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External and Private Scholarships
The following is pertinent information for donors and recipients regarding the processing of private scholarships at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. There are hundreds of external scholarships provided by organizations that are not specifically affiliated with MSU Denver such as charitable foundations, labor unions, memorial scholarships, your local high school, state and federal government and many others.
External Scholarships Tips for Success
Students must be in good academic standing (minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and 67% completion rate) for a scholarship to be credited to the student’s account. Students who have accumulated more than 180 credit hours are considered ineligible for aid. We will contact donors if students fail to meet SAP standards established by the university. Donors may request that their scholarship funds be returned, or they may authorize disbursement of their funds in writing at that time.
Scholarship checks should be made payable to the Metropolitan State University of Denver and reference the recipient’s name(s) and MSU Denver student ID number(s) at the bottom of the check or on a separate letter. Note: making checks co-payable between the student and the university will delay disbursement of the scholarship funds to the student’s account.
- Unless otherwise specified by a donor in writing, all scholarship checks will be applied towards the current term in which they are received. If a scholarship is intended to be divided equally between multiple terms that should be specified in the letter sent from the donor. Also, if subsequent installments are anticipated donors should indicate so in the letter or on the check so the funds can be accounted for on the student’s account.
Please provide the full name(s), contact person(s), address and phone number of your organization so that we can contact you if necessary.
If the student does not enroll, we will return the funds to the donors after census date, which occurs two weeks after the first day of classes each semester. If the donor requires verification of enrollment please contact the Office of the Registrar.
If the donor requires an invoice before a check can be issued, please contact the Office of the Bursar.
It is the student’s responsibility to pay their bill on time. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will not waive late and service charges on scholarship payments that arrive in our office after the bill due date.
If the donor requires grade transcripts at the end of each semester, they should contact the scholarship recipients. It is the responsibility of the student to provide copies of their transcripts to their donors.
- Scholarship Designation Form: If a scholarship donor does not include a letter concerning the management of their scholarship award and would like to include additional information regarding the award the donor can complete the Scholarship Designation Form. This form can be obtained by visiting the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships or downloaded in PDF format by clicking this link: Scholarship Designation Form (Can be found on our FORMS page)
- Release Form: If a scholarship is requiring information pertaining to enrollment, grades or financial aid information, the student must attach any requested forms and/or indicate the donor information by filling out the form on this link: RELS – Can be found on our FORMS page.
Foundation Scholarships
The MSU Denver Foundation offers hundreds of privately funded scholarships to students every year, based on academics, achievement and financial need. The only way to apply for this is through our online application system. The priority deadline to complete the general scholarship application process is May 15. Scholarship applications received on or before May 15 are given priority consideration in the awarding process. Scholarship applications received after this date may still be considered. We encourage you to apply even if you miss the extended May 15 priority date. There are individual scholarship opportunities that have a due date beyond the General Scholarship Application priority date.
Here is a sample of the scholarships available to qualified students:
- The Reisher Scholars Program: Full time student, continuing students with sophomore standing, or new transfer students with junior standing. Established financial need and 3.0 GPA.
- Stephen & Ruth Jordan Endowed Scholarship for Leadership: First term senior, 3.2 GPA, and demonstrated leadership skills.
- Kingdom Enlightenment: Established financial need, full time student, 2.0 GPA, and Colorado public high school graduate.
- Captain E.B. Jeppesen Endowed Memorial Scholarship: Established financial need, full time, Aviation Management or Aviation Technology major, and 3.0 GPA.
- Scholarship Real Estate: Establish financial need, 2.5 GPA, enrolled 6 credit hours or more, and a Colorado resident.
And many, many more…
Institutional Scholarships
MSU Denver offers a variety of Institutional Scholarships. These funds are awarded based on a first-come first-served basis.
Institutional Scholarship & Eligibility:
- MSU Denver Earned Scholarship
- Must be participant in RaiseMe; High school GPA of a 2.80+; Admissions Application completed by July 1st; Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Must be enrolled in 6 credit hours minimum
- $1,000 ($500 per term). Awards are based on amounts earned with a maximum per year of $1,000
- Presidents Academic Achievement High School
- Incoming high school GPA of 3.25 or better
- Awarded to first-time students
- $2,000/year; $1,000 per term
- Fund amounts will prorate for half-time (6-8 hours), and for three-quarter time (9-11 hours).
