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MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

CU Boulder
Decision sheet

Colorado · Research checked 2026-07-02 · School research, not an aid offer

The starting point

Colorado's flagship public with automatic merit consideration through the admission file, a December 1 scholarship application opening for layered competitive awards, and a four-year Tuition Guarantee that locks the published tuition rate for entering students.

More than one award path. Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

Awards to discuss

The 2 awards in this school's research. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.

Automatic Consideration Scholarships

Amount varies; tier names and dollar values not publicly published · Variable or qualified amount

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

Eligibility: Awarded 'based on the strength of their admissions application.' No separate scholarship application required for the automatic pool.

Renewal: Renewal terms vary by individual award; verify in the offer letter. Most CU awards require continued full-time enrollment and minimum GPA.

Other terms: CU Boulder does NOT publish a stat-driven tier ladder (no Presidential/Dean's/Provost grid with cutoffs). Families must rely on the admission decision and the Net Price Calculator to estimate awards.

https://www.colorado.edu/scholarships/prospective-first-year-students

CU Boulder Scholarship Application (competitive layer)

Amounts vary by individual scholarship · Variable or qualified amount

Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.

Eligibility: Single supplemental scholarship application opening December 1 unlocks dozens of donor-funded scholarships across campus. Required for any aid beyond the automatic admissions review.

Renewal: Renewal varies by donor restriction; verify in the offer letter.

Other terms: Functions as the gateway to most non-automatic merit aid at CU. Skipping it forfeits access to departmental, college-level, and donor scholarships even for admitted students.

https://www.colorado.edu/scholarships/prospective-first-year-students

Ask before you decide

  1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
  2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
  3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: When outside or additional aid arrives, CU Boulder tries to reduce loans first, but explicitly reserves the right to replace other need-based aid such as grants or work-study when necessary. Loan-first is the goal, but not a guarantee.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/cu-boulder/merit-aid

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.