$1,000 tuition scholarship for 2026 in-district high school or GED / AHSD graduates who enroll as new students for fall 2026.
PLUS, a $2,000 discount on housing if you live in one of the student residence halls at CMC campuses in Leadville, Spring Valley at Glenwood Springs, or Steamboat Springs.
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STEP ONE: Apply for admission
It's quick and easy. View the full list of eligibility requirements for the Locals Scholarship below.
STEP TWO: Submit your FAFSA or CASFA
You only complete one application depending on your citizenship status.
Need help? The Office of Financial Aid can assist with filling out these forms or answer your questions.
For those who are U.S. Citizens or Eligible Non-Citizens. Learn more about the FASFA.
For those in Colorado without a lawful immigration status. Learn more about the CASFA.
STEP THREE: Register for classes
About the Locals Scholarship
Apply to CMC
Apply online (it's free) now before June 1, 2026! Application deadline for GED completers is August 1, 2026.
Complete Your FAFSA/CASFA
To be considered for the Locals Scholarship, complete FAFSA online* before June 1, 2026. The deadline for GED completers is August 1, 2026. Use school code: 004506.
If you are not FAFSA eligible and do not have lawful immigration status, you can still receive the scholarship by completing the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid by June 1, 2026, and listing CMC’s school code (004506). Any questions regarding this requirement, please email the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@coloradomtn.edu.
Students who do not submit the FAFSA or CASFA by the Locals Scholarship deadline are still encouraged to apply after this date and may be considered for additional financial aid opportunities.
If you need assistance with the FAFSA or CASFA contact finaid@coloradomtn.edu or 970-945-8691 x8322 with questions.
*Your FAFSA or CASFA must be official and complete, including any follow-up requirements (including verification) that may be requested after your initial FAFSA is processed for these scholarship funds to be awarded. If selected for verification, you must have this resolved by the start of the fall term otherwise you are ineligible to receive this scholarship.
Graduate from High School or Complete Your GED / AHSD
That's an easy one because you were going to do it anyway! Just do it before June 30, 2026 or complete your GED before August 1, 2026.
Register for Classes
To register for classes you must attend a campus orientation, or meet with a CMC counselor or advisor this summer. CMC admissions staff will contact you with details after you apply.
You must enroll by August 25, 2026 to receive this scholarship.
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- Register for a minimum of 15 credits to receive the full scholarship ($500 per semester)
- Register for a minimum of 12 credits to receive a partial scholarship ($400 per semester)
- Register for a minimum of 6 credits in the summer semester to receive a partial scholarship ($200 per summer semester)
Bonus: Apply for CMC Foundation Scholarships
You are likely eligible for many other scholarships through the CMC Foundation. Every year we award over $1 million to CMC students. When you couple Foundation scholarships with the Locals Scholarship, you may have the opportunity to attend CMC at little or no cost. The Locals Scholarship can only be used for tuition whereas many of the scholarships from the Foundation can be used for tuition, books, fees, and campus housing.
Complete the online scholarship application today! Foundation scholarships require letters of recommendation. Get started early!
FAQ
Be a new student to CMC and be a 2026 graduate of a high school in the CMC District or a 2026 GED graduate living within the CMC District. See Map.
2026 graduates of Buena Vista High School and Middle Park High School are also eligible.
Concurrent enrollment students are eligible after graduating high school.
No, we are open enrollment and the regular admissions requirements apply.
To be eligible for the scholarship, you must:
- Be a new student to CMC and be a 2026 graduate of a high school in the CMC District or a 2026 GED graduate living within the CMC District. See Map.
- 2026 graduates of Buena Vista High School and Middle Park High School are also eligible.1
- Complete a CMC application and FAFSA2 by June 1, 2026 (use CMC's school code: 004506). Deadline for GED completers is August 1, 2026.
- Students ineligible to complete the FAFSA, that do not have lawful immigration status, must complete the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) by June 1, 2026 (use CMC's school code: 004506). By submitting the CASFA, if eligible, students may be considered for state financial aid and other scholarships.
- Graduate from high school by June 30, 2026, or complete the GED by August 1, 2026.
If a student maintains eligibility their first year at CMC, earns a minimum of 27 credits, and is registered as a full time student by August 1, 2026 they may be eligible for the President’s Encore Scholarship their second year if funds are available.
1These high schools are within CMC Service Areas and are part of the Mountain Futures Fund Grant, a Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative grant administered by CMC.
2Your FAFSA or CASFA must be official and complete, including any follow-up outstanding requirements (including verification) that may be requested after your initial FAFSA is processed in order for these scholarship funds to be awarded. If selected for verification, you must have this resolved by the start of the fall term otherwise you are ineligible to receive this scholarship. If you are not FAFSA eligible (undocumented or a “deferred action” [DACA] student), you can still receive the scholarship by completing the CASFA. Please email the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@coloradomtn.edu if you are not FAFSA eligible and need CASFA information.
Contact your local CMC campus and schedule an appointment with a financial aid representative.
If you are not eligible to fill out a FAFSA, you are still eligible for the CMC Locals Scholarship if you meet all the other requirements.
Students ineligible to complete the FAFSA, that do not have lawful immigration status, must complete the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) by June 1, 2026 (use CMC's school code: 004506). By submitting the CASFA, if eligible, students may be considered for state financial aid and other scholarships.
You need to fill out a FAFSA, but you do not need to take out loans to receive this scholarship. This is for financial advising purposes only. It is your decision if you want to use the federal aid.
Go back to your FAFSA and add CMC’s school code: 004506.
There is no need to apply again. Just send your FAFSA to CMC by June 1, 2025 and you are good to go.
Yes. CMC needs to change your status from a high school student to a high school graduate.
ASCENT students can defer their scholarship until they are paying their college tuition, but still need to complete their application and FAFSA by June 1, 2026.
Depending on your credit load you will receive up to $500 toward your tuition for the fall semester, up to $500 for the spring semester and up to $200 for the summer semester.
Maximum award amount for an academic year is $1,000.
No. This is a scholarship to be used for tuition. Other scholarships may be available to help cover additional expenses, such as books, through the CMC Foundation: Scholarships
Yes.
You can receive the Locals Scholarship as well as any separate scholarship CMC offers to you.
Applying for the CMC Foundation scholarships gives you the opportunity to receive funds beyond the $1000 offered through the Locals Scholarship.
Email us at joinus@coloradomtn.edu to see if this fee can be waived.
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