Financial Aid in Colorado (2026–27)
Your FAFSA deadline, Colorado's grant programs, and how to get every dollar you qualify for: federal, state, and scholarships.
Colorado FAFSA deadline for state aid
No fixed state deadline published. Check with your school's financial aid office and file early.
The FAFSA for 2026–27 opened October 1, 2025; the federal deadline is June 30, 2027. State and school funds often run out well before deadlines, so file early either way.
Not sure what you'll get? Estimate your federal aid in 2 minutes
Colorado grant programs
Colorado Student Grant
Need-based grant for Colorado residents, awarded directly by each public college's financial aid office.
Administered by Colorado Department of Higher Education. Filing the FAFSA is how you're considered for most state programs.
Scholarships for Colorado students
Grants and federal aid have income cutoffs. Scholarships don't, and they stack on top of everything above. Award Scholar matches Coloradostudents with scholarships they actually qualify for (including state-specific awards) and writes the application essays. It's free.
Common questions
When is the FAFSA deadline in Colorado?
For 2026–27 state aid: No fixed state deadline published. Check with your school's financial aid office and file early. The federal FAFSA deadline is June 30, 2027, but state and school money often runs out far earlier, so file as soon as you can.
What grants does Colorado offer?
Colorado Student Grant: Need-based grant for Colorado residents, awarded directly by each public college's financial aid office. You're considered for most of these automatically when you file the FAFSA as a Colorado resident.
How do I apply for financial aid in Colorado?
File the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. It covers federal aid (Pell Grants, loans, work-study) and is how Colorado Department of Higher Education determines state awards. Then apply to scholarships separately; they stack on top of everything else.