Colorado Specific
COLORADO FREE APPLICATION DAYS ARE OCTOBER 15-17, 2024
Colorado's Department of Higher Education has expanded the free period to three days, allowing residents to apply to Colorado's public colleges and universities and several private institutions without having to pay the application fee!
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Beginning in 2023, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY will no longer require students living in or attending high school in Colorado to pay an application fee.
NEWS UPDATES
May 2024
Governor Jared Polis signed several bills this month: (1) guaranteeing two years of free tuition at any public four-year college, community college, or trade school and covering fees for up to 65 credits for all Colorado students in good standing with a household income of $90,000 or less; (2) requiring that public colleges and universities make more credits eligible for transfer and apply toward undergraduate majors (including popular programs such as business, engineering, psychology, and education; and (3) requiring public colleges and universities to be more transparent by submitting an annual report outlining their credit transfer policies.
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June 2021
Governor Jared Polis signed legislation to make all of Colorado's public colleges and universities test-optional, thereby permanently banning a state requirement that all applicants submit ACT or SAT scores.
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May 2021
Governor Jared Polis signed legislation banning the use of legacy preferences as part of admissions decisions made by all of Colorado's public colleges and universities.
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July 2020
Governor Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 20-175, prohibiting a student's standardized test score from being automatically included on high school transcripts. Schools now must obtain permission from parents/students before posting the score on the transcript.
COLORADO'S SUPPLEMENTAL PRIVACY NOTICE PROTECTS PERSONAL INFORMATION COLLECTED BY COLLEGE BOARD
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The state of Colorado's Privacy Act contains a supplemental notice which allows Colorado residents to require College Board to disclose any personal identifying information it collects from students through the creation of accounts, test preparation (including use of Khan Academy), and test-taking. It also allows residents to require that College Board delete that information. To learn more and to make any desired changes, students should access College Board's Consent Management Preference Center.
USEFUL INFORMATION
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There are over 130 public and private colleges and universities, community colleges, and vocational schools in Colorado. (collegestats.org)
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Colorado has reciprocity and exchange programs with institutions in other states, affording Coloradans the chance to pay in-state tuition for out-of-state schools. (highered.colorado.gov and Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program)
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Colorado's Department of Higher Education provides a free, comprehensive website containing pre-collegiate activities and information on how to apply to college and for financial aid. (CollegeInColorado.org)
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CU Succeed is a dual enrollment program giving students the chance to take college level courses while in high school to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously, and at a fraction of the cost.
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Note: High school students enrolled in a CU Succeed class are "college students"protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, regardless of age. Colleges may not discuss the class or enrollment with parents without the student's permission and participation.