Navigating Merit Scholarships at the University of Colorado Boulder

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) offers a variety of merit-based scholarships to recognize and support outstanding students. These scholarships are designed to reward academic achievement, leadership, and other exceptional qualities. This article provides a comprehensive overview of merit scholarships at CU Boulder, focusing on eligibility requirements, application processes, and key considerations for prospective and current students.

Understanding Merit Scholarships at CU Boulder

Merit scholarships at CU Boulder are awarded based on a student's academic record, leadership experience, extracurricular involvement, community service, and other achievements. Unlike need-based financial aid, merit scholarships do not primarily consider a student's financial situation. Instead, they recognize and reward students who have demonstrated exceptional potential and accomplishment.

Automatic Consideration Scholarships

If you completed an admissions application, you applied for all automatic consideration scholarships! First-year and transfer students are automatically considered for scholarships based on their admission application. New first-year students are notified of scholarship selection at the time of their admit decision. Transfer students are notified by the Office of Scholarship Services.

CU Boulder Scholarship Application

The CU Boulder Scholarship Application allows you to apply for multiple CU Boulder scholarships with a general application and gain access to additional scholarship opportunities. The application opens Dec. 1 with most scholarship applications due between Feb. 15 to March 15. For details on how to apply, view our CU Boulder Scholarship Application webpage.

Key Merit Scholarships at CU Boulder

Presidential Scholarship

The Presidential Scholarship is a prestigious award offered to incoming nonresident first-year students based on the strength of their admissions application. Recipients may also be eligible for the Arts & Humanities Merit Scholarship. It is important to note that if a student is selected to receive the Presidential Scholarship, they cannot receive the CU Boulder Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship.

Scholarship Amount

Newly admitted students will be considered for a scholarship of $15,000 per year for their first and second years, then $12,500 per year for the remaining two years, totaling $55,000.

Qualifications

To qualify for the Presidential Scholarship, you must be an incoming nonresident first-year student and remain a nonresident for tuition purposes. Receiving an in-state tuition exception will make you ineligible for this scholarship. A completed application for admission must be submitted no later than Jan. 15.

Eligibility Criteria

New students are considered for scholarships based on materials submitted as part of the admission application. Academics are the focus of review. Extraordinary academic achievement relative to high school community is taken into account. Personal background is also considered. Scholarships are highly competitive, and as a result, scholarship decisions are exceptionally selective. Unfortunately, many top-performing students don’t receive a scholarship due to the volume of strong applicants we have each year.

Additional Details

The scholarship covers 4 years (8 semesters maximum) for fall and spring semesters based on renewal requirements for each academic year. Students are limited to receiving a single semester’s scholarship amount at a time. If a student graduates in fewer than 4 years, the remainder of the benefit is forfeited. However, if a student enrolls in a graduate program at CU Boulder, the scholarship will extend until they graduate or use the maximum 8 semesters of the scholarship. Students selected for this scholarship will receive an offer with their admission decision which is accessible through their admission application status page.

The scholarship is paid on a semester basis, and the funds for each semester will be credited towards the university bill, as long as the eligibility criteria are met. This scholarship can pay toward all charges on the bill and isn't limited to paying just tuition and fees.

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Renewal Requirements

To maintain eligibility for the Presidential Scholarship, students must:

Enroll full time each fall and spring semester at CU Boulder (12+ credit hours). If a student is not enrolled in at least 12 credit hours by the third Friday of the semester, the scholarship will be cancelled effective immediately and the remainder of the scholarship will be forfeited. The cancellation is permanent and the scholarship cannot be reinstated. Courses taken for no-credit through Continuing Education and Professional Studies do not count toward the minimum credit hours.
Meet the Office of Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.
Remain nonresident for tuition purposes. Receiving an in-state tuition exception will make a student ineligible for this scholarship.
Maintain a minimum 2.75 cumulative CU Boulder GPA.

Students receiving a multi-year renewable scholarship are reviewed during spring semester. Renewable scholarships are subject to change pending final review by July 1.

Appealing Non-Renewal

Students may submit an appeal for reconsideration if they have extenuating circumstances (examples: serious illness, accident, death of a loved one, house fire, etc.) which contributed to their inability to meet the standards for renewal. The appeal information will be provided with the nonrenewal notification.

