Undergraduate Funding and Enrichment Opportunities

Below is a partial list of the many funding opportunities available to undergraduate students at CU-Boulder, many of which also serve as excellent ways to enrich your academic experience and to develop strong leadership skills.

The Office of Financial Aid and Office of Admissions maintain similar lists of CU-Boulder funding and enrichment programs that may interest you.

In addition, individual academic departments often have money available for undergraduate fellowships to help students travel, to study abroad, to conduct their own research or to help pay for tuition. 

Experiential Learning and Research

Study Abroad offers you the chance to experience the world firsthand. Choose from 330 programs in more than 70 countries around the world.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) funds undergraduate research, scholarly and creative work with several types of grants.

Bioscience Undergraduate Research Skills and Training (BURST) provides an hourly wage to undergraduate students desiring to gain research experience.

Engineering Active Learning Program offers you the opportunity to participate in enrichment experiences and partnerships with individual faculty and professionals.

The Herbst Program of Humanities for Engineering Students emphasizes the development of communication and thinking skills that will enhance both your life and career.

Leadership and Service Learning

Institute for Ethical and Civic Engagement (IECE) serves as a campus hub for civic engagement/community service programs.

INVST Community Studiesdevelops community leaders who engage in compassionate action as a lifetime commitment.

The Newton Chair in Leadership serves as a catalyst to expose more students campus-wide to leadership training and development, create collaborative partnerships between existing leadership programs and resources on the CU-Boulder campus and within the community and elevate CU-Boulder as a nationally recognized model for leadership development.

Public Interest Internship Experience Program (PIIE) is a paid summer internship program in which students work in governmental and private non-profit agencies.

Puksta Scholars Program will help you acquire the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for ethical, responsible citizenship through classroom learning and a year-long civic project.

Top Scholars

College of Arts & Sciences Honors Program brings together the university's best teachers and high-achieving students who want to become more critical and analytical thinkers.

College of Engineering and Applied Science Honors Program offers the highest-quality engineering education, including a faculty mentor, advanced research, and more.

Graduation with Honors varies by academic department, but generally includes meeting a minimum cumulative college grade point average.

Norlin Scholars receive an education tailored to fit their interests and goals in any of CU-Boulder's undergraduate colleges or schools.

Presidents Leadership Class (PLC) develops leaders who have a profound understanding of leadership and its responsible application within organizations, communities, the nation, and the world.

Top Scholarships Office works to coordinate prestigious national scholarship opportunities for high-achieving students.

CU-LEAD Alliance and Scholarship Program

CU-LEAD Alliance and Scholarship Program is a  set of academic learning communities unique to CU-Boulder. CU-LEAD stands for Leadership, Excellence, Acheivement, and Diversity. The students, faculty, and staff in these communities work together to help students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds succeed at CU-Boulder. Participation in a CU-LEAD program will help you build friendships and give you enhanced access to academic and personal support services throughout your career at CU-Boulder. Many of the programs also offer scholarship opportunities to participants. Learn more >

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) combines academic study with a military officer's educational program with the option of serving in a regular or reserve commission after graduation.

Air Force ROTC
Army ROTC
Marine ROTC
Naval ROTC

Residential Academic Programs

CU-Boulder's unique Residential Academic Programs (RAPs) give you the chance to take courses in your residence hall, connect with students who share your interests, and join educational and social events in a small-group setting. Learn more >

Scholarships