Federal and State Aid

Federal Grants

The federal government awards various types of grants to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and meet other criteria. Unlike loans, they do not have to be paid back. In all cases, the student must submit the FAFSA to help determine eligibility.

Federal Pell Grants

Federal Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students who qualify financially; the grant amount is based on the student's demonstrated financial need. Eligibility is based on a formula which is revised and approved by Congress annually. The student must submit the FAFSA to determine level of need.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

Students who qualify for a Federal Pell Grant may also be eligible to receive a Federal SEOG Grant. The grant amount varies by student. Funds are very limited; each school is given an allotment which must be awarded to students with the greatest financial need. The student must submit the FAFSA to determine eligibility. Early submission of the FAFSA is recommended.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH Grant)

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides $4,000 per year in grant funding for qualified students who intend to teach full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools that serve students who are from low-income families.

Programs of study at Colorado Christian University that are eligible for the TEACH Grant are:

• B.A. Liberal Arts – Elementary Education
• B.S. Mathematics with Secondary Education Licensure
• B.A. Liberal Arts – Education and K-12 Special Education

TEACH Grants first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2023 are subject to a 5.7% reduction of the student’s calculated award.

The award amounts reflecting the 5.7% reduction are listed below:

• Undergraduate Study: Up to $4,000 per year for first baccalaureate degree to a maximum of $16,000; the award amount with a 5.7% reduction is $3,772.
• Graduate Study: Up to $4,000 per year for first graduate degree up to a maximum of $8,000; the award amount with a 5.7% reduction is $3,772.

If students fail to complete the four-year teaching requirement within eight years of completing or ceasing their program of study, the grant reverts to an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, and will need to be repaid with interest. The interest rate that will apply to a TEACH Grant that has been converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan will be the rate that was in effect for Direct Unsubsidized Loans on the date the TEACH Grant was first disbursed, with the interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.

Student Eligibility Requirements

To receive a TEACH Grant students must:

• Complete the FAFSA, and meet basic eligibility criteria for federal student aid programs, although they do not have to demonstrate financial need,
• Meet one of the following academic achievement requirements:
  • Score above the 75% percentile on a college admissions test (ACT or SAT) OR
  • Graduate from high school with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 as a freshman OR
  • Have an earned transfer cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 as a transfer student OR
  • Have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.25 through the most recent payment period of your college coursework to receive a grant for each subsequent term
• Be enrolled in a program of study designated as TEACH Grant eligible. Eligible programs are those that prepare a student to teach in a high-need field, such as Science and Special Education
• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and respond to requests by the U.S. Department of Education confirming your continuing intention to meet the teaching obligation by performing the teaching service at a low-income school for a total of at least four of the eight years following academic program completion
• Complete a TEACH Grant counseling session

More information on the TEACH Grant Program can be found on the Department of Education Web site.

State Aid

College Opportunity Fund

Students at Colorado Christian University may be eligible to receive Colorado’s College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipends to offset their cost of attendance. COF stipends are paid to eligible undergraduate students by the State of Colorado when they attend a participating institution of higher education.

The COF stipend is a per credit hour dollar amount that is determined by the Colorado State Legislature, and is subject to annual state funding availability.

Eligible students who attend a private Colorado college or university must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Colorado resident as determined by CCU’s online Colorado Residency form (Your CCU log in will be required to access this form.)
• Be a graduate of a Colorado high school OR
• Earn a Colorado GED
• Successfully complete a non-public home-based educational program in Colorado
• Demonstrate financial need as determined by federal Pell Grant eligibility

Eligible students must submit the College Opportunity Fund stipend application on the College Assist Web site and will not be eligible for this stipend until this application is completed. The Colorado Opportunity Fund is considered a grant for students attending private institutions such as Colorado Christian University; therefore, it may replace a portion of other need-based aid or merit-based tuition awards. By law, the COF stipend at a private university is 50% of the stipend provided at a state institution. Any COF stipend received would be reflected as a tuition credit on the student's account.

Colorado State Opportunity Grant

Students at Colorado Christian University may be eligible to receive a Colorado State Opportunity Grant. This state grant is paid to eligible undergraduate students by the State of Colorado and is subject to annual state funding availability. The grant is need-based, and all eligible students must complete a FAFSA to determine financial need and CCU’s online Colorado Residency form. (Your CCU log in will be required to access this form.) The Colorado State Opportunity Grant is considered a grant for students attending private institutions such as Colorado Christian University; therefore, it may replace a portion of other need-based aid or merit-based tuition awards.