Appeals are decided on a case-by-case basis and the outcome of any appeal will depend on: the nature of the circumstances; the quality of the documentation provided; academic progress; any violation of the university’s Student Conduct Code; and fund availability. Appeals should be submitted by Oct. 1.

CU Boulder has a responsibility to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment. If an appeal references sexual misconduct or protected class discrimination or harassment, the Office of Financial Aid is obligated to report allegations of this nature to the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) in addition to considering the appeal on these grounds.

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Additional Opportunities

Deferral: Students may defer their admission to CU Boulder for up to one year and retain the Presidential Scholarship. You must contact the Office of Admissions to formally request a deferral.
Summer School: Summer school is not typically funded. However, if a student will be enrolled in summer school at CU Boulder in a minimum of 6 credit hours and meet the renewal criteria as of the end of the previous spring semester, they may request to receive a semester’s scholarship in the summer in lieu of receiving it in the fall or spring. You must contact Scholarship Services to make the request.
Education Abroad: Students may use the scholarship for semesters in CU Boulder sponsored Education Abroad programs of at least 12 credit hours per semester. The scholarship won't automatically reactivate upon your return.

Leeds School of Business Merit Scholarships

The Merit Scholarship Fund is awarded to a student who has demonstrated academic achievement in high school. All first-year/ freshmen admitted to Leeds School of Business are automatically considered for Leeds-based scholarships at time of admission. Continuing students: Please be sure to fill out the Leeds and CU Boulder Scholarship Application between December 1 and the March deadline for priority scholarship consideration. Scholarships will be awarded contingent on maintaining within 0.2 points of your Fall GPA after your final spring term grades.

Other CU Boulder Scholarships

CU Boulder Esteemed Scholars Program: The CU Boulder Esteemed Scholars Program reflects CU Boulder's commitment to recognizing the exceptional academic potential of Colorado students. Named for CU Boulder's first presidents, the scholarships include President Joseph A. Sewall and President Horace M. Hale.
Arts & Humanities Merit Scholarship: The Arts & Humanities Merit Scholarship is offered to first-year students who apply and are admitted with a declared A&H major.
Native and Indigenous Student Scholarship: CU Boulder offers the Native and Indigenous Student Scholarship to students who are members of a federally recognized tribe.
CU Boulder Bridge Scholars Program: The Boulder Bridge, and Bridge Ignite Scholarships are offered to students who participated in the CU System Precollege Outreach Program.
Regent Scholarship: The Regent scholarship is available to first-year students who graduate from Colorado high schools.
The Ron and Judy Moore Scholarship: The Ron and Judy Moore Scholarship is available to first generation students at University of Colorado Boulder.
The Astronaut Scholarship in Science and Technology: The Astronaut Scholarship in Science and Technology is open to students majoring in engineering, natural science, applied science, or mathematics. You must attend one of the participating educational institutions to be considered for this award. citizenship is also a requirement.
The Elizabeth Anne Wilson Memorial Scholarship: The Elizabeth Anne Wilson Memorial Scholarship is available to undergraduate students at the University of Colorado Boulder who are majoring in elementary education.
The Bridge to Bachelor's Degree Program Scholarship: The Bridge to Bachelor's Degree Program Scholarship is available to students in Colorado who are transferring from a community college to a four-year degree program.
The ACS-Hach Land Grant Undergraduate Scholarship: The ACS-Hach Land Grant Undergraduate Scholarship is available to full - time students majoring in chemistry.
The Stribic-Martin Scholarship: The Stribic-Martin Scholarship is available to juniors and seniors in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder. You must be majoring in physics, chemistry, geology, mathematics, applied mathematics, or biology and intend to earn a teacher certification in secondary sciences or math.
The First Nations Scholarship: The First Nations Scholarship is available to out - of - state, tribally enrolled, freshmen and transfer Native American students at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
The Justice Byron and Marion White Memorial Scholarship: The Justice Byron and Marion White Memorial Scholarship is available to incoming freshmen at the University of Colorado Boulder who are residents of Colorado. You must show high academic merit by having a minimum 3.75 GPA and high entrance exam scores.
The Elevations Scholars at CU: The Elevations Scholars at CU is available to full-time students at the University of Colorado Boulder who are residents of Colorado, demonstrate significant financial need, and show strong academic merit.
The Marjorie Skiff Rose Scholarship: The Marjorie Skiff Rose Scholarship is open to incoming full-time freshmen at the University of Colorado, Boulder, who are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences. You must be a Colorado resident and demonstrate financial need, a strong academic record and evidence of personal integrity and good citizenship to be considered for this award.

