Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Scholarships at the University of Northern Colorado

The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) believes in acknowledging and supporting students' hard work, talent, and determination. Scholarships play a crucial role in making education more accessible and affordable, while also recognizing achievements in academics, athletics, arts, and community involvement. UNC offers a diverse range of scholarship opportunities, spanning admission-based awards, Foundation scholarships, talent-based scholarships, and external scholarships from private organizations. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the scholarships available at UNC and how to access them.

Navigating Scholarship Categories

UNC categorizes scholarships into four main types:

Admission-Based Scholarships: When you apply for admission to UNC, you are automatically considered for these scholarships.
Foundation Scholarships: These scholarships are funded by the UNC Foundation and cover a wide range of criteria. The UNC Scholarship Application connects you to hundreds of these opportunities.
Talent-Based Scholarships: These scholarships are specifically awarded by the Art & Design, Theatre, Music, and Athletics departments.

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Private/External Scholarships: These opportunities come from outside organizations and can provide additional funding for your education.

The UNC Scholarship Application: Your Gateway to Funding

The UNC Scholarship Application is the central hub for accessing hundreds of scholarships funded by the UNC Foundation. This application can be found in Ursa, under the "Financial Aid" tab. To apply, you will need your Bear number.

Deadlines:

February 1: Deadline for new first-year students and continuing student applications.
June 1: Deadline for international students, new transfer students, and graduate students.

Scholarships within the College of Natural and Health Sciences (NHS)

The College of Natural and Health Sciences (NHS) offers nearly 100 scholarships, totaling over $315,000, specifically for NHS majors. In addition to these scholarships, NHS students can also apply for grants to support independent research, creative projects, conference travel, and more.

NHS Scholarship Evaluation Criteria: Scholarships are typically awarded based on a student's promise, ability, GPA, dedication, and character.

Examples of Named NHS Scholarships:

Dr. Albert M. Scholarship
William J. Scholarship
Beulah M. Scholarship
Robert C. and Sharon L. Scholarship
Dr. John A. Scholarship
Larry L. Scholarship
Jeff M. and Stephanie M. Scholarship
Richard A. Scholarship
Dr. Rhoda M. Scholarship
Dr. Jules S. Scholarship
LTC Mark D. Maxwell & Dr. Scholarship
Agnes M. Scholarship
Wilbur E. and Dorothy M. Scholarship
Dr. A. W. (Bill) and Dorothy L. Scholarship
Dr. John Henry and Margaret E. Scholarship
Dr. Clarence V. Scholarship
Florence M. Scholarship
Dr. Edith M. Scholarship
Rodger W. Scholarship

NHS Scholarships with Specific Backgrounds:

Graduates of Jefferson High School Scholarship
Graduates of Bear Creek High School Scholarship
Graduates of Abraham Lincoln High School Scholarship
Graduates of Alameda High School Scholarship
Graduates of John F. Kennedy High School Scholarship

The Phelps Family NHS CAP Student Research Grant: This grant offers up to $1,000 for undergraduate research projects within the College of Natural and Health Sciences. A total of $18,000 is available for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Graduate School Scholarship Opportunities

UNC offers several scholarship opportunities specifically for graduate students:

The Graduate Dean’s Scholarship: This scholarship provides multi-year financial support for graduate students.

Eligibility Requirements:

Be admitted to a graduate degree program, meeting minimum admissions standards (3.0 GPA or better).
Must fill out a FASFA application through Financial Aid in order to be nominated for these awards by March 1.
Be enrolled in at least three credit hours for a master’s student or at least nine credit hours for a doctoral student over both or one of the summer sessions.
Master’s students enrolled in three to eight credit hours will receive $250 per semester.
Must be a nonresident student for tuition classification purposes.
Must have GRE scores of at least 1000 if GRE is required.
Only available for one full calendar year.
Nominee qualifications: Admitted graduate students. Master’s or specialists: 3.25 GPA; doctoral: 3.5 GPA. Nominee qualifications: Full-time student, shall be enrolled in or accepted to the Graduate School. Have satisfied general requirements. Nominee Qualifications: Graduate student in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Additional Support Programs

UNC offers a variety of support programs to help students succeed academically and financially:

DSF (Denver Scholarship Foundation) Scholars: In partnership with UNC, DSF Scholars receive additional support on campus to help them successfully complete their degrees or certificates. DSF wants every college student to successfully complete a college degree or certificate.
TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)/Center for Human Enrichment (CHE): This program facilitates the successful academic progress and graduation of first-generation college students. Connections Summer Bridge Program - The purpose of Connections is to prepare new CHE participants for a successful first year of college.

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LEAP (Learning through Engaging & Authentic Practices): This program fosters and cultivates an inclusive environment for students seeking pre-health degrees in biology or chemistry.
UNC Go On and Learn (GOAL): GOAL provides an opportunity for students at the University of Northern Colorado with intellectual and developmental disabilities to attend college.

Transfer Student Resources

UNC provides resources to help students transfer smoothly:

Transfer Checklist: This checklist helps students navigate the transfer process. Considering transferring to UNC and not sure where to begin? We have put together this Transfer Checklist to help your transfer to UNC go smoothly.

Managing Outside Scholarships

Outside scholarships are first used to cover any remaining financial need. To ensure that your funds are applied on time, checks should arrive by August 1 for Fall semester and January 1 for Spring semester.

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