Finish What you Started

Community College of Denver is dedicated to eliminating barriers to help you return to school to complete that degree that you started but didn’t finish. We know that sometimes life gets in the way. Learn more about how you can get back on track and start earning the paycheck you deserve after you complete your degree!

Finish What You Start is a new grant-funded scholarship through the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative that helps Colorado residents go back to school and earn their credential or degree. The program supports returning students by providing both financial assistance and support services throughout their college experience to help students successfully finish their academic program.

The program combines scholarships as well as additional funding and supports - such as career planning, academic coaching, , financial literacy, career services, and public resources (e.g., transportation assistance, childcare centers, legal aid services, housing support, etc.) among others. Each aid packet is customized to your individual needs.

Who is Eligible?

  • You must have earned some college credits but not graduated. Credits from any accredited higher education institution qualify. 
  • Must plan to enroll, or be enrolled at, a Colorado public college or university  
  • Must be pursuing your first higher education certificate or degree (previous degree holders are ineligible.)  
  • Have not been enrolled for at least two consecutive semesters prior to January 1, 2021. 
  • Must in some way be impacted economically by the pandemic, such as lost or adverse changes in employment, increased food or housing insecurity, had to withdraw from college after March 13, 2020, or suffered another form of economic loss. 
  • Are a Colorado resident or qualify as an ASSET student. 

*Priority will be given to students who are within – one to two semesters of completing their degree or certificate program

  • Undergraduate, in-state students who fit one of the following two categories: 
  • Have "some college, no degree": Defined as students who earned some postsecondary credits from a public/private higher education institution but did not complete a credential or degree before deciding not to enroll for two or more consecutive semesters. 
  • Are "first-time students": Defined as students who were admitted to a public institution of higher education as a first-time student for the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 academic year but did not enroll at any institution for the 2020-2021 academic year. 

Learn more and find out how to participate here, or contact Nate.Bertz@ccd.edu