Financial assistance funds and resources for students

Getting involved

Recreation Services: You Belong Here

The “You Belong Here” campaign fund provides access and equity for students who are facing financial barriers from paid programming at the Rec Center. Through generous donations, Recreation Services is able to provide financial assistance and program scholarships that allow students to fully participate in trips, classes and other activities.

Applications are open to all CU Boulder students who are Rec members or who pay full semester fees. Students may only receive assistance for one program or activity per semester. Financial assistance and program fee waivers are capped at $100 per student per semester.

Learn more and apply for financial assistance at the Rec Center.

Alternative Breaks scholarships

Alternative Breaks sends teams of college students to engage in meaningful service during their breaks from school. This week-long journey over spring break provides students with the opportunity to explore the United States while making a difference through service, reflecting upon their experience and creating long-lasting connections with others.

Scholarships are available for students to help cover the cost to participate in Alternative Breaks. The required fee includes transportation, food, lodging, community partner fees, some entertainment activities and most means. Program costs vary by each program’s location and activities.

Interested in Alternative Breaks? Sign up to be notified when the application for 2023 spring break trips becomes available.

Food and other resources

Buff Pantry

The Buff Pantry is the on-campus food pantry at CU Boulder and is here to support campus affiliates who are experiencing food insecurity.
Students can visit the Buff Pantry one time per week and will receive approximately 20 pounds of food per visit. The Buff Pantry provides shelf-stable products, fresh produce, refrigerated, frozen and personal care items at no cost to students. Food and personal care item selection will vary based on availability, donations and time of year. Learn more about visiting the Buff Pantry.

Victim Support Fund

The Victim Support Fund provides assistance directly related to the impact of a traumatic, disturbing or life disruptive event. Any assistance can be requested, but the applicant must demonstrate how the expense is directly related to impact from the traumatic incident. Financial assistance can be used towards personal property, bills/expenses, housing and legal fees.

Applications are open to all CU Boulder affiliates (student, staff or faculty) or those who have been in the last six months. CU Boulder affiliates can only apply/receive an application through working with a CU BoulderOffice of Victim Assistance (OVA) advocate. Please contact OVA to set up an appointment with an OVA advocate counselor to discuss this fund. If you are already connected to OVA, talk to the advocate you are working with to receive an application.

Medical Expense Assistance Fund

The Medical Expense Assistance Fund is designed to provide financial assistance to students who are unable to pay medical- or prescription-related expenses.

Students must meet all qualifications and submit all required materials as part of the assistance application process. Submitted medical bills will only be considered once. Financial assistance is capped at $1,000 per student.

Learn more and apply for financial assistance for medical expenses.

Academic support

Textbook Lending Library

All CU Boulder students can check out textbooks for free through the Academic Success and Achievement Program (ASAP). ASAP has a number of books for many of the general education and lower division classes.

To see if ASAP has a textbook available for you, email asap@colorado.edu. In your email, include your name, the course number, the book title and edition.

Scholarships

Disability Services scholarships and financial assistance

Disability Services awards scholarships and provides limited financial assistance to students through a variety of programs. To be eligible, applicants must have documentation of a disability, be a degree-seeking student at CU Boulder and complete the CU Boulder Scholarship Application before the summer deadline (typically in June).

Scholarships include:

Robert Wilkerson Scholarship: $500 annually for students who have a physical or sensory disability.
Timothy Grice Memorial Scholarship: $1,000 awarded annually to promising intellectually gifted students with socio-emotional needs.
Tyler J. Stevenson Memorial Scholarship: $1,000 merit-based scholarship awarded annually to students with epilepsy.
Disability Assessment Award (Shell): Maximum of $300 awarded toward the cost of diagnostic evaluation for qualifying students.

New Student & Family Program scholarship

New Student & Family Programs offers scholarships to incoming transfer or continuing CU Boulder students. These $2,500, merit based, non-renewable scholarships are awarded annually and disbursed at $1,250 in the fall semester and $1,250 in the spring semester. Based on academic excellence, extracurricular activities and a personal essay, full-time enrollment at CU Boulder is required while receiving this scholarship. The application deadline is March 15.

Collegiate Recovery Community CORE Membership scholarships

The CU Collegiate Recovery Community (CUCRC) is open to anyone in the CU Boulder community who wants support for their recovery or is interested in being part of a recovery community. The CORE Member program provides the opportunity for students to become part of a close-knit recovery community and access additional support resources, including scholarships.

UMC Board scholarships

Are you involved in a recognized student organization or working as a student leader in the UMC? The UMC Board awards multiple $1,000 scholarships each spring via the James E. Schafer Scholarship for students involved in a CUSG-recognized student group, and the Carlos García UMC Director’s Scholarship for students employed by offices in the UMC. Applications will open in February 2023.

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