EmpowerEd is a state-funded program, administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education to provide higher education funding and support to individuals who experienced homelessness and were identified as being McKinney-Vento eligible by a designated school personnel while enrolled in a Colorado high school.
- Eligibility Criteria
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 the Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 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 been accepted into an in-state, public institution of higher education, local district college, or area technical college,
- 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), and
- Has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) for the applicable school year.
*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.
- Participating Institutions
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
- Cost of Attendance
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.
- Resources
- To Apply
2024-2025 EmpowerEd application: https://zfrmz.com/7TnTRfy0gx8OfLkjtBCV
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 2024-2025 EmpowerEd Application.
**If a student graduated after October 2023, the McKinney Vento Verification Form, signed by an authorized entity for homelessness determination (McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison) is required to submit the EmpowerEd application. If you have questions on this form, please contact the McKinney-Vento District Liaison for the district you graduated from for assistance. A full list of Colorado public school district McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaisons can be found at https://www.cde.state.co.us/studentsupport/homeless_liaisons.
If you are a current high school senior OR are not enrolled in college courses for the 2024-2025 school year, please wait to fill this out until you are enrolled.
The 2025-2026 EmpowerEd application is estimated to open in late Spring 2025 (April or May).
- Institution Designation Information
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.
- Questions
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.