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, AAS, 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 or AAS 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
If you are enrolling in a DSF Partner Community College, you must specifically declare a certificate or AAS program to be considered for a scholarship award (this step is not necessary at a technical college). Talk directly to the DSF Partner Community College you are enrolling in to learn more about the certificate and AAS programs available, and how to declare your program.
- Click here to see all DSF Partner Community Colleges, and reach out to the Campus Contact indicated for more information.
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 or AAS program), you will not be eligible for a DSF scholarship award until you have an approved GPA Assessment.
2017 High School Graduates
If you graduated from high school in 2017 and have not yet received a DSF scholarship award payment, you may apply for the DSF scholarship and submit a High School GPA Assessment form based on college coursework you completed either as a high school student or as a college student in 2017-18.
To be considered for the DSF Scholarship in the 2018-19 school year:
- Apply for the DSF Scholarship by April 1, 2018; and
- Submit the High School GPA Assessment form to DSF by July 15, 2018, showing that you:
- Have completed at least one transcripted college class (either as a college student or through concurrent enrollment); and
- Have a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0 and are not on academic/financial aid probation; and
- Meet the requirements to enroll in college-level, credit-bearing courses in your degree program. For example: successfully completed any required developmental education/remedial courses, or demonstrated readiness via an assessment or other prior learning.
- Successfully complete all other DSF requirements.
2018 High School Graduates
If you will be graduating from high school in 2018, you have two options to be considered for a DSF scholarship award in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program:
Option 1: Wait until 2019 to apply for the DSF scholarship
During the 2018-19 academic year, you can demonstrate that you are prepared for college-level coursework by:
- Completing at least one transcripted college class (either as a college student or through concurrent enrollment); and
- Earning a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0 and are not on academic/financial aid probation; and
- Meeting the requirements to enroll in college-level, credit-bearing courses in your degree program. For example: successfully completing any required developmental education/remedial courses, or demonstrating readiness via an assessment or other prior learning.
You may then apply for the DSF Scholarship as a New Applicant for the 2019-20 academic year, and submit a completed High School GPA Assessment as described below by July 15, 2019. You must meet all DSF initial eligibility requirements within one year of your high school graduation.
Option 2: If you have already taken college courses as a high school student through concurrent or dual enrollment
You may be considered for the DSF Scholarship in the 2018-19 school year if you:
- Apply for the DSF Scholarship by April 1, 2018; and
- Submit the High School GPA Assessment form to DSF by July 15, 2018, showing that you:
- Have completed at least one transcripted college class (either as a college student or through concurrent enrollment); and
- Have earned a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0 and are not on academic/financial aid probation;
- Have met the requirements to enroll in college-level, credit-bearing courses in your degree program. For example: successfully completing any required developmental education/remedial courses, or demonstrating readiness via an assessment or other prior learning.
- 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 Assessment form, please ask your Future Center Advisor/high school counselor, Campus Contact, or DSF staff (www.denverscholarship.org/contactus or 303-640-6564).
If you submit a 2018-19 DSF Scholarship Application but do not meet the high school GPA requirements, you may withdraw your DSF application no later than July 15, 2018. Please see the Application Withdrawal Form for more information.