Last updated: November 2, 2026
Bottom line
Colorado single mothers may be able to use federal, state, school, and local aid to pay for college or job training. Start with the free FAFSA form if you can seek federal aid. The CASFA application may fit if you cannot use federal aid or need a Colorado-only route. Ask your college which form to submit.
Both 2026–27 and 2027–28 forms are open. Pick the year your classes take place. An aid form is not an award. Ask the school about grants, school scholarships, emergency funds, child care, and help for student parents. Our scholarships guide lists broader options. The Pell and FAFSA guide explains federal aid.
You do not get more aid simply because you are a single mother. Your school looks at your financial facts and each program’s rules. Check costs after grants—not just the size of the award.
If school is at risk today
Contact your school before dropping a class or stopping attendance. A withdrawal can change your grants, loan balance, refund, and future aid. Ask the financial aid office for an aid review, and ask student services about emergency funds, food, housing, transportation, laptop loans, or a payment plan.
- Local basic needs: Use 211 Colorado for food, housing, child care, transportation, and emergency referrals in all 64 counties.
- Public benefits: Use Colorado PEAK to apply for or manage food, medical, cash, and other state benefits.
- Urgent family help: ASMOM’s Colorado emergency guide lists more starting points.
- Food or housing: Check Colorado food help and Colorado housing help before using tuition money for a crisis.
This guide cannot promise an award, admission, child care space, or a set payment date.
What has changed
As of October 18, 2026, the 2027–28 FAFSA and Colorado CASFA are open. That gives families a new form year to choose from. The 2026–27 Pell maximum remains $7,395. Colorado Women’s Education Foundation lists February 1, 2027, for its next application opening. WomenGive lists October 26, 2026, as the Spring 2027 deadline. Check each school’s priority date before you wait.
Where to start
File the right form
Use FAFSA for federal student aid. If you cannot use it, ask about CASFA for Colorado and school aid. Some families may have a choice. A college aid worker can help you pick safely.
Call the school
Ask for the earliest aid deadline, scholarship portal, missing documents, parent support, and emergency aid.
Plan your full cost
Count tuition, books, child care, rent, food, work hours, travel, and lost wages.
| When you will attend | Which form | Tax-year information |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026–June 2027 | 2026–27 FAFSA or CASFA | FAFSA uses 2024 tax information |
| July 2027–June 2028 | 2027–28 FAFSA or CASFA | FAFSA uses 2025 tax information |
The federal deadline for the 2026–27 FAFSA is June 30, 2027. That is not your school’s priority deadline. Use the FAFSA deadline page and ask your school what applies to your term, including summer. The federal FAFSA instructions show both available form years.
If you support a child: FAFSA may treat you as an independent student if you have a child or other dependent who gets more than half their support from you, under the FAFSA’s rules. Do not assume that parenting alone makes you independent. Answer the form’s questions as written, and ask the financial aid office when you are unsure.
What each aid word means
| Aid type | Plain meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Grant | School money that usually does not need to be repaid if you follow the rules. | Enrollment, attendance, grades, and withdrawal rules |
| Scholarship | Money based on need, school, career, age, county, grades, or life situation. | Deadline, allowed costs, and renewal rules |
| Work-study | A part-time job. You earn wages as you work. | Job hours, pay rate, and child care schedule |
| Tax credit | Money claimed through a tax return after meeting program rules. | Whether costs are paid first and claimed later |
| Loan | Borrowed money that must be repaid, usually with interest. | Interest, fees, monthly payment, and total cost |
| Support service | Help such as child care, transportation, food, advising, or a laptop loan. | Who runs it and whether funds or spaces remain |
Know what the school pays first
A grant usually does not need repayment, but dropping classes can cause a bill. A scholarship has its own rules. Work-study pays wages for work done. COF lowers an eligible tuition charge. Colorado Promise’s statewide tax credit may pay eligible costs back later. It is not the same as a grant paid to your school right away.
Main Colorado education aid programs
| Program | What it may cover | First step | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Pell Grant | Need-based undergraduate aid; 2026–27 maximum $7,395 | File FAFSA | Award may be much lower |
| Colorado state aid | School grants and work-study | File FAFSA or CASFA | Funds and rules differ by school |
| College Opportunity Fund (COF) | Per-credit help with eligible tuition | Apply and authorize at college | It is not a cash grant |
| Colorado Promise | Possible refundable state tax credit, plus separate campus promise plans | Ask the college and tax office | Tax refund often comes later |
| COSI Achieve | Scholarships and student support through partners | Ask campus or local partner | No single statewide student application |
Federal Pell Grant
What it helps with: Pell is a grant for eligible students seeking a first undergraduate degree or certain other eligible programs. The 2026–27 maximum is $7,395; the minimum scheduled award is $740. The 2027–28 amount is not stated here because it may change.
