Colorado Promise
The Colorado Promise is a state tax credit that helps make college more affordable. Eligible students can be reimbursed for tuition and fees they paid out of pocket after grants and scholarships are applied.
If you’re eligible for the Colorado Promise tax credit, it’s important to understand how it works.
This is not a grant or refund from UNC. Instead, it’s a state tax credit.
To receive it, you’ll need to file a Colorado state tax return, even if you didn’t earn much income. If you qualify, any refund is sent directly to you (student) by the State of Colorado, not applied to your student bill. It’s also important to know that parents cannot claim this credit, even if they paid your tuition.
For more information, visit the Colorado Promise website. To help avoid delays, the Colorado Department of Revenue recommends filing your return after February 15.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for Colorado Promise, you must:
- Be eligible for in-state tuition
- Have matriculated to a Colorado public institution within 2 years of high school graduation
- Have a household income of $90,000 or less (AGI reported on FAFSA for student and parent or student and spouse)
- Be enrolled in a degree or certificate program at a Colorado public institution
- Have fewer than 66 earned credits at the start of the term (concurrent enrollment credits do not count)
- Complete a term with a 2.5 GPA or higher and at least 6 completed credits
- Have paid out-of-pocket tuition and/or fees after grants and scholarships are applied
Applicable term for the 2025 tax certification: Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025
Colorado Promise FAQs
No. This credit is claimed when you file your Colorado state taxes.
If you qualify, the State of Colorado sends the refund directly to you.
No. This is a state tax credit, not financial aid from UNC or the federal government.
Federal rules require schools to include estimated state benefits as “Other Financial Assistance.”
- This is only an estimate
- It does not affect your current aid
- It helps show possible resources for the next academic year
We expect 2026–27 financial aid offers to be available near the end of May.
If you do not file a Colorado state tax return, or you file but do not receive the Colorado Promise credit, you can ask us to remove the estimate from your 2026–27 financial aid offer.
To do this, please email ofa@unco.edu and let us know that you did not receive the credit. This may be because you did not file a Colorado tax return or did not claim the credit on your return.
Once we receive your request, we will review your account and update your financial aid offer as needed.
- It does not affect your current aid year
- For 2026–27, it will be included as estimated aid and could affect your total aid eligibility for that year
You can:
- Visit the Colorado Department of Revenue website, or
- Work with a tax professional
UNC staff cannot provide tax advice.
Tax certifications are sent by BearMail to students who meet all requirements.
If you didn’t receive one, it may be due to:
- Credit hours
- GPA
- Out-of-pocket costs
You can contact the Bursar’s Office to review your account and confirm your status.