Clough Scholarships

Graduating seniors from Coal Ridge, Grand Valley, and Rifle High Schools and recent GED achievers. Graduating seniors residing in Garfield County District RE-2 or RE-16 who attend local, publicly funded alternative high schools are also eligible to apply. Students whose family’s adjusted gross income is over $110,000 are unlikely to be eligible unless there are special circumstances. Applicants will demonstrate motivation and potential to succeed in college or vocational school. Applicants will plan to attend a not-for-profit school that matches their interests and will consider the affordability of the schools they are identifying.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

The application used to apply for federal student aid.  Apply as soon as possible on or after Oct 1 to meet school and state aid deadlines. You will need your and your parents’ tax returns or estimated tax information and documents such as W-2 forms, bank statements and business and mortgage information in order to complete the FAFSA.  Applying for federal student aid is FREE; learn more at the FAFSA website.

Student Aid Report (SAR):

Summarizes all the information you provided on your FAFSA.  Your SAR will contain your Student Aid Index (SAI), the number that is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid, and may state a need for additional information. Pay close attention if the report states that additional information is needed or if your school asks for additional information.

Student Aid Index (SAI):

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an eligibility index number that is used by your college or university’s financial aid office to determine how much financial aid you are eligible for. When you fill out the FAFSA, you will provide all the information that is needed to calculate this number.

It’s important to note that the SAI has replaced  the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). The SAI still serves the purpose of helping colleges assess the financial need of the students but the updated methodology and formula give colleges more insight especially for students with special circumstances.

Cost of Attendance:

The total amount your school estimates it will cost you to attend school, usually expressed as a yearly figure. The Cost of Attendance includes tuition and fees, on-campus room and board (or a housing and food allowance for off-campus students), and allowances for books, supplies, and transportation. It also includes miscellaneous and personal expenses.

Award Letter:

An award letter from a school states the type and amount of financial aid (grants, work-study, and loans) the school will provide if you accept admission and register to take classes at that school. See also financial aid package.

Financial Aid Package:

The total amount of financial aid (federal and non-federal) a student is offered by the school.

COF (College Opportunity Trust Fund):

Provides a stipend to eligible undergraduate students. The stipend pays a portion of your total in-state tuition when you attend most Colorado public institutions or a participating private institution (currently Regis and the University of Denver).  You must apply for COF.  Check the website here to apply.

In the application, you ask for my financial information but my parents have not yet completed their tax return. How should I gather my financial information?

In the financial portion of the 2025 application, you must use financial information from your 2023 federal income tax returns.

Will I be interviewed during the application process?

Yes, the Clough Fellowship requires an interview. Your school counselor will schedule these interviews in April.

When will I be notified about the outcome of my application?

You will be notified whether you are awarded or denied a scholarship.  If you are awarded a scholarship, we will notify you in May and provide more details on your next steps. Please note that we communicate primarily through email, so if you have ANY email address changes, you MUST let us know.

Will my scholarship check be sent directly to me?

All scholarship checks are made payable to an educational institution and are designated for a particular student and include your student ID number.  Checks are mailed directly to your school’s financial aid or scholarship office, which will deposit the check and post it to your account. There are no exceptions. Scholarship checks are only paid once we have received your required documents and any additional necessary verification.

I received a Clough Fellowship this year. Will I automatically receive one next year?

You may complete renewal forms for the Clough Fellowship. The renewal is dependent on your current financial situation, a GPA of at least 2.5 and continued full-time enrollment at a not-for-profit school. Renewals are completed in the online system where you originally filled out your application.

If I change schools, will my scholarship be transferred to my new school?

The Clough Fellowship is, in most cases, transferable. Your scholarship award may change depending on the cost of attendance at your chosen school. Remember the Clough Fellowship does not provide scholarships to students attending for-profit schools.

Who can write a scholarship recommendation for me?

Recommendations may be written by a teacher, counselor, spiritual leader, employer, etc.  Your recommender cannot be related to you.  Your recommender must be able to describe how they know you and support the information you have provided in your scholarship application.

If I am awarded, what will be the amount of the scholarship?

The award amount will be determined by funds available as well as the following considerations:

Colorado Mountain College Students

• Cost of attendance (tuition, books, fees, room and board).
• Resources available to recipient to address cost of attendance.

Students attending other schools

• Award will be determined by applying a formula that considers cost of attendance, Student Aid Index from the Student Aid Report, grants, scholarships and other financial aid, as well as a reasonable amount of student loans to be assumed by students and parents.
• Scholarship amounts differ for each student and can change from year to year.