Who may qualify: FAFSA facts, school costs, the program, full- or part-time study, and remaining Pell eligibility all matter. Many students get less than the top amount.
Where to apply: Submit FAFSA for the correct year. Check your school aid portal and use the federal Pell Grant rules to understand your award.
Watch out: A class drop or withdrawal can reduce aid or leave a balance. Ask the office before changing classes. A federal Pell award is not tied to being a single parent by itself.
CASFA and Colorado state aid
What it helps with: CASFA can help schools review students for Colorado grants, work-study, and school aid. The 2026–27 and 2027–28 CASFA forms are open.
Who may qualify: CASFA is meant for students not seeking federal aid or who cannot use FAFSA, including some undocumented and mixed-status families. Colorado ASSET status can affect state aid; students without ASSET status may still seek school aid. Do not assume every CASFA filer gets state grant money.
Where to apply: Fill out CASFA, choose the schools, and follow each school’s document requests. The Colorado CASFA guidance explains who may use it. If your immigration or family status makes the choice hard, ask a trained college aid counselor. CASFA does not apply for federal Pell Grants.
Watch out: Schools award funds under their own rules and budgets. Ask whether the school has a state grant, work-study, or other aid that can help this term.
College Opportunity Fund
What it helps with: The College Opportunity Fund, called COF, pays a stipend to an eligible college for certain Colorado undergraduate tuition charges.
Who may qualify: Eligible in-state undergraduates at participating schools. Ask about residency and lifetime-credit limits.
Where to apply: Make a COF account and authorize its use with the school. The official COF instructions explain the steps.
Watch out: Some schools allow ongoing authorization; others ask again by term. Check your tuition bill. Do not assume that making an account alone applied your stipend.
Colorado Promise
What it helps with: Colorado’s statewide Promise offers a refundable state income-tax credit for eligible tuition and fees left after grants and scholarships. Some campuses also run their own promise programs that may cover charges sooner. These are different programs.
Who may qualify: State rules include family adjusted gross income of $90,000 or less, in-state tuition eligibility, a qualified public college, FAFSA or CASFA, an eligible undergraduate program, and school entry rules tied to high school or GED timing. At the start of a covered term, a student must have fewer than 66 qualifying credits; term rules include at least six completed credits and a 2.5 term GPA. Ask how exceptions and transferred credits affect your case.
Where to apply: There is no separate state Promise application. Ask the school’s aid office to review eligibility. Read the Colorado Promise rules and ask which documents the school will provide for a state tax filing.
Watch out: A state tax credit is generally claimed later through a Colorado tax return; it is not guaranteed cash when tuition is due. Check with a qualified tax preparer or official state tax guidance about your own case. Ask your school about payment plans while you wait. The statewide credit is for qualified tuition and fees, not books or general living costs. Check the current state eligibility details for limits and exclusions.
Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI)
What it helps with: COSI funds scholarships, coaching, and support through Colorado schools and local groups. COSI Achieve was planned to begin serving students in July 2026 with both scholarships and support services.
Who may qualify: Each school or partner sets its student steps and checks. Services may include help with school costs, career planning, or basic needs.
Where to apply: Start with the COSI student information and ask your school’s aid or student-support office whether there is a COSI partner serving you.
Watch out: Students do not apply for the state’s partner grants directly. Ask the local group how students join and if funds remain.
Colorado scholarships and single-parent support
Colorado Women’s Education Foundation (CWEF)
What it helps with: CWEF offers scholarships to women working toward a college degree or eligible training.
Who may qualify: Its rules include being a Colorado woman age 25 or older, financial need, and enrollment at an eligible school. Check the full checklist before applying.
Where to apply: The official CWEF application page says the 2026–27 cycle is closed and the 2027–28 cycle opens February 1, 2027. Gather materials before it opens.
Watch out: Do not send tax or identity records through an unverified form. A date for opening is not a promise of an award.
Project Self-Sufficiency
What it helps with: This Northern Colorado group helps some single parents with schooling, career planning, and stable work.
Who may qualify: Its current single-parent application names Larimer and Weld counties, age 18 or older, low income, and primary care of a child age 15 or younger for at least half the time. It has GED and postsecondary paths. Its college path does not serve applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree, and some private or low-wage training paths are excluded.
Where to start: Read the eligibility questions, income chart, testing steps, and interview steps on that page before applying.
Watch out: Seats and program fit are limited. Ask about a waitlist and other local options if this program is not a match.
WomenGive child care scholarships
What it helps with: WomenGive may pay approved child care bills to a licensed provider and give a separate cash support payment once per semester.
