Scholarships and Grants for Adult Students

Colorado Christian University is a member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society, the largest and oldest chapter-based honor society for adult undergraduate students. Through this organization, CCU desires to recognize and honor non-traditional adult undergraduate students for their academic excellence and superior leadership in higher education. CAGS undergraduate students may apply for the Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarship.  For all general questions about Alpha Sigma Lambda please email ASLsupport@ccu.edu. Questions regarding the Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarship may be emailed to aslscholarship@ccu.edu.

The CCU Alumni Scholarship is for CCU students, or students of our heritage institutions, who have graduated with a bachelor's degree. Qualified applicants may receive up to $5,000 towards their continued studies through CCU Online.

Colorado Christian University offers several endowed scholarships to support a variety of students in their pursuit of higher education. CAGS currently offers the Free to Succeed, IVy Women, and Larry J. Crabb CAGS Endowed Scholarships.

Colorado Christian University offers two recurring scholarships to support CAGS students. The Colonel Russell Lee Craig Jr. Recurring Scholarships supports veterans, and the James 1:27 Recurring Scholarship is offered to students who have lost a spouse.

The Hope Fund was established by faculty, staff, alumni, and compassionate donors who wanted to support CAGS students. The Hope Fund will provide vital scholarship dollars for hard-working adult students who otherwise would be unable to continue their education.

CCU offers a unique Transfer Student Scholarship for transfer students pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree through the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. Scholarships are based on the number of credits you transfer and range from $500 to $2,000 toward your tuition at CCU.

Federal Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students. Unlike a loan, they do not have to be paid back to the government. Eligibility is based on a formula which is revised and approved by Congress annually. The amount of funding is based on the student's financial need, as determined by information supplied on the FAFSA.

FSEOG grants are awarded to undergraduate students. Like the Federal Pell grant, this is money that does not need to be paid back to the government. Unlike the Federal Pell grant, funds are very limited. Each school is given an allotment, which they must then award to the students with the most need. If you are not Pell eligible you will not receive these funds. Even if you are Pell eligible you may not receive an FSEOG. Upon completion of a bachelor's degree, a student is no longer eligible for FSEOG.

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides $4,000 per year in grant funding for qualified students who intend to teach full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools that serve students who are from low-income families.

CCU Programs Eligible for the TEACH Grant:

• B.A. in Early Education (Licensure)
• B.A. in Special Education, K-12 Generalist Licensure
• Master of Education in Special Education with Licensure
• Master of Education in Special Education – Alternative Licensing (Special Education Generalist)
• Master of Education in Special Education – Endorsement (Special Education Generalist)
• Master of Education in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

TEACH Grants first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2024 are subject to a 5.7% reduction of the student's calculated award.

The award amounts reflecting the 5.7% reduction are listed below.

• Undergraduate Study: Up to $4,000 per year for first baccalaureate degree to a maximum of $16,000; the award amount with a 5.7% reduction is $3,772.00.
• Graduate Study: Up to $4,000 per year for first graduate degree up to a maximum of $8,000; the award amount with a 5.7% reduction is $3,772.00.

If students fail to complete the four-year teaching requirement within eight years of completing or ceasing their program of study, the grant reverts to an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, and will need to be repaid with interest. The interest rate that will apply to a TEACH Grant that has been converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan will be the rate that was in effect for Direct Unsubsidized Loans on the date the TEACH Grant was first disbursed, with the interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

To receive a TEACH Grant students must:

• Complete the FAFSA and meet basic eligibility criteria for federal student aid programs, although they do not have to demonstrate financial need
• Meet one of the following academic achievement requirements:
  • Score above the 75% percentile on a college admissions test (ACT or SAT) OR
  • Graduate from high school with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 as a freshman OR
  • Have an earned transfer cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 as a transfer student OR
  • Have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.25 through the most recent payment period of your college coursework to receive a grant for each subsequent term
• Be enrolled in a program of study designated as TEACH Grant eligible. Eligible programs are those that prepare a student to teach in a high-need area such as Special Education
• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and respond to requests by the U.S. Department of Education confirming your continuing intention to meet the teaching obligation by performing the teaching service at a low-income school for a total of at least four of the eight years following academic program completion
• Complete a TEACH Grant counseling session

More information on the TEACH Grant Program can be found at the Department of Education.

The Educator Recruitment and Retention (ERR) program was created to provide support to members of the armed forces and nonmilitary-affiliated educator candidates in pursuing a career as an educator and to provide support to local education providers to recruit, select, train, and retain highly qualified educators across the state. Under this program, qualified program applicants can apply for up to $10,000 in one-time financial assistance toward their educator preparation program costs if they commit to teaching in a rural or small rural district for three years.

Applicants can meet eligibility criteria for the program by first being enrolled in a Colorado-approved traditional or alternative educator preparation program (or institute of higher education for applicants pursuing a CTE credential) and then through three different pathways:

• Has an earned bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university and has secured employment as an alternative teacher or temporary educator eligibility (TEE) educator in a rural or small rural district; or
• Is currently employed as a paraprofessional in a school district, charter school or BOCES and is working toward a baccalaureate degree as required to pursue a professional teaching license; or
• Has secured a position as a CTE instructor in a rural or small rural district and meets state CTE requirements.

Undergraduate students at Colorado Christian University may be eligible to receive Colorado's College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipends to offset their cost of attendance. COF stipends are paid to eligible undergraduate students by the State of Colorado when they attend a participating institution of higher education.

The COF stipend is a per credit hour dollar amount that is determined by the Colorado State Legislature, and is subject to annual state funding availability.

Eligible students who attend a private Colorado college or university must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Colorado resident as determined by CCU's online Colorado Residency form (Your CCU log in will be required to access this form.)
• Be a graduate of a Colorado high school OR
• Earn a Colorado GED
• Successfully complete a non-public home-based educational program in Colorado
• Demonstrate financial need as determined by federal Pell Grant eligibility

Eligible students must submit the College Opportunity Fund stipend application on the College Assist website and will not be eligible for this stipend until this application is completed. The Colorado Opportunity Fund is considered a grant for students attending private institutions such as Colorado Christian University; therefore, it may replace a portion of other need-based aid or merit-based tuition awards. By law, the COF stipend at a private university is 50% of the stipend provided at a state institution. Any COF stipend received would be reflected as a tuition credit on the student's account.

Undergraduate students at Colorado Christian University may be eligible to receive a Colorado State Opportunity Grant. This state grant is paid to eligible undergraduate students by the State of Colorado and is subject to annual state funding availability. The grant is need-based, and all eligible students must complete a FAFSA to determine financial need and CCU's online Colorado Residency form. (Your CCU log in will be required to access this form.) The Colorado State Opportunity Grant is considered a grant for students attending private institutions such as Colorado Christian University; therefore, it may replace a portion of other need-based aid or merit-based tuition awards.