EMPOWER-ED AND FOSTER-ED

EMPOWER-ED

EmpowerEd (HB 24-1403) is a state-funded program administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education to provide higher education funding and support to eligible individuals who experienced homelessness while enrolled in a Colorado high school. This assistance covers the remaining balance of the total cost of attendance after any private, state or federal financial aid. These costs are split 50/50 by the institution and state.

ELIGIBILITY

Students who meet the criteria are eligible to have the remaining cost of attendance (after scholarships, grants and other financial aid awards have been applied) covered through this program for up to 132 semester credit hours or 198 quarter credit hours.

  • Identified by designated school personnel as a homeless child or youth under the Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, while residing in Colorado anytime between the start of 9th-grade and end of 12th-grade
  • Is at least 17 years of age, and not yet 27 years old
  • Is a current Colorado resident
  • Has been accepted into an in-state, public institution of higher education, local district college or area technical college
  • Is enrolled in courses leading towards the qualifying student’s first bachelor’s degree, associate degree or certificate of completion at an accredited institution of higher education
  • Has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) for the applicable school year

*EmpowerEd cannot be utilized to pursue a second degree of the same type. For example, if a student has already received a bachelor’s degree, EmpowerEd can only be used towards a certificate or an associate degree. If a student has an associate degree, EmpowerEd can only be used towards a certificate or a bachelor’s degree.

APPLICATION PROCESS
  1. Complete the FAFSA or CASFA and indicate past or current experience of homelessness
  2. Be accepted and enrolled at an accredited Colorado public institution of higher education
  3. Complete the EmpowerEd Application

FOSTER-ED

Higher Education Support For Foster Youth (SB 22-008) requires that all public higher education institutions provide Colorado resident students who meet the eligibility criteria with financial assistance for the remaining balance of the student’s total cost of attendance over the amount of any private, state, or federal financial assistance received by the student. These costs are split, with 50% of the cost being covered by the institution and 50% will be covered by the state.

ELIGIBILITY
  • Is a Colorado resident
  • Has been placed in foster care from age 13+ in Colorado or has been in non-certified kinship care from age
    13+ in Colorado and was, at any time, adjudicated neglected or dependent pursuant to Article 3 of Title 19
  • Attending a state public institution of higher education, local district college, or area technical college
  • Enrolled in courses leading toward a certificate of completion, associate, bachelor’s, or postgraduate degree and in satisfactory academic standing as defined by the institution of attendance;
  • Completed the FAFSA or CASFA
  • Completed the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) application, if eligible.
  • FosterEd will cover up to 132 semester credit hours or 198 quarter credit hours starting from the time you join this program. Credits earned prior to joining this program will not count towards the credit limit.
  • Please note, there is no age limit on this program
cost of attendance

This program covers the full cost of attendance at eligible Colorado institutions. The full cost of attendance varies from institution to institution, but will cover tuition, fees, reasonable living expenses (on and off campus), books, and other expenses.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Currently, there is no online application. Students need to contact their financial aid office directly about this program and must provide proof of foster care experience. If a student does not have this form, they should contact the county in which they experienced foster care. This may include their caseworker, Chafee worker, or contacting the county’s Department of Human Services (DHS) to request this documentation.

for questions

*For questions, students, please contact fcnavigator@dhe.state.co.us or visit here to learn more.

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