# Colorado — State tuition-free college (promise) programs: eligibility rules by state

For Colorado, program is Colorado Promise; institutions covered is any Colorado public postsecondary institution – community colleges, public four-year colleges, area technical colleges, or local district colleges; funding model is reimbursed for tuition and fees through a yearly refundable tax credit; income limit is Household income of $90,000 or less; who qualifies is Enroll at a Colorado public college or university within two years of completing high school, verified against its source on 2026-08-18.

- **State:** Colorado _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Program:** Colorado Promise _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Institutions covered:** any Colorado public postsecondary institution – community colleges, public four-year colleges, area technical colleges, or local district colleges _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Funding model:** reimbursed for tuition and fees through a yearly refundable tax credit _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Income limit:** Household income of $90,000 or less _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Who qualifies:** Enroll at a Colorado public college or university within two years of completing high school _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Residency:** established Colorado residency for at least one year _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Renewal conditions:** Begin a term with <66 credit hours Complete at least six credit hours in each term Earn a GPA of 2.5 or higher _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **What it covers:** tuition and fees _(verified: appears in the quote below)_

## What the source says

> Colorado Promise: Two Free Years of College Expanded – the program builds on individual institutional promise programs (more on those below) and extends financial support to even more Colorado residents. At-a-glance Get reimbursed for tuition and fees through a yearly refundable tax credit. Attend any Colorado public postsecondary institution – community colleges, public four-year colleges, area technical colleges, or local district colleges. Graduate with a certificate (or two), an associate degree, or complete half of a bachelor’s degree. Up to 65 credit hours. No application needed. If you're eligible, you're automatically enrolled – you’re welcome. Steps to success 1: Qualify Enroll at a Colorado public college or university within two years of completing high school Annually complete a FAFSA or CASFA Household income of $90,000 or less 2: Perform Begin a term with <66 credit hours Complete at least six credit hours in each term Earn a GPA of 2.5 or higher 3: Get reimbursed Pay tuition and fees after all scholarships and grants

## Source

- https://cdhe.colorado.gov/colorado-promise
- https://cdhe.colorado.gov/students/preparing-for-college/colorado-promise/student-eligibility

Last verified: 2026-08-18. Review by: 2027-08-18.
Part of [State tuition-free college (promise) programs: eligibility rules by state](https://referencesource.org/state-promise-free-college-programs/).