University of Colorado Engineering Launches Debt-Free Education for Eligible Students

• The University of Colorado Boulder is launching a new program to cover the total cost of an engineering degree.
• The Lattice Scholars Program aims to close the cost-of-attendance gap for first-generation, Pell Grant-eligible students.
• The program will also offer academic advising and mentoring.

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is launching a new program to provide students with a debt-free engineering education.

While many scholarships traditionally cover the cost of tuition to a college or university, students can be saddled with the cost of textbooks, room and board, and other personal expenses.

The Lattice Scholars Program will cover the cost-of-attendance gap for eligible engineering students over four years of study, an estimated value of $64,000, according to CU Boulder.

To qualify, students must be the first in their family to attend college, Pell-Grant eligible, and a resident of Colorado.

"As a first-generation college student myself, and a proud CU Boulder alum, this program is near and dear to my heart," Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS), said in a statement.

"I believe that every one of our students, regardless of their background, has the potential to contribute to the world in significant ways. With the Lattice Scholars Program, we will help our students build networks that will carry them forward into their careers, and we will ensure that finances are no longer a determining factor for success."

In April, CU Boulder announced an expansion to its CU Promise Program, which covers tuition and fees for all in-state students who are eligible for the Pell Grant, an estimated 3,500 students for the 2023-2024 academic year.

CU Boulder students can also qualify for an additional $5,000 a year grant to cover further education expenses aside from tuition and fees if they have an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0 determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Lattice Scholars Program was made possible by CEAS donors, according to CU Boulder, and the college will continue to raise funds to make sure future students can graduate debt-free.

"We recognize that tuition and fees are only part of a student's cost of attending, and the [financial aid] funds provide a channel for donors to help bridge that gap for students," CU Boulder Vice Chancellor for Advancement Katy Herbert Kotlarczyk said in a statement.