Who may qualify: Its rules include being a single mother with primary custody, not living with an intimate partner, income at or below 225% of the federal poverty level, an approved school or training plan, and a licensed provider. You must live in Larimer County or meet two listed Larimer County ties. School credit minimums are generally six for fall or spring and three for summer.
Where to apply: The WomenGive scholarship page lists three cycles a year. The Fall 2026 deadline passed June 29, 2026. Spring 2027 applications opened October 2 and are due October 26, 2026, according to its current posted calendar.
Watch out: Check the portal before the deadline. A place is not guaranteed, and a child care provider must meet program rules.
Training and workforce help
A four-year degree is not the only path. Community colleges, technical schools, apprenticeships, and short certificates may lead to work sooner. Ask about the total cost, program completion rate, required tools, licensing, and starting pay before enrolling.
WIOA training assistance
What it helps with: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act may provide limited support for short training tied to an in-demand local job. Services can include career planning, assessments, job search help, and supportive services.
Who may qualify: Local workforce staff determine eligibility. Training must normally lead to an in-demand occupation and fit the person’s employment plan.
How to apply: Contact a location on the workforce center list and request a WIOA screening before enrolling.
Reality check: The official WIOA training page says the program cannot pay for training that began before WIOA enrollment.
Do not rely on old zero-cost pages
Some old pages still advertise no-cost health care training. The Colorado Community College System has a Care Forward overview, but older program pages may not show which funds remain now. Ask the college whether that offer is still open for your classes. Get the current price and aid details in writing before you sign up.
Child care while you study
CCAMPIS campus child care
What it helps with: Federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School grants go to colleges to help low-income student parents get child care. Some campuses use these funds for child care slots or related parent support.
Who may qualify: The federal CCAMPIS program generally serves low-income parents who are eligible for Pell Grants, through colleges holding a grant.
Where to apply: Ask your campus, not the federal agency, if it has a funded program and whether there is a waitlist.
Watch out: Not every college has an award; spaces and costs differ.
Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)
What it helps with: CCCAP may cover some child care for families who work, seek work, attend approved school or training, or meet other state and county rules.
Who may qualify: A county worker reviews family size, income, your approved activity, and the child care provider. Ask about local funding and parent fees.
Where to apply: Use the official CCCAP family information and your county human services office. Follow the county’s proof-of-school and provider steps. Our Colorado child care guide lists more steps.
Watch out: Have your county authorize the provider before care begins. Otherwise you may owe the bill. If your child needs safe care after school or over the summer, our afterschool and summer guide lists other routes.
How to apply without missing help
| Step | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose FAFSA or CASFA. | This starts most public and school aid reviews. |
| 2 | List every school you may attend. | Each school needs your information to build an offer. |
| 3 | Check the school deadline. | The federal deadline may be too late for limited school funds. |
| 4 | Apply for and authorize COF. | Missing authorization can raise your tuition bill. |
| 5 | Complete the school scholarship form. | Many real awards are handled inside the college portal. |
| 6 | Ask about parent support. | Child care and emergency help can keep you enrolled. |
| 7 | Compare aid offers. | Look at remaining cost, not only the grant total. |
Documents to gather
Keep a secure copy of each item and save each receipt or screen that proves you applied. Do not email tax returns, IDs, or child records unless the school gives you a safe method. Use a simple documents checklist to keep track.
- Your StudentAid.gov sign-in for FAFSA, when required.
- 2024 tax information for 2026–27 FAFSA or 2025 tax information for 2027–28 FAFSA, when requested.
- CASFA income records or other papers the school asks for.
- Proof of Colorado residency or state tuition status, if required.
- School admission, courses, enrollment dates, and total cost.
- Child support or public benefit records, if requested.
- Child care schedule, provider details, and bills.
- Grades, resume, references, and short essays for scholarships.
- Records of lost work, separation, housing loss, high medical costs, or other changes if seeking a special review.
- Copies of decisions, award letters, application numbers, and appeal deadlines.
Help that can protect school money
Rent, food, child care, health costs, and rides matter as much as tuition. Ask about help before using grant refunds for an emergency. Some benefits have student or work rules, so check your own case.
- Use Colorado transportation help for travel costs.
- Ask your school or benefits office about medical coverage; do not assume all health costs are paid.
- Check Colorado community support for local groups.
- Ask your school, library, or carrier about phone and internet support.
- Use the Colorado assistance guide to check other help paths.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for the federal deadline. School grants and scholarships may have much earlier priority dates.
- Skipping FAFSA. Some schools require it even for their own scholarships.
- Using the wrong form. Ask the school whether FAFSA or CASFA fits your situation.
- Forgetting COF authorization. Creating the account does not always complete the school step.
- Dropping classes first. Ask how a schedule change affects your aid before acting.
- Paying scholarship fees. A real scholarship should not charge you to unlock an award.
