The Financial Aid Office uses the FAFSA application to determine eligibility for need-based and non-need based awards.  Financial aid award packages generally consist of a combination of federal, state, and institutional grants, as well as federal direct loans.  In addition to grants and loans, students may also qualify for work-study, scholarships and tuition waivers.

The video to the right explains the types of federal aid that are available.

Below are the most common types of aid that are available at Fort Lewis College:

2019-2020

Colorado Student Grant

How to apply: Student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  • How awards are determined: The FAFSA application will allow the Financial Aid Office to determine if a student is eligible based on financial need.
  • Award amount: Up to $3,000 per school year.
  • Award length: Awards are made each school year, based on having a FAFSA on file. Future awards are based on information from the new school year's FAFSA.
  • Criteria for eligibility: Must be classified as a Colorado resident, full-time, undergraduate, and first-degree seeking student.
  • Standards for keeping it: If a student qualifies for this award they must be meeting satisfactory academic progress standards to receive it, which includes a 2.0 cumulative college level GPA, 1.67 remedial level GPA, 67% course completion rate (PACE), and be under maximum program credit hours, which is 180 attempted credits. All standards can be viewed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
  • How aid is disbursed and how often: Award is applied directly to student’s bill about one week before the term begins, or once the student’s financial aid file becomes complete if before Census. The award will be canceled after Census if the student's financial aid file is still incomplete. (Funds for the Colorado Student Grant have been allocated by the generosity of the Colorado General Assembly.)

Federal Pell Grant

>How to apply: Student must complete the ;Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application.

Federal Direct Subsidized (Need-based)

How to apply: Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  • How awards are determined: The Financial Aid Office will determine the amount the student can borrow, and the amount may not exceed their financial need. Complete details about the differences between subsidized and unsubsidized loans can be viewed on the Federal Student Aid - Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans webpage.
  • Criteria for eligibility: The student must meet eligibility to receive federal aid, must be enrolled at least as a half-time student, and must not be in default with federal student loan programs.
  • Standards for keeping it: If a student qualifies for this award they must be meeting satisfactory academic progress standards to receive it.  All standards can be viewed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
  • How aid is disbursed and how often: Award is applied directly to student’s bill once their financial aid file is complete, and their loan counseling and master promissory note requirements are satisfied. Loan disbursements are paid at the beginning of each term, or during the term once the student’s financial aid requirements are met.  Information on these types of loans, including interest rates, origination fees, borrowing limits and repayment conditions/options, can be viewed on the Federal Student Aid website.
  • Award Length: There are annual and lifetime loan limits. Information on loan maximums and length can be viewed on the Federal Student Aid - Loans webpage.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG need-based aid)

How to apply: Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  • Award eligibility: Full-time, undergraduate, first-degree seeking students. The FAFSA application will allow the Financial Aid Office to determine if a student is eligible based on financial need. Students who are receiving a Federal Pell grant and have a 0 EFC will be given first consideration and all other Pell recipients will be considered next.
  • Awards amount: Awards up to $700 for in-state students and $2,000 for out-of-state students.
  • Award length: Awards are made each school year. Future awards are based on information from the new school year's FAFSA.
  • Standards for keeping it and how to get it back: If a student qualifies for this award they must be meeting satisfactory academic progress standards to receive it, which includes a 2.0 cumulative college level GPA, 1.67 remedial level GPA, 67% course completion rate (PACE), and be under maximum program credit hours, which is 180 attempted credits. All standards can be viewed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
  • How aid is disbursed and how often: The award is applied directly to student’s bill about one week before each term begins , or once the student’s financial aid file becomes complete during the term.

First Generation Award (Non need-based aid)

How to apply: Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  • How awards are determined: The FAFSA application will allow the Financial Aid Office to determine if a student is eligible. Only first time freshmen students are considered for this award.
  • Awards amount: Up to $2,000 per year. Numbers of awards each year are determined by available funding.
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  • Award length: The award is renewed for up to 8 consecutive semesters. The student must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and have continuous enrollment.
  • Criteria: Criteria for eligibility: Must be classified as a Colorado resident, full-time undergraduate, and first generation (meaning neither parent has received a bachelor’s degree.)
  • Standards for keeping it: The renewal criteria for this award is award year specific. Students must follow the criteria outlined in the initial year they received it. The terms and conditions of award years can be viewed on the Institutional Scholarships for Undergraduates page.
  • How aid is disbursed and how often: If renewal criteria are met, funds are applied directly to student’s bill about one week before each term begins (Fall and Spring only).

