Nondegree Student Scholarships

Continuing Education offers scholarships for nondegree students.

Application and Award Process

• Submit the appropriate application along with a 250-500 word essay addressing your past educational history, your future educational and career goals, and the specific way in which the scholarship will assist you in meeting those goals.
• The award amount is based on available funding and a competitive essay review. Scholarship essays will be rated based on the following elements:

• • (4 points) Content The essay fully addresses all portions of the prompt and has a central point that is interesting, original, substantial, and maybe even striking. The author uses concrete details to “show” rather than merely “tell” their story.
  • (3 points) Readability/Organization The central idea is developed in the essay through well-chosen and appropriate language. The essay is organized and well-structured. There is a beginning, a body, and a conclusion and transitions help the paper flow smoothly. Introductory statements are interesting and appropriate. Concluding statements are satisfying.
  • (2 points) Tone The essay is written in the authentic voice of the writer. It is compelling and interesting. The tone is consistent and shows effort/thought was put in.
  • (1 point) Grammar/Standard language use Author has given thought to form, grammar, and structure and is writing at a college level of English.
• Awardees will be notified via the email given on the application.

If you have any questions or are unable to log into the appropriate application form, please contact us at ceadvise@colorado.edu.

Nondegree Fall & Spring Scholarships

Eligibility

• Nondegree student at CU Boulder (not formally admitted to a degree program)
• Must be enrolled in courses for credit offered through main campus, CE Evening Credit, CE Online Credit, and Applied Music

Scholarship Details

• The maximum award for the scholarship is $1,000, not to exceed 80% of the resident tuition rate of a three-credit course.
• Students may be awarded a Continuing Education scholarship only once during their time as a nondegree student.
• Scholarships offered through CE are classified as general fund (i.e. compatible with VA benefits).

The fall 2023 application deadline is September 8, 2023. The spring 2024 application deadline is January 28, 2024.

Apply now

Nondegree Summer Scholarship

Eligibility

• Must be a nondegree student (not formally admitted to a CU Boulder degree program)
• Must be enrolled in courses for credit offered through CE Online Credit

Scholarship Details

• The maximum award for the scholarship is 80% of the tuition rate of a three-credit course, with a maximum of $1,000.
• Students may be awarded Continuing Education scholarship only once during their time as a nondegree student.

The Summer 2024 application will be announced in the spring.

Summer Session Nondegree Scholarship

Eligibility

• Must be a nondegree student (not formally admitted to a CU Boulder degree program)
• Must be enrolled in at least one Summer Session class for credit (on campus or main campus online)

Scholarship Details

• The maximum award is $1,000.
• Students may be awarded a Continuing Education scholarship only once during their time as a nondegree student.

The Summer 2024 application will be announced in the spring.

High School ACCESS Fall & Spring Scholarships

Scholarship Details

• The maximum award will cover the tuition cost of one course, up to $2,500, with award amounts depending on a student’s credits.
• High School ACCESS students with financial need will be eligible to receive the scholarship more than once, contingent on available funding.
• Scholarships offered through CE are classified as general fund and are therefore compatible with VA benefits.

Eligibility

• Nondegree High School ACCESS students at CU Boulder who are not formally admitted to a degree program.
• Must be enrolled in courses for credit offered through main campus, CE Evening Credit, and/or CE Online Credit.
• Must attest and provide documentation of financial need.

Students receiving CU’s Tuition Assistance Benefit are not eligible.

Financial Need

This scholarship is intended to benefit high school students who require financial assistance in order to take courses at CU Boulder. Students may demonstrate financial need in a variety of ways.

For help understanding and obtaining the types of documentation listed below, speak with a parent/guardian or contact a school counselor and/or trusted teacher.

Accepted documentation types:

• A letter from a school counselor, teacher or other school personnel;
• A letter from another organization your family is working with to secure resources;
• Any other documentation confirming financial need such as participation in:
  • A free/reduced lunch plan, Boulder Valley School District’s Adelante program, McKinney-Vento support, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), Supplemental Security Income Federal Pell Grants or Subsidized Student Loans (either an older sibling or yourself, if you are a high school senior)

Any documentation that is submitted will be used to determine your scholarship eligibility only and will be stored in a secure database. Only the Continuing Education Scholarship Committee Chair will access the protected information.

Scholarship Essay

In addition to submitting proof of financial need, students must also answer the personal essay question listed below and submit it in the online portal along with their complete application.

Please tell us more about your interest in the subject(s) you wish to study at CU Boulder. We would like to know:

1. What makes you passionate about this subject?
2. Do you have any special goals that you hope to achieve through your class(es) this semester?
3. What is the #1 reason that you want to attend CU Boulder?

Scholarship essays will be rated based on the following elements:

• (4 points) Content: The essay fully addresses all portions of the prompt and has a central point that is interesting, original, substantial, and maybe even striking. The author uses concrete details to “show” rather than merely “tell” their story.
• (3 points) Readability/Organization: The central idea is developed in the essay through well-chosen and appropriate language. The essay is organized and well-structured. There is a beginning, a body, and a conclusion and transitions help the paper flow smoothly. Introductory statements are interesting and appropriate. Concluding statements are satisfying.
• (2 points) Tone: The essay is written in the authentic voice of the writer. It is compelling and interesting. The tone is consistent and shows effort/thought was put in.
• (1 point) Grammar/Standard Language Use: Author has given thought to form, grammar, and structure and is writing at a college level of English.

The spring 2024 application deadline is January 28, 2024.

Apply Now

If you have questions or additional information, please email us at hsaccess@colorado.edu. We are happy to help.

College Opportunity Fund

The College Opportunity Fund (COF) is an amount of money given by the state of Colorado to Colorado residents enrolled in undergraduate credit courses at a Colorado college or university. Each year the Colorado Legislature sets the stipend (amount given to students as a per credit hour amount).

COF Eligibility

You are eligible for COF if you’re:

1. An undergraduate student (can be nondegree),
2. Classified as a Colorado resident and paying resident tuition (some exceptions apply);
3. Enrolled at CU Boulder in main campus courses through Continuing Education’s ACCESS Program, the Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions program, the Individually Designed program, or CU Boulder Summer Session; and
4. Have not exceeded the 145 lifetime credit limit (petition options are available).

How to Apply and Authorize COF

1. Apply online through the College Access Network.
2. Authorize COF when you enroll in your course(s).
Please note – it may take three to four days after you apply for COF for you to be able to authorize. You cannot apply and authorize COF on the same day.
3. Questions? Call us at 303-492-5148.

COF Restrictions

The COF stipend is not applicable for CE Evening Credit, CE Online Credit, Applied Music, Individualized Instruction, Extraordinary, or International English Center courses. The tuition rates for many of these programs are based on the tuition paid by Colorado residents after the COF stipend is applied.