Scholarships
Scholarships are gift aid, so in most cases you do not repay them. Most CU Anschutz scholarships come from your school or program, and many more come from employers, communities, nonprofits and professional organizations.
Merit-Based Scholarships
Awarded for meeting or exceeding standards the donor sets, such as academic achievement or a special talent, trait or interest.
Need-Based Scholarships
Awarded based on financial need: your cost of attendance minus your Student Aid Index.
Scholarships From Your Program
Each school and program runs its own scholarship process: it sets its own applications and deadlines and chooses its own recipients. The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office does not choose recipients, so check with your program's admissions or student services office for current scholarships and how to apply.
NO APPLICATION NEEDED FOR SOME AWARDS
Our office awards a small number of need-based institutional scholarships as part of your first financial aid offer. They are based on your FAFSA and awarded first come, first served while funds last, so file your FAFSA early. You do not need to apply separately for these.
Waiting on a Scholarship Payment
From Your School or Department
Ask your school or department to confirm that it sent the award information to our office. Once it has, allow 10 business days for the scholarship to appear on your financial aid offer in UCDAccess.
It then pays automatically, but no earlier than one week before the term starts.
From a Private Donor
Give your donor the mailing information under For Donors below, and ask the donor to confirm that the payment was sent. Once it has, allow 15 business days for the scholarship to appear on your financial aid offer.
It then pays automatically, but no earlier than one week before the term starts.
EVERY SCHOLARSHIP COUNTS AS AID
All scholarships must be included in your financial aid package, and a new scholarship may reduce your eligibility for other aid.
How Scholarships Affect Your Other Aid
Your total aid from all sources, including scholarships, grants, work-study and loans, cannot exceed your cost of attendance. When it would, we adjust your other aid to correct the overaward. How Aid Is Awarded explains how outside assistance and sponsored payments fit into your award.
Tuition-Only Scholarships
Many scholarships can pay toward your whole cost of attendance, including living expenses. Some can pay only tuition and fees. If you receive several tuition-only scholarships, any amount over your tuition and fees may be moved to a future term or returned to the donor.
Service Scholarships
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC), NURSE Corps and Health Professions (HPSP) scholarships usually pay tuition and fees plus a monthly stipend. The full amount counts toward your aid for the year and reduces your eligibility for other federal, state, institutional and private aid. Tell us at [email protected] as soon as you expect one of these awards.
Find More Scholarships
You never have to pay to find, apply for or receive a scholarship. Check that every offer is legitimate, and learn how to avoid scholarship scams.
Also look to foundations, religious and community organizations, local businesses, civic groups, professional associations in your field, cultural and heritage organizations and your own or your family's employers.
For Donors and Departments
WHO TO ASK
Questions about your aid come to us at [email protected] or 303-724-8039. Questions about your bill, your refund or direct deposit go to the Bursar's Office.