CSU Pueblo joins TheDream.US network in effort to assist migrant students

James Bartolo, The Pueblo Chieftain
·2 min read

At any given time, about 50 Colorado State University Pueblo students are paying for college without access to federal student aid.

These students, sometimes referred to as "dreamers," are immigrants lacking permanent legal status in the United States. CSU Pueblo looks to take another step toward assisting these students through joining TheDream.US — a national scholarship network. CSU Pueblo is the first Colorado school outside the Denver metro area to join TheDream.US.

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TheDream.US scholarship covers up to $8,250 in annual tuition fees for up to four years per student, according to a news release from CSU Pueblo. A $1,500 stipend also covers annual housing, textbook and supply fees.

To be eligible for TheDream.US scholarship, one must be an immigrant lacking permanent legal status, have arrived in the United States before turning age 16 and have lived in the county for five years. CSU Pueblo encourages applicants of all ages and education levels.

“Our mission is to provide quality education that is accessible, affordable and attainable for students in Southern Colorado and the Southwest United States,” said CSU Pueblo President Timothy Mottet. “We are proud to partner with an organization that supports inclusion and provides financial assistance to our diverse student population to help them achieve their goals.”

With more than 80 partnering institutions and more than 8,750 scholarships given, TheDream.US refers to itself as the “nation’s largest college access and success program for DREAMers,” according to its website. Nurses, computer scientists and others are among the program's 3,000 college graduates.

“We saw this as an awesome opportunity to continue to further our mission and expand access for students that otherwise would get almost nothing other than what we can already provide,” said Kristyn White Davis, CSU Pueblo vice president of enrollment management and extended studies.

While immigrants lacking permanent legal status are ineligible to receive federal aid, they may be eligible for institutional scholarships like those offered through the CSU Pueblo Foundation in addition to TheDream.US scholarship, White Davis said.

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The CSU Pueblo Foundation scholarship application includes more than 100 scholarships from various private donors. Scholarships include merit scholarships and scholarships based on financial need, among other specifications. Application for CSU Pueblo Foundation scholarships opened Oct. 1 and will close March 1.

TheDream.US scholarship applications for the 2023-24 school year are open and must be completed before Feb. 23. Applications may be completed on The Dream.US website at thedream.us/scholarships/national-scholarship. Additional information on CSU Pueblo Foundation scholarships may be found on the CSU Pueblo website at https://www.csupueblo.edu/student-financial-services/scholarships.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: CSU Pueblo becomes newest member of The Dream.US network