More Financial Assistance

HB24-1403 EmpoweredEd Program

EmpowerEd (HB 24-1403) is a state-funded program administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education to provide higher education funding and support to eligible individuals who experienced homelessness while enrolled in a Colorado high school. This assistance covers the remaining balance of the total cost of attendance after any private, state or federal financial aid. These costs are split 50/50 by the institution and state.

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 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 9^th grade and end of 12^th 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, 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. 

Students must:

• 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,
• Complete the EmpowerEd Application.
• If a student graduated after October 2023, please note that proof of eligible McKinney-Vento experience signed by an authorized entity for homelessness determination is required to submit the EmpowerEd application. If you do not have this form, please contact Paula Gumina (gumina_p@cde.state.co.us) for assistance.

Please contact Christina Sisneros regarding this program, christina.sisneros@trinidadstate.edu.

FosterED

Higher Education Support for Foster Youth (SB 22-008) requires that all public higher education institutions provide Colorado resident students who meet the eligibility criteria with financial assistance for the remaining balance of the student's total cost of attendance over the amount of any private, state, or federal financial assistance received by the student.

Eligibility Criteria

• Current Colorado resident;
• Was in foster care from age 13+ in Colorado or in non-certified kinship care from age 13+ in Colorado and was, at any time, adjudicated neglected or dependent pursuant to Article 3 of Title 19;
• Attending a state public institution of higher education, local district college, or area technical college;
• Currently enrolled in courses leading toward a certificate of completion, associate, bachelor’s, or postgraduate degree and in satisfactory academic standing as defined by the institution of attendance;
• Completed the FAFSA or CASFA; and
• Completed the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) application, if eligible.

* FosterEd will cover up to 132 semester credit hours or 198 quarter credit hours starting from the time you join this program. Credits earned prior to joining this program will not count towards the credit limit.

* Please note, there is no age limit on this program.

Cost of Attendance

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 tuition, fees, reasonable living expenses (on and off campus), books, and other school-related expenses.

How to Apply

1. Obtain Confirmation of Foster Care Experience form.
2. Complete either the FAFSA or CASFA for the appropriate school year.
3. Complete the ETV application, if eligible.
4. Complete a FERPA Consent Form.
5. Contact FosterEd Liaison, Christina Sisneros, for the student’s plans to attend and to self-identify as eligible for the program. The liaison will require proof of foster care experience, proof that the student successfully submitted their ETV application (if eligible), and a copy of the completed FERPA Consent Form.
   1. Student will need to provide a signed Eligibility Checklist back to the FosterEd Liaison as well

Please contact Christina Sisneros regarding this program, christina.sisneros@trinidadstate.edu

Education and Training Voucher (ETV)

The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program is a federally funded program administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. The program provides Colorado residents who are currently or have previously been in foster care and are between the ages of 17 to 25 with financial support for post-secondary education at a college, university, vocational, technical, or trade school. Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible students. 

• The program provides Colorado residents who are currently or have previously been in foster care and are between the ages of 17 to 25 with financial support for post-secondary education at a college, university, vocational, technical, or trade school. Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible students.
• To be eligible:
  • Has been accepted into/enrolled in a degree, certificate, or other accredited program at a college, university, technical, or vocational school
  • To remain eligible for ETV funding, youth must show progress toward a certificate of completion, associate, bachelor’s, or postgraduate degree,
  • Is at least 17 years old and has not yet reached 26 years old,
  • Is a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen,
  • Has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the applicable school year.
  • Must submit the ETV application every year https://cdhe.colorado.gov/programs-services/foster-youth-programs-and-services/etv-program
• In addition, youth must meet one of the following criteria:
  • Was in foster care on or after their 14th birthday,
  • Had a finalized adoption with adoption assistance on or after their 16th birthday
  • Had a guardianship assistance established on or after their 16th birthday, or       
  • Was in Division of Youth Services community placement on or after their 14th birthday.

