CU Boulder Bridge Scholars Program

Boulder Bridge Scholars: Four years (eight semesters maximum) for fall and spring semesters based on renewal requirements each academic year.

Boulder Bridge Ignite Scholarship: Five years (ten semesters maximum) for fall and spring semesters based on renewal requirements each academic year.

  You're limited to receiving a single semester’s scholarship amount at a time. If you graduate in fewer than five years, the remainder of the benefit is forfeited. However, if you continue to be enrolled at CU Boulder in a graduate program, the scholarship will be extended until you graduate or until you use the maximum eight semesters. 

Students selected will receive an offer with their admission decision which can be accessed through the admissions status page.

The scholarship is paid on a semester basis, and the funds for each semester will be credited toward your university bill, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. This scholarship can pay toward all charges on the bill and isn't limited to paying just tuition and fees.

Both awards require full time enrollment (12+ credits) each fall and spring semester. The student must also meet the Office of Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards, participate in the Bridge Scholars Program offered through the Office of Precollege Outreach and Engagement and enroll and participate in a CU Lead Alliance Program.

GPA Requirements

• Boulder Bridge Scholars: Maintain a minimum 2.75 cumulative CU Boulder GPA
• Boulder Bridge Ignite Scholarship: Maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative CU Boulder GPA

Students receiving a multi-year renewable scholarship are reviewed during spring semester. Your renewable scholarships are subject to change pending final review by July 1.

• You'll be notified if you don't meet the renewal requirements at the end of spring semester.
• If the scholarship is cancelled due to failure to meet the renewal requirements, the cancellation is permanent and it cannot be reinstated (i.e. even if GPA is above the minimum in a future semester), other than through appeal.

How to Appeal:

• You may submit an appeal for reconsideration if you have special circumstances (examples: serious illness, accident, death of a loved one, house fire, etc.) that contributed to your inability to meet the standards for renewal. The appeal information will be provided with the nonrenewal notification.
• Appeals are decided on a case-by-case basis and the outcome of any appeal will depend on: the nature of the circumstances; the quality of the documentation provided; your current academic progress; the nature of any violation of the university’s Student Conduct Code; and fund availability.
• Appeals should be submitted no later than the third Friday of the term you become ineligible for the scholarship (typically the fall semester).
• CU Boulder has a responsibility to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment. Please be aware that if your appeal references sexual misconduct or protected class discrimination or harassment, the Office of Financial Aid is obligated to report allegations of this nature to the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) in addition to considering your appeal on these grounds. OIEC may contact you in this case, but you're not required to respond.

You may defer your admission to CU Boulder for up to one year and retain your scholarship. You must contact the contact the Office of Admissions to formally request a deferral. 

Summer school is not funded through either scholarship. 

You may use the scholarship for semesters in CU Boulder sponsored Education Abroad (study abroad) programs of at least 12 credit hours per semester. The scholarship isn't available for other Education Abroad programs.

• Undergraduate, degree-seeking students are eligible to return to the University within 1 to 3 terms from their last graded semester without readmitting or reapplying for admission (read more at the Registrar’s website).
• If you withdraw or are absent from the university and return within the allowable timeframe, you'll be eligible to reinstate the scholarship upon your return assuming that the renewal conditions have been met.
• Withdrawal grades may impact your Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status.
• It's your responsibility to contact Scholarship Services to request reinstatement. The scholarship will not be automatically reactivated upon your return.

The Cost of Attendance (COA), also known as the cost of education or "budget," is the total amount it should cost a student to go to school for one school year. This amount includes tuition and fees, housing and food, allowances for books and supplies, transportation and personal expenses.

The total of any financial aid that you receive, including the CU Boulder Esteemed Scholarship, cannot exceed your Cost of Attendance. If it does, you may have aid adjusted and/or cancelled, depending on your individual circumstances.