EmpowerEd is a state-funded program, administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, that provides financial assistance at participating in-state public institutions of higher education for students who experienced homelessness, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act, while enrolled at a Colorado high school.
Students who meet the criteria below 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 pursuant to Section 725 of the Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. SEC. 11434a) while residing in Colorado anytime between the start of 9th grade and end of 12th grade,
- Is at least 17 years of age, and has not yet reached 27 years,
- Is a current Colorado resident,
- Has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) for the applicable school year,
- Has been accepted into an in-state, public institution of higher education, local district college, or area technical college, and
- Is currently 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 while meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
*Please note: EmpowerEd cannot be utilized to pursue a second degree of the same type. For example, if you indicate that you have already received a bachelor's degree, EmpowerEd can only be used towards a certificate or an associate degree. If you have an associate degree, EmpowerEd can only be used towards a certificate or a bachelor's degree.
4-Year Public Institutions
- Adams State University
- Colorado Mesa University
- Colorado School of Mines
- Colorado State University - Fort Collins
- Colorado State University - Global
- Colorado State University – Pueblo
- Fort Lewis College
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- University of Colorado - Boulder
- University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
- University of Colorado - Denver
- University of Northern Colorado
- Western Colorado University
Colorado Community College System
- Arapahoe Community College
- Colorado Northwestern Community College
- Community College of Aurora
- Community College of Denver
- Front Range Community College
- Lamar Community College
- Morgan Community College
- Northeastern Junior College
- Otero College
- Pikes Peak State College
- Pueblo Community College
- Red Rocks Community College
- Trinidad State Colleges
Local District Colleges
- Colorado Mountain College
- Aims Community College
Area Technical Colleges
- Emily Griffith Technical College
- Technical College of the Rockies
- Pickens Technical College
What costs does this program cover?
This program covers the full cost of attendance at eligible Colorado institutions. The full cost of attendance varies from institution to institution but will cover full tuition, fees, reasonable living expenses (on and off campus), books, and other expenses. Examples of costs covered may include supplies, housing, food, local transportation, limited personal expenses, childcare where relevant, a computer allowance and medical insurance. Please reach out to your institution’s financial aid office for more information.
Steps for enrolling in EmpowerEd:
- Complete the FAFSA or CASFA and indicate past or current experience of homelessness,
- Be accepted and enrolled at an accredited Colorado public institution of higher education, and
- Complete the EmpowerEd Application* for the appropriate school year. Only one submission is needed per school year.
*Students who graduated after October 2024 are required to submit a specific EmpowerEd Verification form that has been signed by a current Colorado McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison with their EmpowerEd application. FASFA Determination or Independent Student Status forms are not considered acceptable substitutions for the EmpowerEd verification form. Students who graduated before October 2024 do not need to submit the verification form, as the CDHE can verify eligibility statuses internally. A full list of Colorado public school district McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaisons can be found at online.
2024-2025 EmpowerEd Application (Closes June 12, 2025)
- If you need to make a change to your 2024-2025 EmpowerEd application AFTER it is submitted, please email your request to eenavigator@dhe.state.co.us.
Please note that the 2024-2025 EmpowerEd Application is no longer open for Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 funding. Students wishing to apply for Summer 2025 funding may do so until the application closes on until June 12, 2025.
2025-2026 EmpowerEd Application (Opens March 1, 2025)
- 2025-2026 EmpowerEd Student Verification Form - If a student graduated after October 2024, they are required to submit the EmpowerEd Student Verification Form containing a signature from the student's graduating district's McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison with their 2025-2026 EmpowerEd application.
- If you need to make a change to your 2025-2026 EmpowerEd application AFTER it is submitted, please complete the 2025-2026 Change Request Form.
- If your application is denied and you wish to appeal the decision, you should complete the 2025-2026 EmpowerEd Appeal Verification Form and have it signed by your graduating district's McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison, then submit the Appeal Verification Form with the 2025-2026 EmpowerEd Appeal Application.
- Both the EmpowerEd Appeal Application and the signed EmpowerEd Appeal Verification Form must be submitted for consideration. If either of these components are missing, we will not be able to process your appeal. This should ONLY be completed after a student has submitted a 2025-2026 EmpowerEd Application and received a denial letter.
Important Dates
- The last day to submit an EmpowerEd application for the Fall 2024 semester is October 15, 2024. The application will remain open to individuals applying for Spring 2025 and Summer 2025.
- The deadline to apply for the Spring 2025 semester is February 14, 2025.
- The 2024-2025 EmpowerEd application will close on June 12, 2025.
- The 2025-2026 EmpowerEd application will open on March 1, 2025.
Under C.R.S. 23-3.3-140. Each institution is required to designate one employee as a liaison to serve as a direct point of contact with the institution for qualifying students and prospective qualifying students. The liaison may have other duties unrelated to work as the liaison. The liaison shall provide qualifying students and prospective qualifying students with information regarding application assistance, financial assistance, support services, and other resources and assistance available to qualifying students and prospective qualifying students.
Each institution will provide the Postsecondary Options Navigators described in subsection of this section with the contact information for the liaison.
Please reach out to your Postsecondary Options Navigator for assistance with eligibility, funding or general questions.
- Students, please contact eenavigator@dhe.state.co.us.
- IHE financial aid directors, please contact empowerfinaid@dhe.state.co.us.