New Scholarship Initiative Expands Support For Students on the Path to a Bachelor’s Degree
Initiative pairs financial supports with holistic student services to help more Coloradans get a bachelor’s degree
DENVER – Jan. 9, 2026: Colorado students submitted 71,504 college and university admissions applications during the state’s eighth annual Colorado Free Application Days, held Tuesday, Oct. 7, through Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. The statewide initiative saw a 9% increase in participation compared to last year and saved students more than $2.4 million in waived application fees, the initiative has seen an increase of students every year since its launch.
Holston brings decades of business, civic, and academic leadership experience to ensure higher education properly prepares students with skills for the careers of today and tomorrow
DENVER - Today, Governor Polis announced JB Holston as the next Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Holston will succeed Dr. Angie Paccione whose last day is January 9, 2026 and will shadow her starting on December 15.
DENVER - December 8, 2025: The Colorado Commission on Higher Education has approved 28 proposals for Open Educational Resources (OER) grants, which will produce no-cost, high-quality learning materials for Colorado students. More than half of the funds were awarded to zero textbook cost degree development and collaborative projects.
DENVER - Today, Governor Polis announced that Dr. Angie Paccione is moving on from her position as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE). Dr. Paccione has served in this role since the beginning of the Polis administration in 2019, and her last day will be January 9, 2026. Governor Polis will make an announcement on the next Executive Director prior to Dr. Paccione’s final day on January 9. Dr. Paccione is the second longest-serving executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Dr.
Five distinguished Colorado postsecondary institutions receive this year’s designation
DENVER – Colorado GEAR UP has been awarded its fifth consecutive seven-year grant cycle from the U.S. Department of Education, securing $35 million to continue its mission of increasing college and career readiness among low-income students across the state. This highly competitive grant will support services for 6,000 students in 16 under-resourced high schools, from ninth grade through their first year of college.
DENVER – September 30, 2025: The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) announced today that the Open Educational Resources Council will embark on an OER roadshow to higher education institutions across the state over the next several months. OER are no-cost educational materials that permit free re-use, remixing and sharing. Colorado students have saved more than $70 million in textbook costs since 2019 as a result of Colorado’s OER program.