News Article

DENVER, CO – Sept. 27, 2022: The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, is now accepting applications for its 2022 – 2023 Matching Student Scholarship grant. Up to $7.5 million in funding is available and applicants must match funding at 1:1, creating up to $15 million in scholarships for Colorado residents. COSI estimates these funds could support more than 5,000 students over the next few years in obtaining a credential or degree.

DENVER, CO – Sept. 13, 2022: Dr. Roberto Montoya, chief educational equity officer for the Colorado Department of Higher Education, will tour several Hispanic-serving institutions this month with stops this week to Colorado State University Pueblo, Metropolitan State University of Denver and Adams State University.

DENVER, CO – Sept. 8, 2022: The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, a program of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, is taking applications for a new scholarship program geared at giving formerly committed youth a chance to pursue a college degree. The Second Chance Scholarship program provides funding of up to $5,000 a year and student support services to individuals awarded.  Participants can choose among many college and career path options, including a traditional college degree, online and certificate programs.

DENVER - Today, Governor Polis, the Department of Higher Education, and CollegeInvest leaders highlighted CollegeInvest’s 529 educational savings programs. These transformational programs offer the opportunity for parents and guardians to start growing and saving funds for their children's future higher education costs.

DENVER – June 22, 2022:  The Colorado Department of Higher Education approved $5 million in grants to five universities that will provide tuition to students pursuing select degrees and certificates in behavioral health. The state estimates the program will serve nearly 400 students in the first two years with the program lasting four years.

DENVER – May 24, 2022: The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative board approved 66 proposals that provide $4,971,190 in scholarships for Colorado students.

This investment is part of COSI's Matching Student Scholarship Program which helps under-resourced students by matching community scholarship dollars one to one. This round of funds will serve approximately 2,900 students attending in-state public institutions of higher education across Colorado.

DENVER – May 13, 2022: During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly passed several bills aimed at ensuring Colorado students have access to a wide variety of quality, affordable, postsecondary education options while also addressing the need to fill in-demand jobs.

The department succeeded in passing all its legislative priorities including but not limited to:

DENVER – May 5, 2022: The Colorado Department of Higher Education celebrated Colorado's future educators at a virtual ceremony on Thursday, May 5, as part of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-6). The fourth annual Future Educator Honor Roll recognizes outstanding teacher candidates from Colorado's educator preparation programs.

All student demographics experienced strong decreases in college-going, especially high school graduates from small rural areas

Coloradans wear college, military, or apprenticeship gear to encourage young people to reach higher

DENVER – April 26, 2022: The Colorado Department of Higher Education is pleased to declare Friday, April 29 as Decision Day. The statewide campaign celebrates the importance of higher education and encourages Colorado students to reach higher—whether they attend a university, community college, private occupational school, serve as an apprentice or in the military.