State Grants & ProgramsQualify and receive

Colorado Promise

Offered by Colorado Department of Higher Education · Free to apply

Colorado Promise (Two Free Years of College Expanded) repays income-qualified Colorado students for the tuition and fees they pay out of pocket for up to 65 credits at any Colorado public college, including community colleges, four-year universities, area technical colleges and local district colleges. It works as a yearly refundable state tax credit: whatever the student paid after scholarships and grants during the year is reimbursed when the student files a Colorado tax return the next year, so filing taxes is required even for students who normally would not. There is no application. Students qualify if they have in-state tuition status, finished high school after January 1, 2024, start college within two academic years of graduating, have a family adjusted gross income of $90,000 or less, and file the FAFSA or the Colorado state aid application (CASFA) each year, ideally by January 15. To stay eligible they need a 2.5 term GPA and at least 6 credits passed each semester. It stacks with campus promise programs.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Colorado Promise 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: ~2 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 rivalsAn income ceiling applies
Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only

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 Promise?

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
Household income of $90,000 or less

Confirm these before applying

Family adjusted gross income must be $90,000 or less
Must start at a Colorado public college within two academic years of high school graduation

Good to know

Reimbursement arrives as a tax credit the following year; the student must file a Colorado return
Must earn a 2.5 term GPA and pass at least 6 credits each semester

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.

Match my student to scholarships

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 June 30, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual June 30 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open October 1 (FAFSA/CASFA opens).

FAFSA/CASFA opens: October 1, 2026
File FAFSA or CASFA: June 30, 2027 (estimated)
Reimbursement via Colorado tax return: Following tax season 2028

Track the next deadline Apply on the official site

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 Promise

How much is the Colorado Promise worth?

The Colorado Promise awards out-of-pocket tuition and fees for up to 65 credits, refunded as a tax credit and is renewable in later years.

When is the Colorado Promise deadline?

When do Colorado Promise applications open?

Applications open October 1 (FAFSA/CASFA opens), and close June 30, 2027 (estimated).

Who is eligible for the Colorado Promise?

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; Household income of $90,000 or less.

Does the Colorado Promise require an essay?

No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 2 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Colorado Promise?

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 2 hrs of paperwork.

Is the Colorado Promise free to apply?

Yes. The Colorado Promise 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

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.