Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI)
Are you a Colorado resident with some college, but did not graduate or obtain your credential? Are you thinking of re-enrolling to finish your degree?
CSU Pueblo is thrilled to help you return to school to complete that degree that you started but didn't finish. We know sometimes life gets in the way, so we're dedicated to eliminating barriers for student success!
A new partnership with the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative and CSU Pueblo is providing adults (25+) with support services and scholarships to obtain college credentials or degrees.
The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) was created to address the state’s high proportion of adults with college degrees is due to credentialed migrants moving in instead of reflecting an educated homegrown workforce. COSI would expand the use of best practices throughout the state through a funding model that received bi-partisan approval. By leveraging state funds to generate local giving, the program grows community efforts and engages private donors to increase available scholarships well beyond the investment from the state.
If you are interested in any of the COSI Programs, please fill out the interest form below.
COSI Programs
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Finish What You Started
Join the Finish What You Started program designed to provide you with support services to obtain college credentials or degrees. The program combines financial support with additional services such as career planning and student coaching, connection to community and public resources, and career connections.
You may be eligible to participate in the statewide Finish What You Started program. This program is partnering with public colleges and universities across the state to provide individuals with support services and financial support to access and complete a certificate or degree.
Why Should You Participate?
Support:
- Enrollment support in registration, financial aid scholarships, and more
- 1:1 support to ensure progress toward the completion of a credential/degree
- connection and career support and transition back into the workforce
Direct Student Financial Support:
- Contacts through your institution to help navigate paying for college
- Financial Resources to support educational expenses
Are You Eligible?
Participants must meet the following criteria:
- Must plan to enroll or be enrolling at a Colorado public college or university
- Must be pursuing your first higher education certificate or degree (previous degree holders are ineligible)
- Undergraduate, in-state students who fit one of the following two categories:
- Have "Some College, No Degree": Defined as students who earned some postsecondary credits from a Colorado public/private higher education institution but did not complete a certificate or degree before deciding not to enroll for two or more consecutive semesters.
- Are "First-time Students": Defined as students who were admitted to a Colorado public institution of higher education as a first-time student for the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 academic year but did not enroll at any institution for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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Back To Work
Have you experienced economic loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic? Are you thinking of starting or continuing college?
The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) funded 20 organizations across the state to support workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide Coloradans support in accessing and completing their credentials or degree and getting Back to Work.
You may be eligible for a scholarship per term from CSU Pueblo.
Why You Should Participate?
Supports:
- Enrollment support in registration, financial aid scholarships, and more
- 1:1 support to ensure progress toward the completion of a credential/degree
- connection and career support and transition back into the workforce
Scholarships:
- A COSI support person will work with you to understand the total cost of obtaining your degree, exploring federal aid and other scholarship opportunities
- COSI Scholarship
Are You Eligible?
Participants must meet the following criteria*:
- Displaced and/or economic impact due to COVID-19 pandemic (must be willing to sign an affirm statement)
- Must complete a credential or degree within the grant term
- Pursue undergraduate certificate/degree
- New, re-engaged, or currently enrolled students
- 0-250% of Pell-eligibility
- Enroll at a Colorado Public Institution of Higher Education**
- Complete the COSI Back to Work Participant Survey upon enrollment into the program
- Students seeking credentials or degrees aligned with Colorado Top Job. Prioritizing health care, education, information technology, and jobs with the greatest projected annual openings
* Colleges may have additional participation criteria
** Students attending CSU Global are not eligible.
