University of Colorado Boulder USA Scholarships

The CU Boulder Scholarship Application is an application that lets undergraduate and graduate first-year, continuing, and transfer students apply for multiple scholarship opportunities with one general application. It covers merit and need-based scholarships, school/college-specific scholarships, and campus programs.

The scholarship application is available to incoming first-year, continuing, and transfer students, and graduate students access a limited number of scholarships through the general scholarship application. Eligibility and application requirements for each scholarship vary, and are listed in the scholarship details within the application.

A scholarship committee does a comprehensive review of applications and selects recipients. Scholarships are highly competitive and selection for one is not guaranteed. Selection criteria may include academic record, leadership experience, extracurricular involvement, community service, employment, essays, and in some cases, financial need.

Incoming first-year notifications are on April 15; continuing students are notified on May 1; transfer students are notified on July 15. Graduate students are instructed to contact the Graduate School. After you apply, you can check status by logging in and using the My Applications tab to view Submitted or Offered and Accepted/Awarded status for each scholarship.

• Undergraduate and graduate students (first-year, continuing, and transfer) can apply using one general application.
• Scholarship opportunities available through the CU Boulder Scholarship Application are open to qualified CU Boulder students and applicants.
• The scholarship application is optional and completely separate from the admission process.
• Transfer students have until June 15 to complete the general scholarship application.
• Incoming first-year students must apply for admission first; prospective students will have access after applying for admission.
• Graduate level: only a small number of scholarships are awarded through the general scholarship application; the majority of graduate support is offered through the department or program.
• Scholarship opportunities do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, political philosophy, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression in accordance with state, federal, and Regent law.

• Merit and need-based scholarships
• School/College-specific scholarships
• Campus Programs

1. Complete a general application first; it is used for multiple scholarships and requires information about extracurricular activities, community service, work, and essays.
2. After submitting the general application, review recommended opportunities; some require a special essay, reference letters, or documenting eligibility.
3. Within the application, browse other opportunities; eligibility and application requirements vary and are listed in scholarship details within the application.
4. Incoming first-year students: apply for admission, then access the scholarship application from the Admissions Application Status page by selecting Apply for Scholarships (shown 3 to 5 days after applying for admission).
5. Continuing undergraduates: log in to Buff Portal, then from the Scholarships card click CU Boulder Scholarship Application.
6. Transfer students: apply for admission, then access the scholarship application from the Admissions Application Status page by selecting Apply for Scholarships (shown 3 to 5 days after applying for admission). Complete and submit the general scholarship application by June 15.
7. Graduate students: only a small number of scholarships are awarded through the general scholarship application; incoming graduate students should contact the Graduate School, and continuing graduate students can access the scholarship application in Buff Portal from the Scholarships card.
8. FAFSA step (if applicable): complete the FAFSA; this step isn’t required but is recommended.

• Essays (required for the general application, and may be required for recommended opportunities)
• Reference letters (may be required for recommended opportunities)
• Supporting/eligibility documentation (may be required for recommended opportunities)