Scholarships& Grants
TSC offers automatic institutional scholarships, Foundation scholarships, and state-funded grants — many of which require no separate application.
No Application Required
Institutional Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded automatically after official transcripts are received. Contact the Admissions Office at (719) 846-5621 for details.
How it works: Submit your official high school transcript. No separate application needed. Colorado students must also apply for the College Opportunity Fund (COF).
Southern Colorado Residents
Learn Local Scholarship
Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Las Animas, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache counties
Award: 3 credit hours — in-state tuition, on-campus
Criteria:
- Graduated from a high school in the service area counties above
- 15 credit hours/semester (Fall/Spring)
Duration: Up to 4 semesters or 60 credit hours
Deadlines: Fall: July 1 Spring: Dec 1
GPA 3.0 – 3.499
Merit Scholarship
Award: 3 credit hours — in-state tuition, on-campus
Criteria:
- First-time degree/certificate-seeking undergrad
- HS/GED GPA 3.0–3.499, or SAT 980–1120
- 15 credit hours/semester (Fall/Spring)
- Maintain 3.0+ cumulative GPA
Duration: Up to 4 semesters or 60 credit hours
Deadlines: Fall: July 1 Spring: Dec 1
GPA 3.5 – 4.0
Presidents Scholarship
Award: 6 credit hours — in-state tuition, on-campus
Criteria:
- First-time degree/certificate-seeking undergrad
- HS/GED GPA 3.5–4.0, or SAT 1130+
- 15 credit hours/semester (Fall/Spring)
- Maintain 3.5+ cumulative GPA
Duration: Up to 4 semesters or 60 credit hours
Deadlines: Fall: July 1 Spring: Dec 1
The Financial Aid Office cannot guarantee receipt of any scholarship. It is your responsibility to review all requirements. Additional requirements not listed here may apply.
Apply Online
Foundation Scholarships
One application, dozens of opportunities. Your answers automatically match you to multiple scholarships at once through the AcademicWorks system.
One Application. Multiple Opportunities.
No transcripts, resumes, or interviews required. Awards range from $500 to full tuition.
No transcripts required
No interviews required
One app, many scholarships
No resumes required
Awards $500 to full tuition
FAFSA encouraged (not always required)
Priority deadline: First Friday of March each year
1 Create your account
2 Confirm your email
3 Complete & submit application
Questions? Contact the Foundation Scholarship Office: foundation.scholarships@trinidadstate.edu
State & Federal Programs
Grants & Special Programs
These programs provide additional financial assistance for students who meet specific eligibility criteria. Click any program to expand details.
Ages 17–26 CO Residents FAFSA/CASFA Required
Covers the remaining cost of attendance after all other aid for students identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act during 9th–12th grade in Colorado. Costs are split 50/50 by the state and institution.
Covers: Up to 132 semester credit hours toward a first bachelor's, associate degree, or certificate.
Key steps: Complete FAFSA/CASFA indicating homelessness experience, enroll at an accredited CO public institution, and complete the EmpowerEd Application. Students who graduated after October 2023 must provide proof of McKinney-Vento eligible homelessness signed by an authorized entity.
No Age Limit CO Residents FAFSA/CASFA Required
Covers the remaining balance of total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, reasonable living expenses, books, and other school-related expenses) after all other financial aid for eligible foster youth.
Eligibility: CO resident, in foster care from age 13+ or non-certified kinship care from age 13+, attending a CO public institution, enrolled in a certificate, associate, bachelor's, or postgraduate program, in satisfactory academic standing, and have completed FAFSA/CASFA.
Covers: Up to 132 semester credit hours from the time you join the program.
How to apply: Obtain a Confirmation of Foster Care Experience form, complete FAFSA/CASFA, complete the ETV application if eligible, complete a FERPA Consent Form, then contact the FosterEd Liaison.
Ages 17–25 CO Residents FAFSA Required First-Come, First-Served
Provides financial support for post-secondary education at a college, university, vocational, technical, or trade school for CO residents currently or previously in foster care. Funding is limited.
Key eligibility: Accepted/enrolled in an accredited degree or certificate program, ages 17–25, U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen, FAFSA completed. Must have been in foster care on/after age 14, or had finalized adoption/guardianship assistance on/after age 16, or was in Division of Youth Services community placement on/after age 14.
Apply annually at CDHE ETV Program.
CO Residents Nursing AAS / BSN FAFSA/CASFA Required
Expands health-care professionals in rural/frontier Colorado counties. Scholarships are awarded to nursing students who complete online modules and commit to working as a healthcare professional in a rural or frontier county for 2 years after completing their program.
Eligible programs: Nursing AAS (ADN) or Bachelor of Nursing (BSN). Must acknowledge and sign the Rural Healthcare Student Scholarship award letter and return it to the Nursing Department Chair.
Residents & Non-Residents Nursing Programs FAFSA encouraged
Supports a nursing career pipeline from high school through Practical Nursing, ADN, BSN, and beyond in southern Colorado. Funds the 23–24 through 25–26 fiscal years.
Eligible programs: BSN, Practical Nursing, Nursing AAS. Note: Cannot be combined with Career Advance funding (both are last-dollar-in programs).
To apply: Complete the form and submit to Dean of Instruction, LoriRae Hamilton.
CO Class of 2024 Up to $1,500 High-Priority Programs
A one-time scholarship for Colorado's Class of 2024 high school graduates for use in the 2024–2025 academic year. Split between Fall and Spring semesters. Must be enrolled in a high-priority program and cannot be receiving COSI funding.
Eligible program areas include: Advanced Manufacturing, Computer & Information Sciences, Construction (including Electrical and Lineman programs), Education, Engineering & Technology, Family & Social Sciences, Health Professions (Nursing, Dental, EMS, Medical Assistant, Behavioral Health, etc.), and more. Contact the Financial Aid Office for the full program list.
Requirements: CO resident, CO HS/GED graduate 23/24 academic year, official transcript on file, completed FAFSA/CASFA (or waiver form). Scholarship cannot exceed total cost of program.
CO Residents Need-Based FAFSA or Proof of Need
Provides funding for tuition, fees, required books, and materials for low-income students enrolled in CTE certificate programs of 15 credit hours or less. Must be in good standing for Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Proof of need — any one of the following qualifies: FAFSA showing Pell grant eligibility, TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/Disability, Section 8 Housing Voucher, WIC, Free and Reduced Lunch income level, or income too low to require federal tax filing. Cannot be receiving VA education benefits.
The Financial Aid Office cannot guarantee that you will receive any of the programs listed. Requirements may change. Always verify current eligibility with the Financial Aid Office.
Beyond TSC
External Scholarship Resources
These third-party sites can help you find scholarships not exclusive to Trinidad State College.