- Pres Academic Achievement Continuing, Readmit, Transfer
- Complete a FAFSA or CASFA; Complete Financial Aid File; Transfer GPA of a 3.25; Transfer of 12 or more credit hours; Undergraduate; Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Awarded to first-time students
- $2,000/year; $1,000 per term
- Fund amounts will prorate for half-time (6-8 hours), and for three-quarter time (9-11 hours).
- Pres Academic Achievement Transfer (Spring or spring/summer)
- Complete a FAFSA or CASFA; Complete Financial Aid File; Transfer GPA of a 3.25; Transfer of 12 or more credit hours; Undergraduate; Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Awarded to first-time students
- $2,000/year; $1,000 per term
- Fund amounts will prorate for half-time (6-8 hours), and for three-quarter time (9-11 hours).
- MSU Denver Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Transfer
- Complete a FAFSA or CASFA; Complete Financial Aid File; Complete scholarship application; PTK participant; Transfer GPA of a 3.50; Transfer of 12 or more hours; Undergraduate; Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Must have transferred from a community college and participated in PTK
- $1,000/year; $500 per term
Please remember these awards are offered on a first-come, first served basis and are subject to funding availability. Meeting minimum qualifications does NOT guarantee you will be offered one of these awards.
Indigenous and Native Peoples' Grant
Through a combination of federal, state and institutional grants, MSU Denver will ensure Indigenous students’ tuition and mandatory published fees are fully covered beginning Fall 2022. The Indigenous & Native Peoples’ Grant is for undergraduate students who are Colorado residents and enrolled in one of 574 federally recognized Native nations.
For more information, visit our Indigenous and Native Peoples’ Grant page.
Raise-Me Micro-Scholarships
Sign up for free and earn up to $4000 in scholarships from MSU Denver for your high school achievements.
We have partnered with RaiseMe to allow you to earn scholarships to MSU Denver while you are still in high school. When MSU Denver awards student scholarships on RaiseMe, we are guaranteeing these scholarships will be included in your financial aid package after you are admitted.
The RaiseMe First-Time Freshman Program Basics:
- You can earn up to $4000 ($1000 a year/$500 per semester) toward your education at MSU Denver in a MSU Denver Earned Scholarship.
- Complete your RaiseMe profile by July 1st of your senior year and be sure to follow MSU Denver.
- Apply for admission to MSU Denver by July 31st and attend by the Fall semester following your high school graduation.
- You must complete a FAFSA or CASFA.
- Have a high school GPA of 2.8 or better (maintain a 2.0 at MSU for annual renewal).
- Enroll in a minimum of six (6) credit hours per term.
- You will have six (6) years from the time of your high school graduation to use all of your earned micro-scholarships at MSU Denver.
The RaiseMe Transfer Program Basics:
- You can earn up to $2000 ($1000 a year/$500 per semester) toward your education at MSU Denver in a MSU Denver Earned Scholarship.
- Complete your RaiseMe profile by July 1st for fall, or by December 1st for spring.
- Apply for admission to MSU Denver by July 31st for fall, or by December 1st for spring.
- You must complete a FAFSA or CASFA.
- Have a transfer GPA of 2.8 or better (maintain a 2.0 at MSU for annual renewal).
- Transfer at least 12 credit hours from your previous institution.
- Enroll in a minimum of six (6) credit hours per term
Raise-Me FAQ
- Get an A
- Maintain a high GPA
- Perfect Attendance
- Participate in an Extracurricular Activity
- Score well on the SAT or ACT
- Attend a College Fair
- Visit Campus
Yes. RaiseMe is entirely free. To sign up, visit the Metropolitan State University of Denver profile and create an account.
Students who are in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 and attend high school in the United States can use RaiseMe right now. So can anyone who is interested in transferring to MSU Denver.
MSU Denver’s RaiseMe scholarships are available to incoming freshman, as well as to students who participate in the RaiseMe Transfer Program.
You begin by creating an account on RaiseMe. Once your account is established, you should follow MSU Denver and add achievements such as grades, extracurricular activities and leadership positions to your portfolio.
