College Opportunity Fund

Â鶹ӰԺ COF

The College Opportunity Fund (COF), created by the Colorado Legislature, provides a stipend that pays a portion of total in-state tuition for eligible undergraduate students who attend a Colorado public institution or a participating private institution.

You're eligible for COF if you're all of the following:

  • An undergraduate student.
  • Classified as a Colorado residentÌýand being charged in-state tuition (some exceptions apply).
  • Admitted and enrolled at a Colorado public institution (e.g., CU Â鶹ӰԺ) or a participating private institution.

The stipend is paid to the institution on a per-credit-hour basis at an amount set annually by the General Assembly. Check theÌýÌýfor the current amount.

Apply & Authorize

Apply for COF Authorize the Use of COF Funds Revoke Your COF Authorization
Apply for COF

COF Application Tips

  • Provide the exact same name, date of birth and Social Security number (SSN) as in your admission application or FAFSA (SSN only). Any mismatch will cause your COF application to be rejected.
  • If your name, date of birth or SSN are incorrect at CU, submit a correction formÌýand wait until it's processedÌýbeforeÌýsubmitting yourÌýCOF application.

Apply for COF

You only need to complete the COF application once. To get started, follow the link below:

ItÌýcan take 24 to 48 hours to process your COF application, and up toÌý24 hours more for CU Â鶹ӰԺ's systems to update.ÌýOnce they do, your next step is toÌýauthorize CU to apply the stipend toÌýyourÌýbill (see theÌýnext section).

After College Assist has processed your online COF application, you need to authorize CUÌýto apply the stipend to your tuition and feeÌýbill. You can do itÌýduring preregistrationÌýor later through Buff Portal:

  1. Log in to .
  2. On the , click "View your COF status."
  3. On the "COF Authorization/Review" page, find the correct term and click "Update Authorization."
  4. Tick the checkbox next to "Authorize," then click "Submit."

If you don'tÌýauthorize COF by the posted deadline (see calendar in sidebar), you'll be responsible for paying total in-state tuition for that semester.

To revoke your COF authorization for the current or upcoming semester:

  1. Log in to .
  2. On the , click "View your COF status."
  3. Scroll down to the COF table, find the current term, and click "Update Authorization."
  4. Click "Refused Authorization," then click "Submit."

If you revoke your authorization, you'll be required to pay full tuition for the term indicated.

Correct an Application Error

If the name (first three letters of first name), date of birth or Social Security Number (SSN) in your CU Â鶹ӰԺ record doesn’t exactly match the one you provided in your COF application, your application will be rejected. If you have your SSN in your CU Â鶹ӰԺ or COF account, it is required to be in both. If you don’t have an SSN, we can connect your accounts using a unique ID. PleaseÌýcontact us for assistance with this process.

Once a semester, every student who has a COF error is emailedÌýdetailed instructions on how to resolve that error (e.g., name mismatch, missing Social Security number).ÌýIf your COFÌýerror occurred before the semester started, we'll email you during the first week of classes. If not, we'll email you either mid-semester or late semester, depending on whenÌýthe error occurs.

To correct yourÌýbirthdate mismatch, complete these stepsÌýby the posted COF application deadline (see sidebar):

  1. Download a student biodemographic information update form, complete parts I and II (birthdate section only), then print and sign it.
  2. Take a clear photograph or scan of your signed form and the required supporting documentation. (Accepted file types: png, jpg, pdf, tif.)
  3. Log in to the Office of the Registrar's .
  4. In the "Comments" field, enter "Correcting birthdate mismatch for COF."
  5. Open the document type drop-down and select "Change of Person Record."
  6. Click the "Select Documents for Upload" button, locate the image of your form, and click "Open."
  7. Confirm that your image uploaded successfully, then upload your supporting documentation.
  8. When you're finished, click "Submit."

Once you receive an email confirming your record was updated,Ìýfollow the instructions above to authorize COF.

