Colorado College
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Financial Aid Office Mission Statement We support the purpose and priorities of Colorado College through our commitment to provide appropriate financial resources for all qualified prospective and current students so that they may realize their educational goals. We strive for excellence in all we do. We celebrate the opportunity to increase and support the social, ethnic, and economic diversity of the college. We believe in a student-centered environment that is responsive to students and families in an equitable and respectful manner. Colorado College utilizes various types of financial aid to meet aid eligibility. Financial aid awards consist of two main types of assistance — gifts (scholarships and grants) and self-help (loans and work).

Before the fall of 2014, the Butler Center held a training for faculty advisors of incoming students at Colorado College. The training addressed diversity of incoming freshmen, advising approaches, considerations for students of low-income backgrounds or first generation students, and how to make the advising process transparent for students coming from these backgrounds. This training will be completed yearly for advisors of new students.

Colorado College's Bridge program is designed to guide students in their transition from high school to college and provide them with the tools to succeed at Colorado College. While the program is targeted to students from under-resourced high schools, those that are members of a population that has historically been underrepresented at Colorado College, or those who are first generation college students, others are also eligible to apply. Colorado College participates in the Quest Bridge Scholars program. This is a national program to connect under-served youth to higher education.

Crown-Goodman Presidential Scholarship Crown-Goodman Presidential Scholarships provide assistance to students in their senior year at Colorado College who demonstrate financial aid eligibility, have a significant amount of student-loan debt, and have demonstrated an impressive record of achievement and academic success. The recipients of this award will use the proceeds to reduce their student loan debt for their senior year. A scholarship selection committee nominates students. The president of the college awards these scholarships at the Honors Convocation. Federal Pell Grants Federal Pell Grants are based on eligibility as indicated on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Awards range from $590 to $5,815 per year for a full time student who qualifies for this federal assistance. Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are available for students who receive federal Pell Grants and have high financial need. Grants may range from $2,000 to $4,000. Colorado Student Grants Colorado Student Grants (CSG) are appropriated to Colorado College by the Colorado General Assembly and are awarded to Colorado residents on the basis of financial eligibility as determined by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and institutional policies. The financial aid office uses information from the FAFSA to calculate a student’s eligibility, and awards these Colorado state funds as part of the regular financial aid process. There is no additional application process for Colorado state funds.

Prospective students attending the Multicultural Open House are invited to bring their parents to the program. In addition to the travel funding given to students accepted to the multicultural program, CC offers an additional subsidy of up to a total of $500 for parents' travel expenses and provides complimentary accommodations at a nearby hotel.

Programs targeting American Ethnic Minorities, 1st generation students and participants of CBOs: CC's Multicultural Open House Program offers prospective students, especially those of American ethnic minority groups, an inside look at student life at Colorado College. Perspective students are invited to take a campus tour, visit a class, stay overnight with a CC student host, participate in an admission interview and financial aid workshop, and experience a variety of academic, cultural and extra-curricular events. Students are invited to bring their parents to the open house. If accepted to the program, Colorado College will pay up to $500 of travel expenses. CC offers special CBO groups on campus thoroughout the fall. Most of these groups are high school students; however, the College has hosted middle school groups as well to promote a college going culture. CC hosts a spring fly-in program for admitted American ethnic minority and merit scholarship students. This program covers the cost of their flights for these students to attend one of CC's Spring Open Houses. In April 2015, CC held an open house with the specific intention of having low-income and first generation students host incoming and prospective students for the open house weekend. Colorado College hosted the Bridge Builders Forum in the fall of 2015, where the Director of the Butler Center, Paul Buckley, was the keynote speaker. This forum is meant to include young men of color. During the program, many low-income and first generation students from Colorado Springs attended.

Depending on aid eligibility, the Financial Aid Office may choose to give students an opportunity to pay off part of their cost of attending Colorado College through the work study program. Student employees, typically working 10-12 hours per week, are given either on-campus jobs or direct service positions with nonprofit community service agencies or school districts in Colorado Springs.

Colorado College is committed to fund the full demonstrated need of students who apply for financial aid on time. The student's need is typically met with a combination of grants, a small amount of loans and work-study opportunities. In general, grants from Colorado College endowed and gift funds fund approximately 90% of the student's need. Student loan debt for our most recent Colorado College graduates was less than $22,000 which is well below the national average of $32,000+.

Colorado College does not offer scholarship opportunities specifically for part-time students.

Colorado College has an onsite child care facility that serves students, faculty, and staff. The Financial Aid Office offers one scholarship for single parents to help provide for childcare needs. In other cases, students can appeal for support and situations are reviewed on a case by case basis.