Scholarships Make Dreams a Reality
When you invest in students, you expand opportunities for the next generation of thinkers, problem solvers, artists, and leaders. You set the stage for current and future Rams to follow their dreams and positively change our world. Thank you for your belief in the transformative power of higher education!
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Establish a Scholarship | Support Scholarships | Scholarship Philosophy | FAQ
Establishing a Scholarship at CSU
Want to learn more about establishing a scholarship? Email [email protected].
How You Can Help
Check out examples of our scholarships below, and contact [email protected] to learn more and see how you can make an impact.
First Generation Program
Help first-generation college students who have significant financial need.
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MyState Scholarship
The MyState Scholarship allows CSU to continue to attract and retain the highest-caliber students by sustaining their educations with scholarships. Established to meet the financial needs of exceptional low-middle income students ineligible for Pell Grants, the MyState Scholarship awards academically strong students.
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Metro Denver Scholarship
This CSU Alumni Association scholarship supports junior or senior undergraduates from the Metro Denver area who demonstrate financial need.
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Contact us for more ways to support CSU.
(970) 491-7774 | [email protected]
Our Scholarship Philosophy
Students are our partners in scholarship stewardship. University Advancement regularly invites and encourages scholarship recipients to share what scholarships mean to them in a variety of engaging ways. Many scholarship recipients are eager to participate, but we cannot require their participation.
What to Expect: In addition to being notified of the scholarship’s recipient(s) on an annual basis, donors who establish named scholarships receive ongoing communications about the impact of the scholarships, such as impact reports and videos. At CSU, it is our honor and privilege to update donors about the incredible difference scholarships make in the lives of our students. Please read our frequently asked questions for additional information.
“Having a vibrant and robust scholarship program at CSU aligns with our land-grant mission of access and student success. Through scholarships, we affirm and reaffirm that students of all backgrounds and abilities belong here at CSU.”
– Rick Miranda, Chief Academic Officer of the CSU System, Senior Vice President of CSU, and Professor of Mathematics
Scholarship Timeline
Scholarship FAQ
We sincerely appreciate your enthusiasm for supporting Colorado State University. Below, you will find the most commonly asked questions we receive from donors about scholarships. If you don’t find what you’re looking for or have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or (970) 491-7774.
Can I name a scholarship?
A named scholarship can be established when the amount given meets the minimum funding
requirements for an annual or endowed scholarship. Scholarships are often named after donors,
companies, organizations, or to honor parents, professors, or other important people in one’s life.
Alternatively, gifts of any amount may be contributed to existing scholarship funds.
What is the difference between an endowed scholarship and an annual scholarship?
Endowed scholarships create a permanent fund where contributions are prudently invested and
income from investment returns help fund individual scholarship awards. Annual scholarships are not
invested and are only awarded for as long as funding is available.
What are the minimum funding requirements?
- University Scholarship (Annual): $1,000 minimum
- University Scholarship (Endowed): $25,000 minimum
- Presidential Scholarship (Annual): $2,500 minimum
- Presidential Scholarship (Endowed): $50,000 minimum
What is the difference between a University Scholarship and a Presidential Scholarship?
A University Scholarship has a single selection criterion while a Presidential Scholarship can have
multiple selection criteria.
Can I help choose the scholarship recipient?
When establishing a named scholarship, you can specify the criteria to be used for recipient selection.
University representatives from the appropriate academic department will honor the criteria when
determining scholarship recipients. Donors cannot participate in the selection of scholarship recipients.
If I establish a scholarship, what can I expect to receive from CSU?
- Annual notification of scholarship recipients.
- Annual report about the endowment’s financial status (endowed scholarships only).
- Periodic scholarship videos, impact reports, and other communications.
- Opportunities to engage with leadership, faculty, staff, and students through various events and
engagement activities.
How will I know who the scholarship recipients are?
On an annual basis, University Advancement will notify you of your named scholarship’s recipients
(name, major, minor, concentration, and class level).
Can I contact the scholarship recipients?
Student contact information is confidential and cannot be shared without a student’s permission.
However, University Advancement is happy to serve as an intermediary. Feel free to send your message to [email protected] and we will pass your message on to the applicable students. Be sure to include your contact information so students can respond!
Will I receive a thank you note from the scholarship recipients?
All scholarship recipients are invited and encouraged to share what scholarships mean to them. Many
students are eager to share their stories, but others may find reflecting on their experiences to be too
personal. Whenever possible, University Advancement will share messages from the specific recipient of your named scholarship; however, we cannot require scholarship recipients to write thank you notes.
University Advancement also shares scholarship videos and impact reports throughout the year.
Will I meet the scholarship recipients?
Several colleges and programs host scholarship events where donors may have the opportunity to meet scholarship recipients. Many students may be excited to attend, while others may find the situation intimidating or uncomfortable, and others still may have obligations that make it difficult or impossible to attend. While we invite and encourage students to attend scholarship events, University Advancement cannot require their attendance.
How can I learn more about establishing a scholarship at CSU?
Please email us at [email protected] or call (970) 491-7774. We will work with you to
understand your vision for the scholarship as well as your financial commitment.
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Accessibility Transcript 1: Scholarship Infographic
Thirty-four percent of scholarship recipients are first-generation students. 5,000-plus donors support scholarships each year. $32.8 million was given to support scholarships at CSU during academic year 2024-2025. Eighty-five percent is the graduation rate of scholarship recipients.
Accessibility Transcript 2: Establishing a Scholarship
Criteria for a University scholarship is a $25,000 minimum for an endowed scholarship and $1,000 for an annual scholarship. Criteria for a presidential scholarship is a $50,000 minimum for an endowed scholarship and $2,500 for an annual scholarship. The CSU Foundation receives, manages, and prudently invests the funds for the benefit of CSU. There is a 1.5% CSU Foundation administrative fee for endowments only, annually. For all gifts, one time, there is a 5% advancement investment fee. Colorado State University spends private support in accordance with donor intent, and CSU students benefit from scholarship support, unlocking their potential to become the leaders, innovators, and changemakers of tomorrow.
Accessibility Transcript 3: Scholarship Timeline
March 1 is the gift deadline for annual scholarships by which gifts must be received to be utilized during the following academic year. March 1 is also the scholarship application deadline. 50 percent of the total scholarship package is disbursed to the recipient by the time fall semester begins.
December 31 is the gift deadline for endowed scholarships by which gifts must be received to be utilized during the following academic year. 50 percent of the total scholarship package is disbursed to the recipient by the time spring semester begins.