Scholarships, Grants, & Internships

Scholarships, Grants and Internships

Prospective students and graduates are encouraged to apply for scholarships during the program and loan repayment after graduation. Students are responsible for updating their tuition classification information (does not update automatically) for residency. Your tuition classification impacts your tuition rate.

For more information on applying for financial aid and applying for the Colorado Application for Student Financial Aid (CASFA) or Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) please visit How to Apply | Financial Aid and Student Employment (uccs.edu)

See below for links to several scholarship opportunities for educators.

Colorado Center for Rural Education

colorado center for rural education logo

Are you curious about ways to pay for your education to become a teacher? The Colorado Center for Rural Education has resources for you.


AFCEA Rocky Mountain Rural Teach Fund

The AFCEA Rocky Mountain Chapter is a leader in the Colorado Springs community, unifying the area's military, government, industry, and academic partners to advance the continuing education of today's young leaders in science, technology, engineering, math, and computer science fields (STEM). This fund supports undergraduate education students in rural student teaching placements who teach STEM subjects.

Award: $5,000

Eligibility Criteria
  • Full-time education students in the College of Education (12 or more credit hours per semester)
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • Placement in a rural school for the final student teaching experience. See this link for the eligible list of Colorado school districts that meet the rural designation.
  • Teach at least one prep per day in a STEM subject (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) during the final student teaching experience
    • Note: Undergraduate students who do not teach STEM on a daily basis during their rural student teaching placement are not eligible for this award.
Application Process
  • Submit an application online using link above.
  • Resume demonstrating experience working with youth (include any practicum experiences included in teacher preparation programs)
  • A written personal statement (1-2 pages, double-spaced) describing the applicant's career goals, background, and teacher qualities specifically related to rural settings.
Deadlines
  • May 15 for fall semester awards
  • November 15 for spring semester awards
Award Disbursement
  • Recipients will be notified of internship results in late June for fall semester awards and in late December for spring semester awards.
  • Funds will be distributed at the beginning of the academic semester in which they are awarded.

For more information, please contact the Student Resource Office at education@uccs.edu or 719-255-4996.


Boettcher Foundation

Qualifications

Students must graduate from a Colorado high school and live in Colorado for their full junior and senior year of high school. They must also be a citizen of the United States, a legal permanent resident, or a DACA recipient. Students can apply during their senior year. 
 

Scholarship amount

$20,000 annually for four years


Daniels Fund

Qualifications

Students must be a Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming resident and be a graduating high school senior. Students must also prove citizenship or permanent residency. They must earn a minimum high school GPA of 3.0, as well as meet SAT minimum score requirements. The scholarship organization also requires household incomes be below a specific income level. 

Scholarship amount

Up to a full-ride scholarship


Latin American Education Fund

Qualifications

The foundation offers scholarships to Colorado residents of Latino heritage or those who demonstrate a commitment to the Latino community. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Scholarships are open to all regardless of documentation or citizenship status. 

Scholarship amount

$3,000 per academic year


Denver Scholarship Foundation

Qualifications

Students must attend a Denver Public Schools high school and submit their GPA, show financial need, and enroll at one of 30 partner higher education institutions. Certain colleges and universities have varying GPA requirements to be eligible. 

Scholarship amount

$3,600 annually


Sachs Foundation

Qualifications

The foundation’s undergraduate scholarships are available to Black Colorado high school students who have been residents for at least three years. Students must also submit information such as their GPA, a personal essay, and letters of recommendation. 

Scholarship amount

Up to $12,500 a year


Pinnacol Foundation

Qualifications

Students must be the natural child, adopted child, stepchild or full dependent of a worker who was injured or killed in a compensable work-related accident at a Colorado-based employer. The family member must have been entitled to receive benefits under the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act. Students must have or maintain a 2.0 GPA and have a high school diploma or GED, or be a high school senior. Students must reapply every year.

Scholarship amount

An average of $4,700 a year


Alpine Bank

Qualifications

The bank provides numerous scholarships for Colorado students. Check the bank’s website for more information. 

Scholarship amount

Amounts vary based on the scholarship


Emergency Tuition Aid

The College of Education Emergency Tuition Aid is a one-time award available to current graduate and undergraduate students in the College of Education (COE) who are experiencing unanticipated circumstances that jeopardize their ability to pay tuition in full and to successfully continue in their program. The fund is supported by COE faculty, staff, alumni, and other donor contributions because we believe that everyone needs a little help at some point in their lives. We want to be there if this happens during a student's time at UCCS.

The COE Emergency Tuition Aid is not intended to replace or supplement financial aid, nor can it be used for conference travel or relocation expenses. Students are encouraged to seek out all other possibilities, including submitting a FAFSA and applying for scholarships annually to maximize opportunities for support. Funding requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with decisions usually made within 10 business days.

Qualifications

Must be a current an active student studying in a COE program, be in good academic standing, provide a written statement detailing hardship and request for support, plan to pay for tuition beyond the current semester (or academic year), and have not received COE emergency tuition aid in the past.

Funding amount

Funding will be awarded in amounts typically no greater than $3,000.


Other Scholarship Opportunities