Applying for Merit Scholarships

The application process for merit scholarships at CU Boulder generally involves the following steps:

Apply for Admission: Incoming, prospective first-year students must first apply for admission to CU Boulder. The scholarship application is optional and completely separate from the admission process.
Access the Scholarship Application: Open your Admissions Application Status page. Select Apply for Scholarships (will be shown 3 to 5 days after applying for admission).
Complete and Submit the General Application: You will be prompted to complete the general application first. This application is used for multiple scholarships and requires information about extracurricular activities, community service, work and essays. You can edit your general application until the deadline, even after it's been submitted. Changes made after the deadline will not be reviewed unless you are applying for another scholarship with a later deadline.
Review Recommended Opportunities: At the top of the application, hover over Opportunities and click Recommended. Some opportunities require additional info like a special essay, reference letters or supporting documents.
Browse Other Opportunities: At the top of the application, hover over Opportunities and click Ours to browse all CU Boulder scholarship opportunities (labeled Ours). Eligibility and application requirements for each scholarship vary and are listed in the scholarship details within the application.
Complete the FAFSA: This step isn't required, but is recommended!

Application Dates and Deadlines

Deadlines, eligibility criteria, scholarship amounts and application requirements vary for each scholarship and are listed within the application. Colleges, departments and campus programs may have different open and close dates. The application opens Dec. 1, for the 2026-27 school year. Most applications are due between Feb. 15 and March 15. Prospective students will have access after applying for admission.

Scholarship Selection and Notification

A scholarship committee does a comprehensive review of applications and selects recipients. Scholarships are highly competitive and selection for one is not guaranteed. Selection criteria may include, but is not limited to, your academic record, leadership experience, extracurricular involvement, community service, employment, essays, and in some cases, financial need.

Notification timing varies for recipients of "recommended" scholarships. Check your status Log in to the CU Boulder Scholarship Application. From the My Applications tab, you'll see either Submitted or Offered, Accepted/Awarded status for each scholarship you have applied for.

Incoming first-year students: April 15
Continuing students: May 1
Transfer students: July 15
Graduate students: Please contact the Graduate School. If you are a new student and have not received notification by April 15, you were likely not selected for a scholarship.

Additional Resources and Support

CU Boulder offers a variety of resources and support services to help students navigate the scholarship application process and succeed in their academic pursuits.

Office of Financial Aid: The Office of Financial Aid provides information and assistance with all aspects of financial aid, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Scholarship Services: Scholarship Services can assist with questions regarding specific scholarships and the application process.
CU Boulder Scholarship Application webpage: Provides details on how to apply for scholarships.
DSF (Denver Scholarship Foundation): In partnership with University of Colorado Boulder DSF Scholars are provided with additional support on campus to help you be successful.
CU LEAD Alliance: A unique set of academic learning communities whose students, faculty and staff are united to promote inclusive excellence.
Presidents Leadership Class: The Presidents Leadership Class is a four-year, leadership development program for outstanding undergraduates at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Division of Student Life: Provides educational opportunities, resources and support services to help students find their community and build lifelong skills.
Career Services: Dedicated to helping you gain clarity about your future through accessible and inclusive guidance.
Ralphie’s Advising Lab: Use Ralphie’s Advising Help Lab as a resource as you navigate your time at CU Boulder. All students can use Ralphie’s Advising Help Lab regardless of year, major or college.

Maintaining Scholarship Eligibility

Many merit scholarships at CU Boulder have specific renewal requirements that students must meet to maintain their eligibility. These requirements may include maintaining a minimum GPA, completing a certain number of credit hours each semester, and remaining in good academic standing. It is important for students to carefully review the terms and conditions of their scholarship and to stay on track with their academic progress to ensure that they continue to receive funding.

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