Career Advance Colorado
Please note: The application for Career Advance Colorado is closed, as there is no longer funding available.
Zero-Cost Training for In-Demand Jobs
Ready for a career change? Take the first step with Northeastern Junior College and Career Advance Colorado! Thanks to this state program, you can get free training in rewarding fields that move Colorado forward.
How does it work?
Starting in August 2023, students who enroll in one of the following training programs will have their tuition, fees, course materials, and other costs covered while funding is available:
- Education
- Early childhood education
- Firefighting
- Nursing
To enroll in this program, you must have a completed application for federal and/or state financial aid and submit a Career Advance application below. Contact NJC Financial Aid at 970-521-6800 or financialaid@njc.edu to discuss this program and application steps.
More About Career Advance Colorado
Career Advance Colorado is funded through House Bill 23-1246, which dedicates $38.6 million to fully cover enrollment costs for training programs in sectors with significant workforce shortages. The bill was signed by Gov. Jared Polis in May 2023 and sponsored by Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Sens. Janet Buckner and Perry Will, and Rep. Rose Pugliese.
Student Eligibility Requirements:
- Must have declared an eligible degree/certificate program
- Must be a Colorado Resident or ASSET Student
- Must be a high school graduate or equivalent (GED)
- Must have a completed FAFSA or CASFA
- Must be in an eligible financial aid SAP status (Satisfactory Academic Progress)
- Student Loan Default students will qualify, only if they qualify for the U.S. Department of Education’s Fresh Start Initiative & submit required documents
- All Enrollment Statuses are eligible (Full-time, half-time, less than half-time)
- Funding amounts will be awarded based on the tuition/fees/supplies costs of the eligible program
- Only the required courses for the eligible program will be funded – enrollment in courses outside of the degree/certificate requirements will not be paid for
- The Career Advance funding will be applied to the student's bill after all federal/state grants are applied first; students may receive a combination of Career Advance and other state initiative stipends, provided only one source of funding is covering the required expense. Career Advance funding is "last-dollar-in" to cover the semester bill, excluding student loans, work-study, and private scholarships.
How to make sure your courses are required for your selected degree/certificate program:
You can determine whether your enrolled courses are required for your selected program by reviewing Degree Check, found in your NJC Student Access Portal:
- Log into ACCESS NJC from NJC.edu
- From the Dashboard, select Degree Check
This will open your degree audit based on your declared major at NJC. Courses that apply toward your degree will appear in the individual degree requirements. Courses that do not apply toward your selected degree will appear under the section “Courses that do not apply to this program”:
If you need assistance declaring your degree or certificate program, you must contact your Academic Advisor or the Student Success Center. They are here to help you meet your educational goals & to ensure you are on track with the correct courses to graduate in your selected program of study. If you want to change your declared major, you need to submit a Change of Major Form, PRIOR to the start of the semester.
Interested in More Healthcare Careers?
The state’s Care Forward Colorado program covers all tuition, fees, and course material costs for short-term healthcare training programs. Care Forward Colorado | Northeastern Junior College (njc.edu) Visit our program webpage to learn more.
The program builds on the success of the Care Forward Colorado program, which has already trained thousands of Coloradans for entry-level healthcare positions. The Care Forward Colorado program will run concurrently with Career Advance Colorado as program funding is available.