Your postsecondary pathway starts here.
After high school graduation, you get to start the next chapter of your life. There isn't just one option — there are many to explore. These pages walk you through choosing a direction, applying, and paying for it.
We’re here to help.
The Postsecondary team at the “I Have A Dream” Foundation of Boulder County (IHDF) works with students every day on exactly these decisions — comparing schools and programs, meeting deadlines, filling out aid applications, and finding money that doesn’t have to be paid back. Everything on these pages is free to use, and you can reach us at any point.
Email · college@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Phone · 303-444-3636, ext. 111
Where are you right now?
Explore Options
Four-year and two-year colleges, trade and technical schools, certificates, apprenticeships, and the paths in between.
Applying
Seven steps from finding the right fit through submitting — campus visits, recommendation letters, essays, and deadlines.
Financial Aid
How college aid actually works, and the four kinds of money available: scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans.
Scholarships
The “I Have A Dream” Scholarship for Dreamer Scholars, plus curated lists of outside awards you can apply for.
Explore Options
A quick look at what’s out there. This is the landscape, not a directory — when something here sounds like you, that’s the conversation to have with our team.
College
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
You can earn a bachelor’s degree at thousands of colleges across the country — public and private universities, plus more specific ones like liberal arts colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HBCUs, and tribal colleges.
Two-Year Community and Junior Colleges
You can earn a bachelor’s degree at thousands of colleges across the country — public and private universities, plus more specific ones like liberal arts colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HBCUs, and tribal colleges.
Vocational & Technical Schools
You can earn a bachelor’s degree at thousands of colleges across the country — public and private universities, plus more specific ones like liberal arts colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HBCUs, and tribal colleges.
Career training and exploratory paths
Apprenticeships and the Trades
Earn while you learn, with a credential at the end and no student debt along the way.
Gap Year, Service Year, or Working First
Taking time is a real choice, not a detour. Plenty of students come back with a clearer sense of what they want.
Undocumented Students
You have options in Colorado, including in-state tuition and state aid through CASFA. Our team walks families through it.
Want to talk any of these through? Email college@ihaveadreamboulder.org or call 303-444-3636, ext. 111. The next three steps on this page cover applying, paying, and scholarships.
Applying
Seven steps from finding the right fit through submitting.
Find the right fit. Compare technical schools, community colleges, and four-year universities — then visit the ones you’re serious about, or meet them at a college fair.
1
Prioritize your needs. Rank what matters most — cost, location, housing.
2
Ask for letters of recommendation. Counselors, teachers, coaches, mentors.
3
Write your essays. Most run about 650 words — be concise and creative.
4
Choose and complete an application. The Common App, Coalition for College, or the school’s own site.
5
Submit and wait. Double-check everything matches your official documents.
6
Apply for financial aid. Applications open October 1.
7
Financial Aid
How college aid actually works, and the four kinds of money available.
The price on a college’s website is rarely what a student pays. You file one financial-aid application — the FAFSA, or CASFA if you’re not eligible for federal aid — the college works out what your family can contribute, and the rest is covered by some mix of four things. Take the money you don’t pay back first, and borrow last.
DON’T PAY BACK
Scholarships
From colleges, organizations, employers, and foundations. You can win more than one, and they stack.
DON’T PAY BACK
Grants
Need-based aid from the federal government and the state. The FAFSA or CASFA covers it.
DON’T PAY BACK
Work-study
A part-time job, often on campus, scheduled around classes. It comes to you as a paycheck.
REPAY LATER
Loans
Federal loans are almost always the better choice. Borrow only what you still need.
Two Colorado programs are worth claiming before you borrow anything: the College Opportunity Fund (COF), which pays a per-credit stipend at public institutions, and the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), which cuts out-of-state tuition at participating western schools.
Scholarships
The “I Have A Dream” Scholarship, plus outside awards you can apply for now.
Every eligible Dreamer Scholar can apply for an award of up to $10,000 toward a bachelor’s degree, renewed each year. Siblings and parents may be eligible for some of our awards too. Our team also keeps grade-by-grade lists of outside scholarships and helps you apply.
Worksheets and guides
Every handout our team uses with students — career exploration, college comparison, recommendation requests, essay brainstorming, and financial aid. Free to download.
Tuition assistance plus one-on-one college coaching for eligible Boulder County students. No prior connection to IHDF required.