EmpowerEd

Eligibility Criteria

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, and
• 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 and
3. Complete the EmpowerEd Application.

**If a student graduated after October 2023, please note that proof of eligible McKinney-Vento experience signed by an authorized entity for homelessness determination is required to submit the EmpowerEd application. If you do not have this form, please contact Paula Gumina (gumina_p@cde.state.co.us) for assistance.

Students with questions can contact eenavigator@dhe.state.co.us