Colorado FosterEd
Offered by Colorado Department of Higher Education · Free to apply
FosterEd pays the full cost of attendance at Colorado public colleges, universities, local district colleges and area technical colleges for students who were in Colorado foster care or non-certified kinship care on or after their 13th birthday and were adjudicated neglected or dependent. The program is last dollar: it pays whatever remains of the total cost of attendance after other scholarships and grants, which can include tuition, fees, housing, food, books, supplies, local transportation, a computer allowance, child care and medical insurance. It covers up to 132 attempted semester credits from the time a student joins. Starting with 2026-27, students must apply every year, file the FAFSA or the Colorado state aid application (CASFA), and have their college financial aid file complete by each deadline. For 2026-27 those dates are September 1, 2026 for fall, January 15, 2027 for spring and June 1, 2027 for summer. The 2027-28 application opens March 1, 2027. Proof of foster care comes from a court affidavit or the state's confirmation form.
Other deadlines near this one
- South Dakota Opportunity ScholarshipDue September 1, 2027 · $7,500 over 4 years
- Tennessee Aspire AwardDue September 1, 2027 · Up to $750 per semester at four-year colleges, $250 at two-year colleges (on top of HOPE)
- Tennessee Dependent Children ScholarshipDue September 1, 2027 · Up to the full cost of attendance, based on need and available funds
How hard is the Colorado FosterEd to win?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.
- Estimated odds
- qualifying students generally receive it
- Paperwork
- ~3 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Colorado residents
- Fewer rivalsRequires a specific life circumstance
- Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
- More rivalsA large award draws far more applicants
How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the Colorado FosterEd?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Colorado
- Must attend a college in Colorado (the award does not travel out of state)
- Open to high school seniors
- For current or former foster youth
- Must have been in Colorado foster care or non-certified kinship care on or after age 13 and adjudicated neglected or dependent
- Must apply each year and complete the college's financial aid file by the semester deadline
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The next projected deadline is September 1, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual September 1 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open March 1.
- Spring deadline
- September 1, 2027 (estimated)
- Application opens
- March 1, 2027
- Final deadline for the year
- September 1, 2027 (estimated)
- Fall deadline
- September 1, 2027 (estimated)
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the Colorado FosterEd
How much is the Colorado FosterEd worth?
The Colorado FosterEd awards full cost of attendance after other grants and is renewable in later years.
When is the Colorado FosterEd deadline?
The next projected deadline is September 1, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual September 1 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open March 1.
When do Colorado FosterEd applications open?
Applications open March 1, and close September 1, 2027 (estimated).
Who is eligible for the Colorado FosterEd?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Colorado; Must attend a college in Colorado (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school seniors; For current or former foster youth.
Does the Colorado FosterEd require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 3 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Colorado FosterEd?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives. Solyo classifies this award as qualify and receive, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 3 hrs of paperwork.
Is the Colorado FosterEd free to apply?
Yes. The Colorado FosterEd is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More state grants & programs
- Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) Matching Student Scholarship$1,250-$6,500/yr (most students receive about $2,000/yr) · due March 1, 2027
- Colorado PromiseOut-of-pocket tuition and fees for up to 65 credits, refunded as a tax credit · due June 30, 2027
- Commonwealth September 11, 2001 Tragedy Tuition Waiver100% tuition waiver at Massachusetts public colleges · due June 30, 2027
- DC Mayor's Scholars Undergraduate ProgramUp to $4,000 a year, last-dollar toward a first associate or bachelor's degree · due August 21, 2027
- DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG)Up to $15,000/yr at public colleges ($75,000 lifetime); up to $3,750/yr at private HBCUs and DC-area private nonprofits ($18,750 lifetime) · due August 21, 2027
- Delaware Fostering Independence Through Education Tuition WaiverTuition, mandatory fees, on-campus housing and meal plan at UD, DSU and Delaware Tech · due June 30, 2027
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.