Aid Programs

Colorado has several private student loan and financial aid programs that can help you pay for college. If you're going to be attending college in Colorado, you need to be looking to take advantage of these programs.

These programs are designed to help make college more affordable - so that you can get the education you need. These programs can include scholarships, grants, and student loans.

Don't forget that there are Federal student loan programs available as well. You can find out more on how to get a Federal student loan here.

There is also a specific order of operations to pay for college that we recommend students follow. These programs specific to the State of Colorado can help you to avoid borrowing more money than you need to. 

Colorado Student Loan Programs

Colorado does not have any specific student loan programs available to it's students. Remember, all students are eligible for Federal student loans - you just need to fill out the FAFSA and apply for the loan.

However, there are limits to how much you can borrow (which might be why you're here).  

If you're just looking for private student loan options, we recommend:

• Credible - Like the Kayak of student loans, they help you shop around and compare options. Try Credible here.
• College Ave - One of the best private student loan lenders. Get A Quote At College Ave Here.

Check out our complete guide to finding the best student loans here.

Colorado Scholarship Programs

Colorado has the following scholarship programs:

Colorado Second Chance Scholarship Program

Note: Colorado voted to defund this program in 2020 due to Covid-19.

The Second Chance Scholarship program seeks to award scholarships for the pursuit of a postsecondary credential leading to gainful employment to youth previously committed to the Division of Youth Services in the Colorado Department of Human Services.

The maximum award is $10,000 per year.

Colorado Grant Programs

Colorado offers several grant programs to their residents. All grant programs are administered by your college or university financial aid office and the State of Colorado provides little information on grants otherwise.

Colorado Student Grant

The Colorado Student Grant and Colorado Graduate Grant are based on FASFA information, including family finances. Following the State of Colorado’s guidelines, grants are made by specific institutions and are to be used for tuition, books, fees, room, board, and supplies.

The maximum grant award is $5,000.

Colorado College Opportunity Fund

The College Opportunity Fund pays a portion of tuition for students enrolled for eligible undergraduate classes.

Based on a per credit basis, the stipend equals around $62.00 per credit (this rate is set annually). Therefore, if a student takes 15 credit hours per semester, the stipend will be approximately $1,860 for the year at public universities. For students enrolled in private colleges, half that amount will be awarded. 

Other Options

If you already have student loans and are looking for options as a Colorado resident, check out our Colorado Student Loan Forgiveness Program page. That page has all the different options available to Colorado residents to potentially get some of your student loan debt forgiven.

You might also look at refinancing your student loans and saving money in interest while also potentially lowering your payment. Check out our guide on the Best Places To Refinance Your Student Loans.

If you're looking for ways to save for college in Colorado, check out our guide to Colorado 529 Plans and College Savings.

Finally, check out the other student loan and financial aid programs by state.