To correct yourÌýname mismatch, complete these stepsÌýby the posted COF application deadline (see sidebar):

  1. Download a student biodemographic information update form, complete parts I and II (legal name section only), then print and sign it.
  2. Take a clear photograph or scan of your signed form and the required supporting documentation. (Accepted file types: png, jpg, pdf, tif.)
  3. Log in to the Office of the Registrar's .
  4. In the "Comments" field, enter "Correcting name mismatch for COF."
  5. Open the document type drop-down and select "Change of Person Record."
  6. Click the "Select Documents for Upload" button, locate the image of your form, and click "Open."
  7. Confirm that your image uploaded successfully, then upload your supporting documentation.
  8. When you're finished, click "Submit."

Once you receive an email confirming your record was updated,Ìýfollow the instructions above to authorize COF.

To provide yourÌýSocial Security number (SSN) to College Assist, the government office that manages COF, complete these stepsÌýby the posted COF application deadline (see sidebar):

  1. Download andÌýcomplete an SSN/TIN update form, then print and sign it.
  2. Take a clear photograph or scan of your signed form. (Accepted file types: png, jpg, pdf, tif.)
  3. Next, take a clear photograph or scan of your Social Security card or TIN card.
  4. Log in to the Office of the Registrar's .
  5. In the "Comments" field, enter "Adding SSN for COF."
  6. Open the document type drop-down and select "Change of Person Record."
  7. Click the "Select Documents for Upload" button, locate the image of your form, and click "Open."
  8. Confirm that your form uploaded successfully, then upload the image of your Social SecurityÌýcard or TIN card.
  9. When you're finished, click "Submit."

Do not email anything containing your SSN. Doing so could put you at high risk for identity theft.

We'll securely send your information to College Assist. Please allow 72 hours for both systems to sync, then follow the instructions above to authorize COF.

To provide yourÌýSocial Security number (SSN) to CU Â鶹ӰԺ, complete these stepsÌýby the posted COF application deadline (see sidebar):

  1. Download andÌýcomplete an SSN/TIN update form, then print and sign it.
  2. Take a clear photograph or scan of your signed form. (Accepted file types: png, jpg, pdf, tif.)
  3. Next, take a clear photograph or scan of your Social Security card or TIN card.
  4. Log in to the Office of the Registrar's .
  5. In the "Comments" field, enter "Adding SSN for COF."
  6. Open the document type drop-down and select "Change of Person Record."
  7. Click the "Select Documents for Upload" button, locate the image of your form, and click "Open."
  8. Confirm that your form uploaded successfully, then upload the image of your Social SecurityÌýcard or TIN card.
  9. When you're finished, click "Submit."

Do not email anything containing your SSN. Doing so could put you at high risk for identity theft.

Once you receive an email confirming your record was updated,Ìýfollow the instructions above to authorize COF.

To correct yourÌýSocial Security number (SSN) mismatch, complete these stepsÌýby the posted COF application deadline (see sidebar):

  1. Download andÌýcomplete an SSN/TIN update form, then print and sign it.
  2. Take a clear photograph or scan of your signed form. (Accepted file types: png, jpg, pdf, tif.)
  3. Next, take a clear photograph or scan of your Social Security card or TIN card.
  4. Log in to the Office of the Registrar's .
  5. In the "Comments" field, enter "Correcting SSN mismatch for COF."
  6. Open the document type drop-down and select "Change of Person Record."
  7. Click the "Select Documents for Upload" button, locate the image of your form, and click "Open."
  8. Confirm that your form uploaded successfully, then upload the image of your Social SecurityÌýcard or TIN card.
  9. When you're finished, click "Submit."

Do not email anything containing your SSN. Doing so could put you at high risk for identity theft.

Once you receive an email confirming your record was updated,Ìýallow 72 hours for the CU Â鶹ӰԺ and COF systems to sync, then follow the instructions above to authorize COF.

