CU Boulder scholarships and merit aid

Is there a separate scholarship application and deadline?

No separate application — automatic-consideration scholarships are decided inside the admission review, by Admissions, with the award arriving alongside the admission decision. The binding date is the regular admission deadline.

“For automatic consideration scholarships, students are reviewed as part of the admission process. There is not a separate application for those automatic admission-based scholarships. For fall consideration, students must apply by the regular admission deadline, and the Office of Admissions makes the selection and includes scholarship information with the admission decision when applicable.”

Weighted or unweighted GPA for automatic scholarships?

A 4.0 scale, even for weighted transcripts. Admissions converts to the 4.0 frame for automatic-consideration awards, so a 4.6 weighted GPA does not carry its weighting advantage into the scholarship review.

“Admissions uses a 4.0 GPA scale for automatic consideration scholarships, even when a student’s high school GPA is weighted.”

Can scholarships stack, or is there a cap?

It depends on the exact combination. Some matching scholarships connect to automatic awards; some automatic scholarships carry restrictions against combining with other automatic awards. There is no single stacking rule at CU Boulder — the specific award pair has to be checked.

“Whether scholarships can stack depends on the specific awards. Some college-level matching scholarships may be connected to automatic admission scholarships, while others may be separate. Some automatic consideration scholarships have restrictions on combining with other automatic awards, so the best answer depends on the exact award combination.”

When an outside award creates an overaward, what gets reduced?

Typically loans, work-study, or grants first — but the office would not make it absolute. In certain cost-of-attendance overawards CU’s own scholarships can be reduced or canceled, and donor restrictions can change the outcome. The favorable ordering is the norm, not a commitment.

“If an overaward results and the student has other aid such as loans, work-study, or grants, those aid types may typically be reduced or canceled to resolve the overaward. In certain cost-of-attendance overaward situations, automatic consideration or Office of Scholarship Services scholarships may need to be reduced or canceled. Donor restrictions can also affect the outcome.”

What does renewal generally require?

It varies by scholarship, but the common pattern is full-time enrollment, satisfactory academic progress, and a minimum cumulative CU Boulder GPA reviewed once a year.

“Renewal requirements vary by scholarship, but commonly include full-time enrollment, Satisfactory Academic Progress, and a minimum cumulative CU Boulder GPA reviewed annually.”

What GPA renews the nonresident automatic awards, and when is it checked?

A 2.75 cumulative CU Boulder GPA for Chancellor’s Achievement and Presidential, checked at the end of each year — not each semester. A weak semester is recoverable within the year. In a follow-up on August 11, 2026 the Office of Admissions confirmed the same 2.75 bar with full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours per semester), and added the timing: students are notified at the end of spring semester if they miss renewal.

“For nonresident automatic scholarships such as Chancellor’s Achievement and Presidential, the documented requirement is a 2.75 cumulative CU Boulder GPA at the end of each subsequent year, not each semester.”

Is there a separate application for departmental scholarships?

Yes — this one is easy to miss. The Office of Admissions said in a follow-up on August 11, 2026 that after applying to CU Boulder, every student is asked to complete the CU Boulder Scholarship application, which unlocks department scholarships available only to students in that department. The automatic awards need nothing extra; the departmental money does.

“After they apply to CU Boulder, we ask all students to complete the CU Boulder Scholarship application, which gives them access to department scholarships which are only able to students within that department.”

Does an outside scholarship reduce the CU Boulder automatic award?

The Office of Admissions, in a follow-up on August 11, 2026, said flatly that the auto-consideration scholarships its office oversees are never reduced by outside scholarship wins.

“the Auto-Considerations ones our office oversees will never be reduced if the student wins outside scholarships.”

Worth confirmingThe Office of Scholarship Services, answering the same question on August 11, 2026, was more guarded: in certain cost-of-attendance overaward situations, automatic consideration or Office of Scholarship Services scholarships "may need to be reduced or canceled" (see the Outside scholarships answer above). Two CU Boulder offices answered with different force — treat "never reduced" as holding below the COA ceiling, and confirm in writing before relying on it in an overaward.

If the renewal bar is missed, is there a grace period?

No — the Office of Admissions said cancellation for missing renewal requirements is permanent and the award is not reinstated even if the GPA later recovers, other than through appeal. The scholarship is evaluated for the next year on July 1. Combined with the annual spring check, one bad year at CU Boulder can end the award for good absent a successful appeal.

“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. The scholarship is evaluated for the next year on July 1.”