COCPA Education Foundation Merit-based Scholarships
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Junior, Senior and Graduate Student Merit Based Scholarships

The Junior, Senior and Graduate Student Merit Based Scholarship Program is made possible through the generosity of farsighted members of Colorado’s CPA community. Dedicated COCPA members, firms and supporters donate to the Educational Foundation to invest in the next generation of accounting professionals—students like you—who are working toward becoming a CPA.

Through their support, you have a community standing behind your goal. Their generosity reflects a shared commitment to education, leadership, and service to the accounting profession.

Each year, the Educational Foundation awards dozens of scholarships to accounting students across Colorado. In 2025 alone, more than $93,000 was awarded to students demonstrating strong academic performance, leadership potential, community service, and financial need.

Eligibility

Scholarships are awarded to Colorado residents who are upper-division accounting majors enrolled at Colorado colleges and universities with accredited accounting programs. Both full-time undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. Applicants may apply for more than one scholarship category.

An accounting program is defined as one of the following:

  • An undergraduate degree with a major or emphasis in accounting
  • An MBA with a concentration in accounting, including at least four accounting courses above the introductory level
  • A specialized master’s degree in accounting

Application Timeline

The Merit Scholarship application will be open from March 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026. Scholarship decisions will be made at the end of July/early August, with funds disbursed in August. Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the financial aid office at each recipient’s school and can be used for:

  • Tuition and fees
  • Textbooks
  • Dormitory room and board

How to Apply

New applicants should click “Create an Account” to set up a user profile and submit their application.

For additional information about eligibility requirements, required materials, and the selection process, please refer to the Scholarship FAQ.

Thanks to the generosity of Colorado’s CPA community, your dedication to education—and your future in the accounting profession—can be supported every step of the way.

 

Who May Apply

  • The applicant must be a Student Member of the Colorado Society of CPAs.
  • The applicant must be a student with a declared accounting major; or a student who is pursuing a degree with an accounting emphasis.
  • The applicant must have completed at least 9 semester/12 quarter hours of accounting courses above the introductory level.
  • Applicants must be classified as full time students as defined by their institutions.
  • Applicants must attend a Colorado college or university with an accredited accounting program. An accredited accounting program must meet the requirements stated by the Colorado State Board of Accountancy in Rule 2.2.A:
  • A. A college or university is deemed an “accredited college or university” under Sections 12-2-109(1)(b) and 12-2-109(2)(a), C.R.S., if the college or university is accredited by one of the 6 accrediting agencies or its successor agency as follows: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. “Accredited Baccalaureate Granting College” for the purposes of these Rules means a college or university: (1) that is deemed accredited under this Rule 2.2.A and (2) that offers a Baccalaureate Degree or higher degree.
  • Applicants must enroll in a Colorado state-supported or not-for-profit college or university with a physical Colorado campus. The following colleges and universities are eligible:

Adams State University
Colorado Christian University
Colorado Mesa University
Colorado Mountain College
Colorado State University – Fort Collins
Colorado State University – Global Campus
Colorado State University – Pueblo
Columbia College – Colorado campuses
Fort Lewis College
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Regis University
University of Colorado – Boulder
University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
University of Colorado – Denver
University of Denver
University of Northern Colorado
Western Colorado University

  • The applicant’s college or university cumulative grade point average must be 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale, based on grades from all schools attended that will be included in the final degree program. The applicant’s accounting GPA must be 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale, based on grades from all schools where college-level accounting courses have been taken.
  • Applicants may apply each year. No preference is given to students who have already received a scholarship. There is no restriction on the number of awards. Only one award may be granted per scholarship cycle.
  • Applicants may apply for more than one category (General Scholarship, Mark J. Smith Scholarship, etc.).
  • Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents, living and studying in Colorado. Applicants should intend to practice the profession of accounting in Colorado.
  • The Mark J. Smith Scholarship is based on academics and financial need. Applicants must display financial need, and special consideration will be given to applicants who either come from a single parent background or are attending college as a single parent.
  • Due to the restrictions of Colorado Constitutional Amendment 41, the Educational Foundation can award only General Scholarships to applicants who are public officers, members of the Colorado General Assembly, local government officials, government employees, or their spouses or dependent children. These restrictions may not apply to certain home rule counties or home rule municipalities.