Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated 10/09/08
Q. What is the Fund?
A. The College Opportunity Fund is the process by which the Colorado Legislature provides state financial support to eligible undergraduate students for higher education. It was created by an Act of the Colorado State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Owens in May 2004.
Q. What does it mean?
A. In the past, the state gave money directly to the colleges. Now, when you apply and authorize use of the stipend for any given term, the college you are attending will receive the funding, and you will see it appear as a credit on your tuition bill.
Q. What if you don't apply?
A. Then, you'll actually pay your entire tuition bill. The state has put aside this money for you. If you don't use it, you will pay more tuition than students who take advantage of the stipend.
Q. Who is eligible?
A. Undergraduate students who are eligible for in-state tuition, and who apply, are admitted, and enrolled at a state or participating private institution of higher education beginning in the 2005-2006 academic year. *
Q. How much is the stipend?
A. It will vary. The amount will be determined each year by the Colorado Legislature. For the academic year 2008-2009 it is $2,760 per year ( $92.00 per credit hour) for full-time students at public institutions.*
*Example: Metro State tuition based on Fall 2008 rates; fees not included
Credit Hours |
Total In-state Tuition |
Stipend Payment |
Student's Share of In-state Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
$200.95 |
$92.00 |
$108.95 + fees |
3 |
$602.85 |
$276.00 |
$326.85 + fees |
6 |
$1,205.70 |
$552.00 |
$653.70 + fees |
9 |
$1,808.55 |
$828.00 |
$980.55 + fees |
12 |
$2,411.40 |
$1,104.00 |
$1,307.40 + fees |
15 |
$2,687.40 |
$1,380.00 |
$1,307.40 + fees |
18 |
$2,963.40 |
$1,656.00 |
$1,307.40 + fees |
Q. How do I apply?
A. You can apply for your stipend online at https://cof.college-assist.org/. You only have to apply once, and you will receive the stipend every term that you register for eligible undergraduate courses, authorize for that given term and have not met your 145 credit hour life time limit.
Q. How many credit hours will COF pay for?
A. The College Opportunity Fund will pay for up-to a total of 145 credit hours towards your Bachelor degree. Ongoing, you can check your specific credit hour account balance at the COF website: https://cof.college-assist.org/.
You should check the COF website for your specific credit hour account balance at least once a semester. You may also call College Access Network at 720-264-8550 or 1-800-777-2757.
Q. Can I request a waiver IF I run out of COF Stipend hours?
A. If you exceed the 145 credit hour limit, you have the right to request a waiver for up to one year. Download the waiver policy and form [PDF - 88k].
Q. I tried to apply for COF, but the COF website says I am ineligible for the stipend because I am a non-resident. What now?
A. See if you qualify for a tuition classification status change: go to the Office of the Registrar's website for information concernring tuition classification at http://www.mscd.edu/enroll/registrar/services/tuitionClassification.htm.
Q. Must I Authorize or Decline the stipend for my classes when I register?
A. Yes. Each semester that you register for classes, you will be asked to choose whether to authorize or decline your COF stipend for eligible credits.
If someone at Metro State registers for you, such as an academic advisor, then you must:
- Login to MetroConnect
- Click on the "My Services/Registration" tab in MetroConnect
- Click on "My Services "
- Click on "Registration, Credit Card Payment, Insurance Waiver, Student Records, and Financial Aid Menu"
- Click on "Student Records "
- Click on "COF Stipend Authorization"
- Choose to authorize or decline your COF stipend
Remember, if you do not authorize the COF stipend to be applied to your tuition, you will be responsible for an additional $92.00 per credit hour. Once again, you can see the difference the stipend makes in the table below:
*Example: Metro State tuition based on Fall 2008 rates; fees not included
Credit Hours |
Total In-state Tuition |
Stipend Payment |
Student's Share of In-state Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
$200.95 |
$92.00 |
$108.95 + fees |
3 |
$602.85 |
$276.00 |
$326.85 + fees |
6 |
$1,205.70 |
$552.00 |
$653.70 + fees |
9 |
$1,808.55 |
$828.00 |
$980.55 + fees |
12 |
$2,411.40 |
$1,104.00 |
$1,307.40 + fees |
15 |
$2,687.40 |
$1,380.00 |
$1,307.40 + fees |
18 |
$2,963.40 |
$1,656.00 |
$1,307.40 + fees |
Q. Can you use COF dollars for all classes at the college?
A. Certain classes have not been eligible for COF dollars including Basic Skills, English as a Second Language and the majority of Extended Campus classes including Surveying and Mapping.
Since FALL 2006 the following classes have been eligible for COF:
- Post Secondary Options (High School)
- FastTrack (High School)
- Basic Skills Classes at Community Colleges
- More Extended Campus Classes including,
Metro North: Behavioral Science, Professional Elementary Education Licensure.
Metro South: Accounting, Behavioral Science, Computer Information Systems, Hospitality, Meeting, Travel Administration, and Management.
Q. Can you pursue a second Bachelor's degree with more COF dollars?
A. Yes, COF allows an additional 30 credit hours beyond the first degree using COF dollars.
Q. What if I don't have a Social Security Number or a Permanent Resident Number?
A. If you do not have a Social Security Number or a Permanent Resident Number you are able to apply for COF funding through a revised paper application available on the COF website (https://cof.college-assist.org/)
- Scroll down the page, do not click on Apply for a Stipend at the top of this page
- Click on Stipend Application (this is the revised form)
- Print out, fill in, and submit the form by mail to CCHE
You will check a box on the form saying that you have neither identification number. The COF computer system will generate a number that you will receive back in the mail from CCHE and will need to take to the Office of the Registrar, Central Classroom Building, room 105 at Metro State.
The College will use this computer-generated number when requesting funding on your behalf. All COF-generated numbers will be audited by the State of Colorado. Only students who don't have an SSN or Permanent Resident Number need to complete a paper application at this time.
Because of the funding process under COF, students must be officially registered with the college for classes as established, published deadlines prescribe:
Officially registered means that students have been accepted for admission by the college, are eligible to register for classes, and that the Course Reference Number (CRN) for the class is entered on the student's registration record maintained by the Office of the Registrar.
The deadline to register for a full-semester class for fall and spring semesters is the 12th day of the semester; for summer semester the deadline to register is the 8th day of the semester. Which is also the deadline to authorize the stipend for that particular semester.
These deadlines are available on the web for each semester at http://www.mscd.edu/academic/acal.htm
There are pro-rated deadlines for part-of-term classes. It is the students' responsibility to attend only those classes for which they are officially registered. Students who fail to register officially for a class are academically and financially responsible for any consequences of late registration, such as appeals, approvals, denials, availability of a seat in the class, availability of the class, and payment of full in-state tuition.
*Calculated at $92 per semester credit hour. Students at private colleges must be Pell-eligible. Funding for private colleges varies.
Apply for your stipend at https://cof.college-assist.org/ or call 800-777-2757 (from local 720 prefix, call 720-264-8550).
If you have questions, please contact:
CollegeInColorado.org
or call 800-777-2757
(from local 720 prefix, call 720-264-8550)
or fax to 303-296-1637