DSF Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Denver Scholarship Foundation

Overview
You must submit your DSF Scholarship application within one year after finishing high school. For example, students in the high school class of 2025 must file by the May deadline and must receive their first DSF award no later than December 31, 2026.

Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for DSF funding you must meet all of the following:

Attendance / residency
- Have attended a Denver Public Schools (DPS) high school for your entire high school career, or attended a DPS high school since moving to Colorado.

High school graduation and GPA
- Have graduated from high school with a final cumulative GPA that meets DSF’s standard for the type of college you plan to attend:
- 4‑Year college/university: high school GPA of at least 2.75, or obtain an approved DSF exception.
- Community college: high school GPA of at least 2.50, or obtain an approved DSF exception.
- Technical college: high school GPA of at least 2.00.

College enrollment
- Be enrolled full‑time at one of DSF’s 30 College Partners located in Colorado. (More details about the full‑time enrollment requirement are available on DSF’s website.)

Financial need (SAI)
- Demonstrate financial need with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 16,640 or less. DSF relies on the SAI calculated by your college; that figure can differ from the SAI shown on your FAFSA or CASFA.
- If you meet the qualifying SAI in one year, you are not required to re‑qualify on SAI in subsequent years.
- In limited circumstances, DSF will review appeals that present an alternate way to document financial need.
- Note: 16,640 is equal to 250% of the 2025–26 maximum SAI used to determine Pell Grant eligibility. The federal government may change the maximum SAI for Pell grants in future years.

Other requirements and deadlines
- Complete your college’s financial aid process by July 15.
- Satisfy your college’s Colorado residency rules if you are seeking in‑state tuition or state financial aid.

How and when to apply
- The DSF Scholarship application opens in the DSF Student Portal beginning in February and remains available until the posted deadline. You can create an account starting in February of your 12th‑grade year.
- If you already have an account, sign in; otherwise create one using your DPS ID number and your birthdate.

Additional application steps
- As part of the DSF application, you must also apply for either:
- Three (3) other scholarships, or
- Two (2) other scholarships plus one student support program.
- You will need a Social Security Number or, if you do not have an SSN, your COF ID.
- If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the application.