The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative launched the Finish What You Started Program in 2021 to help Colorado residents go back to school and earn their certificate or degree. The program supports students in two ways: providing financial assistance and support services throughout their college experience.
Do you have some college, but did not graduate or obtain your credential? Are you thinking of re-enrolling to finish your degree? Join the Finish What You Started program designed to provide you with support services to obtain college credentials or degrees. The program combines financial support with additional services such as career planning and student coaching, connection to community and public resources and career connections.
Participant Benefits
The Finish What You Started program across the status focuses on providing wraparound student support as well as financial support to students who are planning to return to school. Here's what you can expect as a participant:
Financial Support:
- Participating students receive scholarships as well as connections to other financial resources.
- Emergency funding and additional financial support may be available to students based on specific program and student need.
Support Services:
- Enrollment support
- Connection to financial resources
- Academic support
- Connection to wellness and social resources
- Personalized support based in your need
- Support in the transition to workforce
*Please note that specific services vary by Institution
Eligibility Criteria
Participants must meet the following criteria:
- Must plan to enroll or be enrolling at a Colorado public college or university
- Must not have previously earned a credential (certificate or degree) that is 30 or more credits
- Students who have previously earned a short certificate that is 29 credits or less can still participate in the program.
- Undergraduate, in-state students (for residency purposes) who fit one of the following two categories:
- Have "Some College, No Degree": Defined as students who earned some postsecondary credits from a Colorado public/private higher education institution but did not complete a certificate or degree before deciding not to enroll for two or more consecutive semesters.
- Are "First-time Students": Defined as students who were admitted to a Colorado public institution of higher education as a first-time student for the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 academic year but did not enroll at any institution for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Hear from Current Participants
Adel Ishmenah, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Adel Ishnenah dropped out of school three years ago because he was unsure of what career path he wanted to pursue. After working a minimum wage job for several years, he decided to return to school at Metropolitan State University of Denver for a degree in cyber security. He didn’t think he could afford to go back until he discovered the Finish What You Started program. "It just came to a point where I no longer wanted to work for minimum wage. I got to go back to school and get my degree. I have to finish what I started."
Noah Cordova, University of Northern Colorado
Noah Cordova attended UNC in 2018, but in 2020 the emotional and financial toll of the pandemic forced Noah to drop out so he could work full time and focus on paying his bills. This spring, Noah reenrolled and received a $4,000 Finish What You Started scholarship for the spring 2022 semester. He is now on track to graduate by May 2024. Noah credits the help of staff at UNC for getting him into the program. “I am so glad that Nickie and Tobias helped me get back into school and I am so happy and grateful for this opportunity with COSI to finish my college degree.”