Please contact Christina Sisneros regarding this program, christina.sisneros@trinidadstate.edu

HB23-1246 Career Advance CO

Ready for a Career Change

Take the first step with Trinidad State College and Career Advance Colorado! Thanks to this state program, you can get free training in rewarding fields that move Colorado.

Visit this page for more details!

Coming soon...

SB22-172 Rural Track Funding

What is it?

The act establishes the Colorado rural health-care workforce initiative (initiative) to expand the number of health-care professionals practicing in Colorado's rural or frontier counties. As part of the initiative, an institution of higher education (institution) is authorized to establish and operate a health-care professionals rural track within any health-care professional education program offered by the institution.

Eligibility:

• Eligible to CO resident students working on Nursing-AAS (ADN) or Bachelor of Nursing (BSN)
• A rural track must set aside seats in its health-care professional education program for students who express an interest in studying and working in a rural or frontier county, offer didactic curriculum related to practicing the health-care discipline in rural or frontier counties, place students in rural or frontier counties for hands-on instruction and training, and award scholarships to students in the rural track.
• Students must successfully complete the online modules before funds may be awarded
• In order to receive a scholarship, a student must commit to working as a health-care professional in a rural or frontier county for 2 years after completing education and training.
• Must acknowledge and sign the Rural Healthcare Student Scholarship award letter and return to the Nursing Department Chair (LoriRae Hamilton)
• FAFSA/CASFA Required

Please contact LoriRae Hamilton (lorirae.hamilton@trinidadstate.edu) for more information

SB22-1350 CO Opportunity Now - Southern Colorado Partners Leading Advancement in Nursing Track (PLANT)

Purpose
To award and manage the Opportunity Now Funds received by Trinidad State College from the 23-24 Fiscal Year to the 25-26 Fiscal Year. Attaining any of these degrees would help the serving areas in the access to healthcare, access to nursing education, and provide a succession plan that will maintain a constant high quality access to the healthcare and education that is needed in the rural areas of southern Colorado.

Intended for:

A project to start healthcare course towards a nursing degree in the sophomore or junior year of high school. This pipeline utilizes the Ascent program to complete a Practical Nursing program. The Partners Leading Advancement in Nursing (PLANT) would be able to kick in at this point to allow the students to jump to “continue to grow” to attain their Associate Degree.

With Trinidad State, the students would also be able to take course towards their BSN as the same time. At the conclusion of the BSN, the student could “continue to grow” for their MSN to attain their Nurse Practitioner or Nursing Education degree.

Eligibility requirements for Award:

• Students must complete form and submit to Dean of Instruction, LoriRae Hamilton
• FAFSA/CASFA not required, but encouraged
• Residents and Non-Residents are eligible for the funding
• Be enrolled in and taking courses in one of the approved programs
  • BSN
  • Practical Nursing
  • Nursing AAS
• Cannot have PLANT money for courses paid with Career Advance as both fundings are last dollar in

Please contact LoriRae Hamilton (lorirae.hamilton@trinidadstate.edu) for more information.

SB23-205 Colorado Opportunity Next

This is a one-time scholarship for Colorado’s Class of 2024 high school graduates and equivalent completers for use in the 2024-2025 academic year. Scholarship recipients may receive up to $1500 (Split between Fall and Spring Semesters) to help cover tuition, fees, books and equipment.

To be eligible, students must:

• Be enrolled in a high priority program (Please see below)
• Have graduated from a CO High School/GED in the 23/24 academic year
  • Have final high school/GED transcript on file
• Be a CO resident
• Have a completed FAFSA/CASFA
  • If they choose to not complete a FAFSA/CASFA, they must complete the waiver form
• Cannot be receiving any COSI funding
• $1,500 scholarship cannot exceed total cost of program

