The 2025/26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open and Post-Secondary Counseling encourages all families to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible. Please remember to complete the 2025/26 FAFSA application (not 2024/25). Here are some tips for how to prepare for submitting the FAFSA (and other financial aid tips). Colorado Mountain College is offering free, 1:1 FAFSA completion support for Aspen High School families. Use this link to schedule an appointment .
To help you get started, we recommend that you watch this short video: How to Create Your Account Username and Password (FSAID).
Click the links below if you missed our 10/9/24 Financial Aid Night
FAFSA
Colleges and Universities determine financial need based on the submission of the Office of Federal Student Aid's FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Completing the 2025/26 FAFSA is a very important first step in the financial aid process.
FAFSA Help Resources/Information Center (chat, call, email)
Video tutorials and other resources at the FSA Outreach YouTube Channel
Financial Aid Experts at CMC are available for 1:1 FAFSA completion support
Phone: (970) 947-8322
Email: finaid@coloradomtn.edu
Book an appointment: coloradomtn.edu/financial-aid/contact/
More info is available on CMC's 2024-25 FAFSA Simplification webpage and playlist.
CSS PROFILE
Hundreds of private schools and a few public institutions use the CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile) in addition to the FAFSA to determine a financial aid package. A fee is required to submit the CSS Profile (which is managed by the CollegeBoard). Always consult each college's financial aid page for their requirements. Be warned, the CSS Profile is fairly involved, click here for a detailed overview and here for CollegeBoard's CSS Profile customer support.The financial aid offices of the indivdual colleges may also be able to offer assistance. CSS Profile is free for families making up to $100,000. Click here for information about a CSS fee waiver.
US COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES THAT MEET 100% OF DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED(some with and some without loans)
Many colleges and universities also offer significant merit aid/scholarships (based on academic performance/special talents), irrespective of financial need.
Consult each school's website for merit-based opportunities, because sometimes separate applications and/or priority application deadlines are required to be considered for merit aid.
Many schools inside and outside of Colorado offer special opportunities for first generation college students and for other under represented populations. Please ask your Post-Secondary Counselor about these opportunities.
College Opportunity Fund - The State of Colorado offers per credit tuition stipends at participating public and private colleges and universities in Colorado.
Western Undergraduate Exchange - out-of-state students pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition at participating schools.
The Post-Secondary Counseling office is NOT ABLE to stay current regarding all national, corporate, state and regional scholarships, however, we are familiar with four significant scholarships with which AHS students have had success:
MEM Scholars: A new scholarship for graduating high school seniors from Colorado and Washington State. The MEM Scholars program looks to support students with strong character and high ethics, demonstratable concern for their environment and community, and the intellectual curiosity of the world around them. $25,000/year for four years. $150K maximum AGI. Click here for eligibility, selection criteria and appliction process/timeline. Deadline Oct. 15th
Boettcher Scholarship: With the goal of keeping Colorado's top students in state, the Boettcher Foundation Scholarship supports Colorado’s high-potential graduating seniors by providing them with a four-year comprehensive scholarship program to attend a Colorado college or university. In addition to the scholarship funding, Boettcher Scholars receive campus enrichment programing, annual events, scholar grants, and access to a vast network of alumni and community leaders. Click here for selection criteria and eligibility. Deadline Nov. 1st
Daniels Scholars: The Daniels Scholarship Program offers four-years of financial and personal support focused on helping Daniels Scholars succeed in college, and in life. The Daniels Scholarship can cover the full cost of attendance at their partner schools in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming and $25,000/per year at any accredited non profit college or university in the United States. The Daniels Fund supports low-income students, high achieving high school seniors. Click here for selection criteria and eligibility. Deadline Oct. 15th
QuestBridge: QuestBridge connects the nation's brightest students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education and provides full four-year scholarship support.QuestBridge looks for high school seniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges. Click here for more information. Deadline Sept. 27th
For more information about these opportunities, please see Karen or Brennan.
Below is a list of scholarship search engines we suggest for independent scholarship research:
Please keep in mind, you should never pay to apply for a scholarship.
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Each year, the Aspen community offers a generous variety of scholarships to Aspen High School graduating seniors. In 2023, 30+ donor groups and organizations presented nearly $425,000 in scholarships and awards to 75 deserving students. Aspen High School coordinates most local scholarships into one general online process for students. The Local Scholarship process begins each year in January.
Refer to the Local Scholarship webpage for more information.