The Colorado Opportunity Fund for Colleges

Last Updated on February 1, 2024 by Lori Pace

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The State of Colorado is Investing in Your Education through its opportunity fund. So, are you thinking of attending a Colorado public or private college? If you are a student at a participating college, and you meet the eligibility requirements, this is your chance to get the state benefit. Qualified students can use the stipend for undergraduate classes. The college will receive the stipend on a per-credit-hour basis. The General Assembly sets the credit-hour amount each year.

What Is The Colorado College Opportunity Fund (COF)?

A trust fund established by the Colorado Legislature provides tuition stipends to undergraduate students. The stipend covers a portion of your in-state tuition if you’re in a participating college.

How Do I Apply For The College Opportunity Fund Stipend?

Click on “Apply Now!” on the COF homepage to apply for the tuition subsidy. After completing the stipend form, you will create an account that is accessible to both you and the college that you attend in case it asks for payment.

To be eligible, undergraduate students must submit an application and be accepted to COF-eligible courses at a participating college. The stipend is available to both new and returning undergraduate students. The stipend is available to qualified students for eligible undergraduate classes. The college where the student is studying receives the stipend on a per-credit-hour basis.

What Is A Stipend?

The state of Colorado pays a “stipend” per credit hour to an eligible undergraduate student at a participating Colorado college. The Colorado General Assembly sets the annual amount of the stipend for each credit hour. The amount of Stipend will not affect the student’s in-state tuition. Each eligible undergraduate student will receive the same per-credit-hour amount from a participating public university or college.

A Colorado private college that is eligible for undergraduate students will pay fifty percent (50%) of its annually established stipend. The college will report the total hours of stipend per student to the College Opportunity Fund. COF matches student information from the college with the student’s COF Account data in its database. This information is the information you gave when you created your stipend accounts. The college then disburses the requested stipend amount directly to COF.

Eligibility Requirements For Colorado Opportunity Fund

Attending a Participating Public College:

Undergraduate students in public colleges are eligible if they are in-state students for tuition purposes, are taking COF-eligible classes, and meet the COF eligibility requirements. The college will determine these criteria.

Attending a Participating Private College:

Undergraduate students in participating private colleges may be eligible if the college is in the program under the approval of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and the student:

Is classified as an in-state student for tuition purposes;
Is a graduate of a Colorado high school or has successfully completed a non-public home-based educational program in Colorado;
Demonstrates financial need through the student’s eligibility for the federal Pell Grant, or its successor program;

Is not pursuing a professional degree in theology; and
Meets any other eligibility requirements established by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE).

Note: “Eligible Undergraduate Student” does not include a student enrolled in an off-campus, extended campus, or continuing education class not supported by state general fund money, except as approved by CCHE.

Please contact the Office of the Registrar at the college you are attending to ask if the classes you’re taking are eligible for COF.

Participating Colleges

The following four-year public colleges and universities:

Adams State University, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, Colorado State University-Pueblo, Fort Lewis College, Colorado Mesa University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Northern Colorado, Western Colorado University

The following two-year public colleges:

Arapahoe Community College, Colorado Northwestern Community College, Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, Front Range Community College, Lamar Community College, Morgan Community College, Northeastern Junior College, Otero College, Pikes Peak Community College, Pueblo Community College, Red Rocks Community College, Trinidad State College

The following private universities:

Colorado Christian University, Regis University, University of Denver

Frequently Asked Questions About The Colorado Opportunity Fund

How does the Stipend get sent to my college?

We will be able to tell your college where you are enrolled as well as the number of eligible hours for stipend credit you have completed each term. Your college will receive the stipend amount. The College Opportunity Fund Stipend will be credited to your total in-state tuition cost on your student bill.

How do I transfer my College Opportunity Fund account to the new participating college?

Before your college can request stipend funding for you, you must first register at your new college. Your authorization will allow your college to request funding from your COF account. This authorization is done directly with the college during registration. If you are unsure if you have given permission for the college to request your COF stipend after you have registered, please contact the Office of the Registrar at your college or the Enrollment Service area. Many colleges offer the possibility to choose a “lifetime authorization option.” You don’t need to authorize your college each term to request payment to COF.