High Priority Programs

• Advanced Manufacturing
  • Gunsmithing AAS/cert
  • Automotive AAS/Certificates
  • Welding AAS/certificate
• Computer & Information Sciences
  • Computer Information Systems
  • CIS Technology in Agriculture
  • CIS Applications Specialist CER
  • Database Administration Certificate
  • Computer Networking Cloud Administration
  • Networking Sys Admn Specialist CER
  • Cybersecurity CER
• Construction
  • Construction Technology AAS
  • Basic Construction Technology Certificate
  • Construction Jobsite Skills
  • Construction Technology Certificate
  • Carpentry Level I CER
  • Carpentry Level II CER
  • Interior & Exterior Carpentry Certificate
  • Construction Electrician AAS
  • Maintenance Electrician AAS
  • Advanced Instrumentation and Control Systems Certificate
  • Advanced Maintenance Electrician Certificate
  • Construction Electrician Certificate
  • Electrical Codes and Standards Certificate
  • Industrial Network Instrumentation Certificate
  • Introduction to Instrumentation and Control Systems Cert
  • Maintenance Electrician Certificate
  • Residential Construction Electrician Certificate
  • South Colorado Line Technician AAS
  • Power Construction Supervision AAS
  • Rocky Mountain Lineman Technician AAS
  • Electrical Tech Fundamentals Certificate
  • Rocky Mountain Lineman Technician Certificate
  • South Colorado Line Technician Certificate
  • Construction Layout & Blueprint Certificate
  • Trail Management and Construction
  • Trail Mngment/Cnst Level I CER
  • Trail Mngment/Cnst Level II CER
  • Trail Mngment/Cnst Level III CER
• Education
  • Elementary Teacher Education Transfer Major AA
  • Early Childhood Teacher Education Transfer Major AA
  • Early Childhood Education AAS
  • Early Childhood Education Director Certificate
  • Early Childhood Teacher Certificate
  • Infant/Toddler Nursery Supervisor Certificate
  • Ag Education Transfer Major AS
• Engineering & Technology
  • Engineering Agreement AS
  • Manufacturing Technology AAS
  • Machining: Precision Machining (Cert)
  • Manual Machining Certificate
  • Occupational Safety and Health Technology AAS
  • Business: Occupational Health and Safety (Cert)
• Family & Social Sciences
  • Psychology AA Xfer Major DwD (CIP code begins with 42)
  • Sociology Xfer Major DwD) (CIP code begins with 45)
• Health Professions
  • Dental Assistant Certificate
  • Expanded Duties Dental Assistant Certificate
  • Health Info Technology (HIT) AAS
  • Health Info Technology (HIT) CER
  • Medical Assistant Professional Certificate
  • Medical Assistant Professional AAS
  • Medical Assistant Professional Certificate
  • Emergency Medical Services AAS
  • Emergency Medical Technician AAS
  • Paramedic AAS
  • Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Certificate
  • Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate Certificate
  • Emergency Medical Technician Basic Certificate
  • Paramedic Certificate
  • Human Services AAS
  • Human Services Level I Certificate
  • Human Services Level II Certificate
  • Behavioral Health: Mental Health & Social Work AAS
  • Behavioral Health + Certificate
  • Behavioral Health Assistant II Certificate
  • Behavioral Health: Patient Navigator Certificate
  • Qualified Behavioral Health Assistant Certificate
  • Holistic Health AAS
  • Nursing AAS
  • Nursing: PN to ADN AAS
  • Nursing Track AGS
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Practical Nursing Certificate
  • Nurse Aide Option 1 Certificate

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Grant

The CTE Grant offers financial assistance to students if they are enrolled in one of the approved CTE certificates and meet eligibility requirements. The purpose of the grant is to provide funding assistance to low-income students enrolled in certificate programs that are under 16 credit hours. The grant covers the cost of tuition, fees, required books and materials only. 

• Must be a Colorado resident
• Must be enrolled in a CTE program that is 15 credit hours or less to complete
• Must not be receiving Veterans Administration education benefits
• Must be in good standing for Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards

This grant is need based and student must show financial need by completing a FAFSA demonstrating they would qualify for Pell grant OR by providing a copy of proof of any of the following:

• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Benefits
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits
• Medicaid Eligibility
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Disability Benefits
• Section 8 Housing Voucher
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Benefits
• An income that is eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch Benefits
• An income that is too low to require a Federal Income Tax Filing