DU Launches New Scholarship Program

As kids head back to school it’s not too early to start thinking about college – and how to earn money for college.

The University of Denver is launching a new scholarship program for high school students – it’s the first of its kind in Colorado. This program, in partnership with Raise.me, will allow students starting as early as 9th grade to prepare for college by earning micro-scholarships for individual achievements like getting a four or five on an AP exam or taking at least three years of a foreign language.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to partner with Raise.me, given its focus on expanding access to higher education, especially among low income and first generation students,” said Tom Willoughby, vice chancellor of enrollment at DU.

In Colorado there are already more than 280 high schools with at least one student using Raise.me to earn micro-scholarships. Any scholarships students earn while using Raise.me get rolled into their overall financial aid package at the University of Denver once they enroll. Raise.me is free to join and will keep track of students’ eligibility every time they log into the system.

In addition to improving clarity and access around financial aid, this new program allows students to track specific goals they want to accomplish throughout high school, helping them become more competitive college applicants.

Raise.me has partnered with a diverse set of nearly 150 schools, including Carnegie Mellon, Colby, Georgia Tech, Penn State, the University of Rochester and Tulane.