Review Your COF Status, Course Eligibility & Lifetime Hour Limit

View Your COF Status Check a Course's COF Eligibility Apply the COF Stipend to a Class See How Many COF Hours You Have Left Get Additional COF Lifetime Hours
View Your COF Status

To review your COF authorization status for past or current terms, check your allottedÌýCOF lifetime hours, or see how many COF hours you've used so far:

  1. Log in to .
  2. On the , click "View your COF status."
  3. On the "COF Authorization/Review" page, scroll down to view yourÌýCOF information for past and current terms.
    • If you see a pink screen saying you have not applied, we recommend logging on theÌý and review your account information. This error can mean that youÌýhave not applied or your account cannot be found at CU Â鶹ӰԺ due to aÌýmissing SSN. If you don’t have an SSN, pleaseÌýcontact us.
    • If you see an error that your COF can't be authorized, we recommend logging on theÌý and reviewing your account information. Check your first name and date of birth in your account. The first three letters of your first name, date of birth and SSN must match your CU Â鶹ӰԺ account in order to sync. If one of these doesn’t match, please correct the error using the steps above.
    • If you are a student enrolled in the current semester, check your COF status in Buff Portal on yourÌý. You can click on the to do item to learn more about the mismatch or error.
    • If you’re having trouble signing into theÌý, contact College Assist directly atÌýcof@college-assist.org or 720-264-8553.

Courses offered through the following programsÌýareÌýnotÌýCOF eligible:Ìý

To check whether a course isÌýCOF eligible, search for the course inÌýÌýand read the class notes section carefully. Courses that are not eligible for COF will include a note to that effect.

The COF stipend will automatically apply to your bill for anyÌýCOF-eligible classes youÌýregistered forÌýby the last day to add a classÌý(the third Friday of the semester for 16-week classes;Ìýprorated for special sessions).

If you add a COF-eligible class after the deadline, the COF stipend will not be applied unless the late add was due to a university error. If that's the case, contact the department that made the error to ensure that they take the actions necessary for the COF stipend to apply. If you've already paid yourÌýbill, this may result in aÌýtuition and fee refund.

The law that created the College Opportunity Fund caps an undergraduate student's eligibilityÌýat 145 credit hours. To see how many hours you have left:

  1. Go to .
  2. Click "Login"Ìýand enter your user name and password.
  3. On your profile page, click "Hours."
  4. Scroll down to the "Total Stipend Hours"ÌýtableÌýto view your remaining hours.

Once you reach your 145-credit maximum, the Office of the Registrar will automatically extend your COF lifetime hour limit on your behalf. See the next section for details.

Â鶹ӰԺ the Automatic COF Lifetime Hour Limit Extension

Once you reach your 145-credit hour maximum, the Office of the Registrar will automatically extend your COF lifetime hour limit on your behalf. You'll receive an email notifying you of the extension, as well as instructions on how to apply for additional COF hours (see below) or to postpone the automatic extension.

Apply for Additional Hours

If you don't want to wait for the automatic extension, or if you need to apply for an extension from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE; see below), you can begin the application process onceÌýyou've used at least 120 COF hours.

Step 1: Apply for an Institutional Extension

Before you can apply to CCHE, you must apply to CU Â鶹ӰԺ for a current or future semester.ÌýTo do so, submit aÌýÌýby the posted deadline (see the academic calendar). All requests will be reviewed by CU Â鶹ӰԺ'sÌýOffice of the Registrar.

Step 2: ApplyÌýfor a CCHEÌýExtension

If you applied for an extension from CU Â鶹ӰԺ and received a decision, you may apply for aÌýÌýfor a past, current or future term. Visit the Colorado Department of Higher Education'sÌýÌýfor details.

Contact Us

Ìý Ìý registrar@colorado.edu
Ìý Ìý303-492-6970

Resources

  • (College Assist)
  • (ColoradoÌýDept. of HigherÌýEd.)

COF Calendar