High School GPA Requirement
You must have at least a 2.0 high school GPA to be eligible for the DSF Scholarship. However, your final high school GPA will determine the degree program type(s) where you are eligible to receive the DSF Scholarship.
- Finalists who graduated high school with a 2.75 or higher GPA will be considered for the DSF scholarship for enrollment in a certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree program at any partner college.
- Finalists who graduated high school with a GPA between a 2.0 and a 2.749, please see below for more information.
2.0 – 2.749 High School GPA: Enrolling in a Certificate or AAS Program
If you have graduated or will graduate from high school with a final cumulative GPA between 2.0 and 2.749 (weighted or unweighted) and have met the other DSF Scholarship requirements, you will be considered for a DSF scholarship award in a certificate or AAS (Associate of Applied Science) program at one of our partner technical or community colleges.
To be considered for a scholarship award, you must:
- Enroll in a certificate or AAS program
- Declare which certificate or AAS program you are participating in (this step is not necessary at a technical college)
- Meet all other DSF Scholarship requirements
Once you complete your certificate program, you will be eligible to be considered for a scholarship award in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program at any partner college.
Financial Aid and Certificate Programs
Be aware that some certificate programs DO NOT qualify for financial aid because they do not require sufficient credit hours. Often, certificates that are completed with fewer than 16 credit hours do not qualify for financial aid. Contact your college’s financial aid office to determine whether the certificate program you’re considering is eligible for financial aid.
Declaring Your Certificate or AAS Program
To see a list of certificate and AAS programs and information about declaring your certificate program for each college, please use the links below.
- Arapahoe Community College
- Community College of Denver
- Front Range Community College
- Lamar Community College
- Pikes Peak Community College
- Red Rocks Community College
2.0 – 2.749 High School GPA: Enrolling in an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree Program
If you have graduated or will graduate from high school with a GPA between a 2.0 and 2.749 and you choose to enroll in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program at a partner college (without first completing a certificate program), you will not be eligible for a DSF scholarship award until you are approved for a GPA waiver.
2016 High School Graduates
If you graduated from high school in 2016 and have not yet received a DSF scholarship award payment, you may apply for the DSF scholarship and submit a High School GPA Waiver form based on college coursework you completed either as a high school student or as a college student in 2016-17.
To be considered for the DSF Scholarship in the 2017-18 school year
- Apply for the DSF Scholarship by April 1, 2017; and
- Submit the High School GPA Waiver form to DSF by July 15, 2017, showing that you:
- Have been enrolled at a DSF partner college every term during the most recent (2016-17) academic year; and
- Are meeting your college’s requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), whether enrolled as a college student or enrolled through dual/concurrent enrollment; and
- have completed all developmental education requirements, or otherwise show readiness to enter college-level courses in your intended degree program.
- Successfully complete all other DSF requirements.
2017 High School Graduates
If you will be graduating from high school in 2017, you have two options to be considered for a DSF scholarship award in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program:
- You may wait until 2018 to apply for the DSF scholarship. During the 2017-18 academic year, you can demonstrate that you are prepared for college-level coursework by:
- Enrolling in a DSF partner college for at least one class during the 2017-18 academic year; and
- Meeting your college’s requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP); and
- Completing any required developmental education courses.
You may then apply for the DSF Scholarship as a New Applicant for the 2018-19 academic year, and submit a completed High School GPA Waiver as described below by July 15, 2018. You must meet all DSF initial eligibility requirements within one year of your high school graduation.
- If you have already taken college courses as a high school student through concurrent or dual enrollment, you may apply for the DSF scholarship for the 2017-18 academic year by:
- Apply for the DSF Scholarship by April 1, 2017; and
- Submit the High School GPA Waiver form to DSF by July 15, 2017, showing that you:
- Have been enrolled in at a DSF partner college and met the college’s standard for Satisfactory Academic Progress in at least one college class during the most recent (2016-17) academic year; and
- Have completed all developmental education requirements, or otherwise show readiness to enter college-level courses in your intended degree program.
- Successfully complete all other DSF requirements.
If you have questions about your DSF eligibility based on your final high school GPA or the High School GPA Waiver form, please ask your Future Center Advisor, Campus Contact, or DSF staff (www.denverscholarship.org/contactus or 303-640-6564).
If you submit a 2017-18 DSF Scholarship Application but do not meet the high school GPA requirements, you may withdraw your DSF application no later than July 15. Please see the Application Withdrawal Form for more information.