Grants | Colorado Mesa University

A grant is a form of financial aid that does not need to be repaid. Colorado Mesa University offers Federal and State grants. By completing the FAFSA, a student automatically applies for consideration for the Federal and State grants. Some grants have limited funding and are awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

Tip: The key to applying for financial aid is timing and having financial need. It is critical to complete your FAFSA as early as possible after October 1 before the fall semester you will attend. Keep in mind it does take a few weeks to process your financial aid application.

Federally-Funded Grants

Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are federally funded grants that may be awarded to undergraduate students who have not received a bachelor's degree and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The amount of the award is determined annually by the federal government and is based on financial eligibility and the number of credit hours for which the student is enrolled. To be eligible for the Pell Grant a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 credit hours and for FSEOG a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Pell Lifetime Eligibility Limitation

The Pell Grant has a Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) limitation. Over a lifetime, a student may only receive the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant Funding.

Colorado State Grant (Colorado Residents Only)

The Colorado General Assembly has provided the funds for this grant. The Colorado State Grant is awarded to undergraduate, resident students with demonstrated need who are enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours. Eligibility is determined annually and students apply by completing the FAFSA.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is available to eligible students whose parents or guardians died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 and who are not eligible for the Pell Grant. If your parent(s) or guardian(s) died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 and you are eligible for the Pell Grant, you may qualify for an increase.

Like other federal grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants provide money to college students to help pay their education expenses. However, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants have special eligibility criteria. The link below will help you determine eligibility.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

Under this scholarship, a Pell-eligible student whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer is eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year for which the determination of eligibility is made.

You may be eligible to receive the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship if

Have completed the FAFSA, and
you are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant on the basis of your Expected Family Contribution, and
your parent or guardian died in the line of duty as a public safety officer, and
you were under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death.

For purposes of the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship, a public safety officer is:

As defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b) See below for definitions; or

A fire police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with State or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned special event.

In subsequent award years, the student continues to be eligible for the scholarship, as long as the student has a Pell-eligible EFC and continues to be an eligible student.

PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY

Proof of eligibility:

The Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship requires student coordination with the institution’s financial aid administrator (FAA) to determine and document eligibility.

A determination letter acknowledging eligibility for certain federal benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program administered by the Department of Justice;
A written letter of attestation or determination made by a state or local government official with supervisory or other relevant oversight authority of an individual who died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer as defined above;
Documentation of the student qualifying for a state tuition or other state benefit accorded to the children or other family members of a public safety officer consistent with the definition in 42 U.S.C. 3796b, or as a fire police officer as noted above; or
Other documentation from a credible source that describes or reports the circumstances of the death and the occupation of the parent or guardian.

How to CERTIFY ELIGIBILITY

How to certify eligibility:

Complete Scholarship Form and submit to Financial Aid Services.

AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1204 (9) OF TITLE I OF THE OOMNIBUS CRIME CCONTROL AND SAFE SSTREETS ACT OF 1968

As defined in section 1204(9) of Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968:

‘‘Public safety officer’’ means—

(A) an individual serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, as a firefighter, or as a chaplain;

(B) an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency who is performing official duties of the Agency in an area, if those official duties—

(i) are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later, declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); and

(ii) are determined by the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be hazardous duties;

(C) an employee of a State, local, or tribal emergency management or civil defense agency who is performing official duties in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an area, if those official duties—

(ii) are determined by the head of the agency to be hazardous duties; or

(D) a member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew who, as authorized or licensed by law and by the applicable agency or entity, is engaging in rescue activity or in the provision of emergency medical services.