Scholarships & Financial Aid

Financial Aid and FAFSA

FAFSA updates

The redesigned FAFSA is available; however, the response time of FAFSA getting information to universities and colleges has been significantly delayed. Colleges are hoping to get financial offers to families in April.

Red Rocks FAFSA presentation for Jeffco families (Jan. 25, 2024)

The slideshow below is the presentation from the admissions representatives that ran this workshop a couple years ago (fall 2021). Please use it as guidance for financial aid/scholarship questions.

ROAR Fin Aid/Scholarship Slides - Google Slides

uAspire Checklists

Changes to FAFSA

*Effective July 1, 2023

Multiple students enrolled at the same time – FAFSA will no longer divide the parent assessment by the number of family members in college. This will significantly reduce the amount of financial aid for middle- and high-income families with multiple children enrolled in college at the same time. This change appears to be deliberate in reducing aid for middle- and high-income families.
EFC is going away and will now be called the Student Aid Index (SAI).
In the instance of divorce, the FAFSA will no longer consider the parent with whom the child resides more than 50% of the year as the parent to complete the FAFSA. Moving forward the parent who provides the most financial assistance will be the parent to complete the FAFSA, and if this is 50/50, then it will be the parent who makes more money.
Child support will no longer be treated as untaxed income.
Income protection allowances are increasing by 20% for parents and 35% for children.
No change to asset protection allowance. As a result, it will most likely disappear in a few more years.

Helpful FAFSA resources

Ways to reduce tuition

Search for merit, talent and service scholarship money from your colleges of interest
Apply for private scholarships (scroll down for links)
Apply to colleges’ honors programs
Fill out the FAFSA and educate yourself on federal grant opportunities
Understand college financial aid packages
Apply for work-study grants if eligible
Start at a two-year college and then transfer to a four-year college
Gain resident status in another state and apply to in-state colleges there
If you plan to go to college in Colorado, apply for the College Opportunity Fund
If you plan to go to college in a western state, apply for the Western Undergraduate Exchange

Scholarships

A common question from students and families is “How do I get scholarships?” There are thousands of scholarships offered in the private sector and through individual colleges. We try our best to stay up to date on what the trends are but are not able to monitor specific scholarships. However, the information on this page should help guide you in your scholarship search.

"Everything you need to know about scholarships"

Part I: Preparing for college and scholarships

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Part 2: Presenting yourself for college and scholarship applications

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Part 3: The Boettcher Foundation Scholarship

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Tips

Use the scholarship list on Naviance
Sign up for at least two national scholarship search databases
Find out what scholarships the colleges you are applying to offers
Listen to the daily announcements for specific scholarships
Ask the following places if they offer scholarships:
- Your employer
- Your parents’ employers
- Your parents’ union
- Your parents’ organizations
- Your church or religious organization
Create a spreadsheet of scholarships you are eligible to apply for with deadline dates and amount of award.

Scams and warning signs

You have to pay a fee or “taxes”
Money-back offers or guarantees
Credit card or bank account information is required
Provides “exclusive” information