- Starting training before WIOA approval. WIOA cannot pay for training that began before enrollment.
- Borrowing private loans too early. Compare grants, school payment plans, work-study, and federal aid first.
If aid is denied or delayed
Ask the aid office for the exact problem in writing. It may be a missing signature, tax issue, state tuition status, a late school form, exhausted funds, or the school’s satisfactory academic progress rules.
- Read the notice. Write down every deadline and what to send.
- Ask if the problem is a federal rule, a school policy, or a missing paper.
- Send any proof through the school’s secure portal. Save the receipt.
- Ask about the school’s review or appeal path. Rules for losing aid due to grades or course progress differ from an income review.
- Ask about short-term emergency funds, a payment plan, or a later scholarship round while a decision is pending.
If your income or home life changed: FAFSA may still reflect an older tax year. Ask about professional judgment or a special-circumstances review. A school may review a lost job, separation, housing problems, unusual costs, or child care expenses with proof. The outcome is not guaranteed. Use a denied-benefits checklist if other public benefits were also closed or delayed.
If you are thinking about dropping classes: Ask the office how that move could affect aid, a refund, future eligibility, and any money you might need to repay. Do this before withdrawing.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling financial aid
“Hi, I am a student parent applying for 2026–27 aid. Can you tell me my priority deadline, missing documents, scholarship form, Colorado Promise review, and emergency aid options?”
Calling about changed income
“My current family finances are different from the tax year on my aid form. Can I request a professional judgment review? Please tell me which documents you need and how to submit them securely.”
Calling a workforce center
“I am looking for short training that leads to an in-demand job. Can you screen me for WIOA before I enroll and explain whether training, transportation, or child care support may be available?”
Calling about child care
“I am attending school or training and need child care. Can you tell me whether my activity qualifies, which providers can be used, what documents are needed, and whether there is a waitlist?”
Backup options when the aid offer is not enough
- Ask whether a lower-cost certificate or community college path meets the same job goal.
- Ask the school to compare part-time and full-time costs, including how each choice changes aid.
- Use the school payment plan only after checking fees and the due dates.
- Ask about used books, open educational resources, laptop loans, transit passes, and campus food help.
- Apply for several small local scholarships instead of waiting for one large award.
- Reduce the course load only after financial aid explains the effect on grants and progress rules.
- Avoid private loans unless you understand the interest, payment, cosigner risk, and total cost.
Resumen en español
Si eres madre soltera en Colorado y quieres estudiar, pregunta a tu escuela por ayuda económica. Usa FAFSA si puedes solicitar ayuda federal. Pregunta por CASFA si FAFSA no es la opción para ti. Los formularios de 2026–27 y 2027–28 ya están disponibles. Revisa las fechas de tu escuela.
Pregunta por la Beca Pell, ayuda estatal, COF, Colorado Promise, COSI, becas locales y ayuda de emergencia. Colorado Promise puede usar un crédito de impuestos que llega después, no un pago inmediato.
Si necesitas cuidado infantil, pregunta por CCAMPIS, CCCAP y WomenGive. Si tus ingresos cambiaron, pide a la escuela una revisión de circunstancias especiales antes de dejar tus clases.
FAQ
Can a single mother get education grants in Colorado?
Yes. A single mother may qualify for Pell Grants, Colorado state aid, school grants, scholarships, work-study, child care support, or workforce training help. Each program has its own rules.
Should I file FAFSA or CASFA?
File FAFSA if you can apply for federal student aid. Use CASFA if you cannot receive federal aid and need Colorado state or school aid. Ask the college if you are unsure.
What is the maximum Pell Grant for 2026–27?
The official maximum Pell Grant for 2026–27 is $7,395. Your actual award may be lower and depends on federal eligibility, school costs, and enrollment.
Does Colorado Promise pay tuition up front?
Some school promise programs may cover costs up front. The statewide tax-credit part pays back eligible tuition and fees later after grants and scholarships, subject to program and tax rules.
Can I get child care help while attending school?
Possibly. Ask the school about CCAMPIS, apply for CCCAP through your county, and check local programs such as WomenGive. Funding, provider approval, and waitlists can affect help.
What if my income changed after the FAFSA tax year?
Ask the financial aid office about a professional judgment or special-circumstances review. The school may adjust information after reviewing documents, but an adjustment is not guaranteed.
Are the 2027–28 FAFSA and CASFA open?
Yes. Both are open. Use the 2027–28 form for school between July 2027 and June 2028. Ask the school which form and priority deadline to use.
When is the next WomenGive child care deadline?
The published deadline for the Spring 2027 round is October 26, 2026. Check the official WomenGive portal for changes and other rounds.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified November 2, 2026; next review January 31, 2027.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.
Last updated: November 2, 2026 Next review: January 31, 2027