Scholarships
Colorado College focuses much of its budget on meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students. Therefore, we offer a limited number of merit scholarships. Every year, CC accepts academically accomplished applicants who encompass a wide variety of interests, talents and backgrounds. All students admitted to CC have demonstrated their academic excellence.
All merit scholarships are awarded by the Office of Admission. Because of limited funding for merit-based aid, very few admitted students are awarded these scholarships.
Due to the limited number of scholarships and a highly competitive pool of students, our admission and financial aid processes do not allow for appeals concerning merit scholarships. If a student is admitted but does not receive a scholarship, there is no appeal process in place to petition to receive merit aid or increase an existing merit aid award.
Merit Scholarships
Colorado College is committed to meeting 100% of the demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.
Merit scholarships are often provided as part of a larger overall grant award and if a student qualifies for need-based financial aid. Because of this, Leadership scholarships cannot be combined (or stacked) with other CC merit scholarships such as The Barnes Scholarship, El Pomar Scholars program, National Merit Awards, and CC or ACM Tuition Remission benefits. Division I athletic awards cannot be used in conjunction with any other CC financial aid for students starting in the fall of 2026 and beyond.
Awards exclusive of this policy and could be in addition to a need-based award would be the WES scholarship and Daniels Fund. Daniels scholars will receive a work expectation equal to the college’s indirect costs.
Boettcher scholars are guaranteed, through our agreement with the Boettcher foundation, to be awarded a package equal to the cost of the college’s tuition and fees. If the student’s need is above tuition and fees, need-based funding will be provided in excess of the guaranteed amount to that level.
In cases where a student receives multiple merit-based awards, our Student Financial Services team will select the scholarship(s)/funding sources that are most advantageous to the student.
Colorado College's Leadership Scholarship does not require any additional application - the application for admission (Common Application, QuestBridge Application, or Apply Coalition powered by Scoir), is your scholarship application and all are reviewed for possible awards.
Students are reviewed by the Office of Admission as a pool, and because the pool of applicants changes from year to year, we are unable to provide specific markers (ACT or SAT scores, GPAs, etc.) to indicate your likelihood of receiving a merit scholarship. Students who have been awarded a merit scholarship will receive notification of their award upon admission to the college.
Colorado College is proud to offer a Leadership Scholarship, renewable for four years, to exceptional first-year students:
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Additional Applications
The application deadline for the Barnes Scholarships has passed for the 2026-2027 year. Information for the application process for 2027-2028 awards will be posted here before fall 2026.
The application deadline for the El Pomar Scholarship has passed for the 2026-2027 year. Information for the application process for 2027-2028 awards will be posted here before fall 2026.
The application deadline for the WES Scholarship has passed for the 2026-2027 year. Information for the application process for 2027-2028 awards will be posted here before fall 2026.
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Outside Scholarships
The following outside scholarships are not administered by Colorado College. Please click the links below for additional information.If you are a National Merit finalist, you must communicate to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation that Colorado College is your first choice college. The published deadlines for reporting a sponsor college as first choice can be viewed on page 3 of the Requirements and Instructions for Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
For more information, see the website at National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
The National Merit Scholarship® Corporation awards three separate and distinct types of awards. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation selects the finalists and notifies Colorado College. Colorado College is not involved in the selection process.
- National Merit $2500 Scholarships
- These single payment awards are given on a state to state basis. Scholarship monies originate from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and there is no Colorado College match.
- Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards
- These single payment or renewable awards are designated for recipients chosen by the sponsor. Scholarship monies originate from the sponsor and there is no Colorado College match.
- College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships
- These renewable scholarships are given to students who are National Merit Scholarship finalists that have indicated that Colorado College is their first choice*, and have not received one of the other National Merit awards. Awardees receive $1000 from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, and $1000 merit match from Colorado College for a total of $2000 per year. This award is renewable for four years of undergraduate study.
Known outside scholarship search engines include:
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