Students across Northern Colorado will soon have greater access to tuition-free college, as income eligibility for the Aims Community College Tuition Promise program expands to cover more in-district students.
Aims Community College Expands Tuition Promise Program to Reach More Students
March 17, 2026
Starting in the fall of 2026, in-district residents with family incomes of $100,000 or less can qualify, while Colorado residents who live outside the district may qualify with family incomes under $65,000. Independent students, typically those over age 24, who live in-state and out-of-district may qualify with incomes under $50,000.
To qualify, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA), enroll in a degree or credential program, take at least six credit hours, and remain in good academic standing. Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree are not eligible.
Tuition Promise programs have become increasingly common over the past two decades as colleges find ways to expand access and reduce financial barriers. The funding covers the remaining tuition costs after grants, scholarships and other financial aid are applied.
“These programs are important for helping families make college more accessible,” said Dana Kohler, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. “It’s really about supporting students who don’t traditionally have access to college and making that financially more feasible. For Aims, it’s also a way to invest back into the community that supports us.”
Larry Pakowski, Vice President for Student Affairs, said the change reflects both the region’s economic realities and Aims’ commitment to broadening opportunity. “This program eliminates barriers for our lowest-income families, but it will also reach much further into the middle-class families we serve.”
With the higher income threshold in place, Aims expects a large share of its in-district students to qualify. “The most apparent change is that most of our students who are in-district and attending Aims will not be paying tuition,” Pakowski said. “Our latest data shows the overwhelming majority of our students will meet this new threshold.”
The expanded program represents a significant investment by the college in its community, funded through institutional financial aid. “We already have the lowest tuition in the state, so the financial impact isn’t enormous compared to other institutions,” Pakowski said. “But it’s still a meaningful investment in the students who live in our taxing district. Ultimately, the goal is to open the doors of opportunity to education for more citizens, which creates a more prosperous future for all of us.”
Guiding Students Through the Financial Aid Process
Kohler said the college offers several resources to help students and families complete the process. “Our Financial Aid Office is here to help every step of the way,” she said. “We offer FAFSA and CASFA help sessions every Wednesday and Friday at 3 p.m., and students can meet with staff in person or virtually.”
Aims and the University of Northern Colorado will host FAFSA Fest on Wednesday, April 1, from 4:30–7:30 p.m. at the Aims Welcome Center, 4901 West 20th Street. It’s an event where community members and students can receive hands-on help completing financial aid applications.
Pakowski said the expansion also positions Aims as a national leader in affordability among community colleges. “If you look in a dictionary, ‘aardvark’ is the first animal listed,” Pakowski said. “In a lot of ways, this move puts Aims first as well, not just in Colorado, but nationally as a leader in this movement.”
With the expanded program, Pakowski said the biggest impact will be fewer students worrying about how to pay for college. “More of our students will not have the burden of figuring out how to pay for college,” he said. “Instead, they’ll be able to focus on taking advantage of our outstanding programs, learning from our incredibly talented faculty and experiencing what it means to be at a college that is truly all in on their success.”
Students and families can learn more at aims.co/aims-tuition-promise.
