The Daniels Fund is currently accepting applications for its Daniels Scholarship, a four-year college funding program open to graduating seniors across four states. The window to apply remains open through October 15, with a cutoff of 4 p.m. Mountain Time.
Josh Green, the scholarship program's senior vice president at the Daniels Fund, said the organization aims to select approximately 200 students each year. The award can be applied to tuition, housing, meals, books, and other educational costs, and at partner institutions — including UCCS, Colorado College, and CSU Pueblo — funding from both the Daniels Fund and the school can be combined to cover attendance in full. Students who enroll at non-partner schools may also receive support, though amounts vary: those attending non-partner institutions outside the four-state region can receive up to $25,000 each year, while students at non-partner schools within Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming are eligible for up to $7,500 annually.
Beyond financial support, Green said every recipient is paired with a scholar success officer who helps them navigate college and pursue opportunities such as internships. Two Colorado Springs-area recipients described how the program shaped their paths. One, now studying pre-med at UCCS, had originally planned to begin at a community college for cost reasons and did not apply to a university until she had advanced to the scholarship's second round. Her experience helping care for her father, who has paralysis from the neck down, drew her toward medicine, and the program connected her with an internship this past summer at Craig Hospital — the same facility where her father had received rehabilitation. A second recipient, who studies business and swims competitively at Colorado College, said the award changed his financial picture entirely; without it, he would have had to take out loans, but instead he was able to concentrate on school and training without the same financial worry.
To be eligible, students must meet several requirements. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors who live in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming and hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, with an unweighted GPA of at least 3.0. On standardized tests, students must reach a minimum of 18 in each section of the ACT, or score no lower than 490 on both the Math and the Reading and Writing portions of the SAT. A household income limit also applies: the adjusted gross income on the 2025 tax return claiming the student as a dependent may not exceed $100,000, with an additional $10,000 permitted per extra dependent, and reviewers also weigh other household assets.
Green noted that selection extends well beyond grades and extracurricular activities, and that working while in high school or taking on caregiving responsibilities for a family member can help round out an applicant's story. The process begins with an online application covering academic standing, financial background, and personal history; students who advance then complete essays and interviews, with the new cohort typically announced in late March. Green recommended submitting well before the deadline to avoid any last-minute technical problems.
Which Colorado Springs students are selected will become clear when the Daniels Fund announces its incoming class of roughly 200 scholars in late March.