FLC Merit, New Mexico Reciprocal, Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), Foundation

Details about how to apply, how awards are determined, amounts, criteria for eligibility for the FLC Merit, New Mexico Reciprocal and Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarships and standards for keeping the award can be viewed on the Fort Lewis College Scholarships website. Details about the Foundation and Departmental Scholarships can be viewed on the Foundation Scholarships website.  The deadline for Foundation and Departmental scholarships is February 1st.

All standards can be viewed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Institutional Need-based Grant (Need-based aid)

How to apply: Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  • >How awards are determined: The FAFSA application will allow the Financial Aid Office to determine if a student is eligible based on financial need.
  • >Award amount: Awards are up to $2,000.
  • >Award length: Awards are made each school year, based on having a FAFSA on file. Future awards are based on information from the new school year's FAFSA.
  • >Criteria for eligibility: Must be full-time, undergraduate, and first-degree seeking student. Students cannot be awarded this grant if they have received at least $2,000 in Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and/or Colorado State Grant.
  • >Standards for keeping it: If a student qualifies for this award they must be meeting satisfactory academic progress standards to receive it, which includes a 2.0 cumulative college level GPA, 1.67 remedial level GPA, 67% course completion rate (PACE), and be under maximum program credit hours, which is 180 attempted credits. All standards can be viewed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
  • >How aid is disbursed and how often: The award is applied directly to student’s bill about one week before each term begins, or once the student’s financial aid file becomes complete during the term if they are still eligible for the award.

Native American Tuition Waiver

The Native American Tuition Waiver is not considered financial aid. Qualified Native American students will be admitted to Fort Lewis College tuition free, but are still responsible for purchasing books, paying college fees, and on-campus room and board expenses. To learn more about this waiver, please visit the Native American Tuition Waiver page

Private Scholarships

These are awarded by third parties that are not associated with Fort Lewis College. Students are responsible for researching and applying for these scholarships. Award criteria, amounts, and criteria for renewal are at the discretion of the agency providing the award.

Work Study (Need-based aid)

  • >How to apply: Student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)application and select “yes” to the work-study question.
  • >How awards are determined: The FAFSA application will allow the Financial Aid Office to determine if a student is eligible. Funds are limited. Awards are given until funds run out.
  • >Award amount: $400 - $3,000 annually depending on eligibility.
  • >Award length: Awards are made each school year, based on having a FAFSA on file. Future awards are based on information from the new school year's FAFSA.
  • >Criteria for eligibility: Must be a full-time, undergraduate, first-degree seeking student, with a minimum gross need of $2500. Must be a Colorado resident for Colorado work-study or no-need work-study.
  • >Standards for keeping it: If a student qualifies for this award they must be meeting satisfactory academic progress standards to receive it.  All standards can be viewed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
  • >How aid is disbursed and how often: This is considered “earned” aid. Students earn this aid by working on campus and receiving a paycheck. The number of hours worked per week, and hourly rate of pay, will determine the total amount of pay per pay period. Their award amount is the maximum they can earn for the school year.

Boundless Opportunity Scholarship

  • How to apply:  Students who are participants of the Fort Lewis College STEM3 and TRIO Student Success Center offices are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Recipients for the 2019-20 school year have already been awarded so applications for 2019-20 will not be available.
  • How awards are determined:  Recipients are selected by a selection committee.
  • Award amount:  $2,000 per year, for two years, depending on funding.
  • Award length:  Two-year award if the student is meeting renewal criteria.
  • Criteria for eligibility:  Must be a full-time student, first-degree seeking, have 60-89 FLC earned credit hours by the end of Spring 2018, legal resident from Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, or Wyoming, cumulative GPA of at least 2.00, have a valid FAFSA on file by April 12, 2019, be 24 years or older or a student who is a GED recipient, veteran, or foster care youth, and an active participant in either STEM3 or TRIO Student Success Center programs.
  • Standards for keeping it:  Must be enrolled as a full-time student, have a 2.00 cumulative GPA, be in good financial aid standing, and be an active participant of the STEM3 or TRIO Student Success Center program.
  • How aid is disbursed and how often:  If renewal criteria are met, funds are applied directly to student’s bill about one week before each term begins (Fall and Spring only).