Advisors LEAD is a professional development course designed to help Colorado's advisors increase their skills and competencies in five key areas: equity and inclusion-driven practices, math pathways literacy, purpose-driven advising, effective virtual advising, and…
Harnessing innovation is not only a goal of the Colorado Commission of Higher Education—it is integral to meeting the needs and ambitious vision necessary to supplying an educated workforce of the future. Nearly three in four jobs in Colorado require some education beyond high school, which…
The 2025-2026 Career Launch Cycle has closed. Stay tuned! COSI will post a new award cycle when funding is available. The Career Launch grant is designed to provide tuition support to students via matching funds for community scholarships so that tuition costs…
Make Your Education Work for You.What Is A Collegiate Apprenticeship?Colorado is building a new pathway toward career-focused higher education. An apprenticeship is an opportunity to receive hands-on career training, an education and a paycheck. We’re focused on building pathways in critical…
The 2026-27 CASFA is now available! Click "Start Your Application" to begin.Eligibility Expansion and Data Security2024-25 CASFA Status ReportStart Your ApplicationCASFA is for students who are not eligible for Federal Student Aid, undocumented students or students…
In 2019, Colorado legislators passed Senate Bill 19-003 to address Colorado’s educator shortages by providing loan forgiveness to educators. The law authorizes the Colorado Department of Higher Education to offer loan repayment assistance on qualified loans for educators, primarily for those who…
GEAR UP is a national, federally funded pre-collegiate grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP is an acronym that stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness For Undergraduate…
You’ve got potential. We’ve got a promise.Introducing Colorado Promise – an income-qualified program that pays you back for up to 65 college credits.It’s all about Colorado making higher education more affordable and more attainable for Colorado students and their families. We believe education…
The Colorado Re-Engaged (CORE) Initiative enables four-year institutions in Colorado to award an earned associate degree to eligible students who have stopped-out from a baccalaureate program after earning at least 70 credit hours. In enacting the supporting legislation, the Colorado Legislature…
The Reverse Transfer program allows students who transferred from a Colorado two-year institution to a four-year institution to combine credits apply them toward an associate degree from the two-year college you previously attended. The program was introduced in 2014.Next Round: Beginning in…
COSI provides multi-year grants throughout the state to provide funding toward programs that help prepare students for postsecondary education, as well as support them through completion. Annually approximately 20 postsecondary programs and 40 rural high school…
Concurrent and dual enrollment programs allow high school students in Colorado to enroll in postsecondary institutions and earn credit towards graduation. There are several programs available, some of which offer tuition reimbursement by the school district. For more information on the programs…
The COSI Achieve grant pairs funding for scholarships with holistic support services, ensuring that all students participating in the program receive both. The program combines two of COSI’s grant program Matching Student Scholarships, which provides tuition support, and Community Partnership…
Colorado is launching an official replication of the City University of New York's (CUNY) nationally recognized Accelerated Study in Academic Programs (ASAP). Proven to double graduation rates, CUNY ASAP provides comprehensive financial, academic, and personal support. With funding from Arnold…
COSI's Youth Mentorship Scholarship Program awarded grant funding to four organizations to provide scholarships to college students in exchange for mentorship services. In 2023, SB23-149 created the COSI youth mentorship assistance grant pilot program and…
The Colorado Commission on Higher Education has statutory responsibility for administration of Title 23, Article 2 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which authorizes certain types of institutions to offer degrees and/or degree credits.
The Division administers the Private Occupational School Act on behalf of the Governor appointed Private Occupational School Board, which meets monthly to approve new schools, school renewals, school programs and courses per the Act and Rules. To protect students against fraudulent and substandard…
SummaryThe Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program is a federally funded program administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. The program provides Colorado residents who are currently or have previously been in foster care and are between the…
EmpowerEd is a state-funded program, administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, that provides financial assistance at participating in-state public institutions of higher education for students who experienced homelessness, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homelessness…
In 2020, the COSI Board approved the first Finish What You Started (FWYS) program (focused on adults 25+, Adams County residents, with some college, no degree), an outcomes-based contract providing bonus payments for services that increase enrollment, persistence,…
The FosterEd program pays for the total cost of attendance for qualifying students who attend public institutions of higher education within Colorado. This state-funded program pays for the remaining balance of the total cost of attendance after scholarships, grants, and other financial…
With the $3.8 billion of state aid provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Governor and Colorado legislature have allocated approximately $200 million towards workforce development and education. Through HB21-1330 the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) received $1.5 million to…
Statewide plan for awarding college credit for work-related experience. The act requires the department of higher education to conduct a study concerning awarding academic credit for prior learning within all state institutions of higher education (institutions).An existing council charged with…
Matching Student Scholarship Grants are intended to solicit applications from eligible counties and institutions of higher education to increase the amount of scholarship giving available for postsecondary students in Colorado. The initiative partners with local programs, matching new scholarship…
My Colorado Journey is a free, groundbreaking statewide platform that connects you to work, education, support services and action planning. Charting your path to what’s possibleColorado state agencies—from workforce development, education and human services—have teamed up to provide you with…
The Colorado Center for Rural Education and the Colorado Department of Higher Education encourage talented K-12 educators in rural Colorado school districts to pursue National Board Teacher Certification (NBCT). All NBCT stipend recipients will receive support and mentorship from NBCT…
