Concurrent to Commencement (CtoC) Scholars Program

Students must:

a) Graduate high school in spring of 2026.

b) Plan to enroll at MSU Denver as a full-time student, meaning 12 or more credits each fall and spring semester.

c) Submit your financial aid application (FAFSA or CASFA) by July 15, 2026. 

d) Be currently enrolled in or have completed a concurrent/dual enrollment course with MSU Denver, passing the course with a C- or higher.

Dual enrollment typically involves students taking college courses either at a college campus or online, whereas concurrent enrollment means students take college courses within their high school environment. Both options allow students to earn college credits and experience college-level education.

To apply to the scholarship, please click the following link. Of course, to receive this scholarship you must also enroll at MSU Denver, so you can also fill out the Status Change Form here to convert from a dual enrollment student to a normal MSU Denver student. You do not need to reapply to MSU Denver, just complete the Status Change Form.

We accept scholarship applications on a rolling basis. However, the priority deadline is November 15, 2025, so students who submit their application ahead of this date may receive early notification. The final application deadline to apply is April 15th, 2026.

Yes, please apply. During the summer, we will recheck the eligibility of our accepted students to make sure that you completed and passed that course. 

The first round of accepted CtoC Scholars students will be notified by November 30th, 2025. The final round of acceptances will be sent out on April 30th, 2026.

Yes, if your college classifies you as a Colorado resident for in-state tuition and state aid. You must meet the requirements for ASSET and complete the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA). Learn more here. 

If you completed concurrent/dual enrollment with MSU Denver during high school, you likely do not need to reapply to MSU Denver. You only need to complete the Status Change Request Form which converts you to a normal MSU Denver student.

Please note, a small portion of our applicants may WILL need to reapply to MSU Denver if significant time has passed since their last concurrent/dual enrollment course. In that case, you’ll be notified by MSU Denver Admissions that you need to reapply for MSU Denver (no application fee), instead of the Status Change Request Form. Please reapply so that you are eligible for CtoC Scholars.

ASCENT and TREP students are not eligible for the CtoC Scholars Program.

Participating students will receive $1,000 each semester (fall and spring) as long as the continue to remain eligible and fulfill all the scholarship requirements. There is no summer scholarship if they choose to take summer courses. 

Scholarship money is awarded directly to the students’ MSU Denver Financial Aid Account. MSU Denver must confirm eligibility prior to awarding the money, so it may not show on the account until the first week of school. We encourage you to talk with the Financial Aid for their timeline and to talk about options like payment plans and waiving late fees if the scholarship award is delayed.

Our program requires students to complete a number of success requirements that will greatly benefit students in their academic and career goals. Each semester, we will provide the list of responsibilities and a deadline to complete these, which may include: 

a) Attending a summer kickoff prior to the first semester. 

b) Meeting with the academic success coach. 

c) Attending events or exploring resources on campus. 

d) Completing the FAFSA/CASFA each year 

e) Maintaining a 2.0 GPA to avoid SAP or Academic Recovery/Suspension 

f) Completing periodic check-in surveys for the CtoC Scholars staff.