You must follow MSU Denver and complete your profile on RaiseMe by July 1st of your senior year for the First-Time Freshman Program.
Funds will be automatically awarded to your account by August 15th of each academic year that you remain eligible.
Yes. You can fill in your high school portfolio retroactively with achievements going back to the start of 9th grade and will be eligible to earn scholarships as if you have been using RaiseMe since 9th grade. The more complete your portfolio is, the more opportunities you have to earn micro-scholarships.
You should add achievements as frequently as you can throughout high school. Adding achievements to your portfolio increases your eligibility for earning scholarships from MSU Denver.
No. Micro-scholarships are not transferrable between different colleges. You can only use the scholarships that you earn from one school towards the cost of attending that same college — not to any other school.
You should add all of your courses from grades 9 through 12 in order for MSU Denver to award you the correct amount in scholarships.
The final total of scholarships earned on RaiseMe represent a guaranteed minimum amount of a Metro Earned Scholarship award you will receive in your financial aid package to attend MSU Denver. If you receive additional scholarships based upon other factors through the admission, financial aid or general MSU Denver scholarship application process, then that package will include the amount that you have earned on RaiseMe.
TheDream.US Scholarship
Scholarship Details
TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college access and success program for DREAMers (with or without DACA or TPS). TheDream.US scholarship will cover your tuition and fees up to $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree at MSU Denver. In addition, you may also be eligible for an additional stipend of up to $1,000/year for books, supplies, and transportation.
You should submit your scholarship application by February 28, 2023, 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time. Learn about eligibility requirements and the application process here.
MSU Denver Contact Information: Jasmine Villalobos, [email protected], Gregor Mieder, [email protected]
TheDream.US Scholarship FAQ
Students who are currently or are about to be high school graduates, have earned their GED or students who have been or are currently enrolled in Community College or University.
Visit the TheDream.US website to review eligibility criteria: https://www.thedream.us/scholarships/national-scholarship/guidelines/
Displaced Aurarian
Scholarship Details
The Displaced Aurarian (DAAPP) Scholarship program is designed to provide funds for tuition and fees for students who were residents of the Auraria neighborhood at the time the campus was first built, between 1955 and 1973. The program also extends to all direct descendants of these residents. Students who plan on transferring to a four-year institution on the Auraria Campus need to contact that institution to see if they meet the criteria for the Displaced Aurarian Scholarship.
The Displaced Aurarian Scholarship will cover the student’s share of in-state tuition and fees for regular classes up to 18 credit hours taught at the downtown Auraria Campus only. Recipients can utilize the award for 1st bachelor and master’s degrees. Students taking online classes will only receive the equivalent of the cost of on-campus in-state tuition and fees, minus COF.
The Displaced Aurarian Scholarship will be awarded after Census Date (approximately 2 weeks after classes begin) every fall and spring semester. Submission of the DAAPP application in no way guarantees a Displaced Aurarian Award at MSU Denver at any point.
Access the Displaced Aurarian Application here.
Displaced Aurarian FAQ
To qualify, you must:
- Provide proof that you or any of your direct descendants lived in the Auraria Neighborhood between 1955 and 1973.
- Provide documentation demonstrating the relationship to the Displaced Aurarian.
- Not be in default on a student loan or owe money to MSU Denver, the state of Colorado, or the U.S. Department of Education.
- Be a Colorado resident.
- Provide proof you or your parent or grandparent resided in the Auraria neighborhood between 1955-1973 and,
- provide documentation demonstrating the relationship to the Displaced Aurarian.
Auraria Neighborhood
The Auraria neighborhood borders consisted of Colfax Avenue to the south, South Platte River to the west, and Speer Boulevard to the east.
Please mail all scholarship checks and related correspondence to:
Metropolitan State University of Denver Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
Attn: Kelly Findley
P.O. Box 173362
Campus Box 2
Denver, CO 80217-3362
Physical Address:
Jordan Student Success Building, Area 6, Suite 130
890 Auraria Parkway
Denver, CO 80204
Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Financial Aid and Scholarship Customer Service Phone:
303-556-8593
Email Address:
Fax:
720-778-5833