Daniels Scholarship: why your college choice changes the funding
The Daniels Scholarship application for the current selection cycle is closed. Its official 2026 application window ended October 15; an old “apply now” banner should not be read as an extension. The program has not supplied a future application deadline verified for this guide.
For applicants still in selection, the most useful funding distinction is the college’s relationship with Daniels. A partner arrangement can cover up to full cost of attendance through combined institutional and Daniels support. Non-partner colleges have different annual limits depending on location.
Three college choices, three different funding calculations
On a smaller screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| College route | Published maximum | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Partner school or partner program | Combined funding up to full cost of attendance | Whether your exact institution or program is a current partner. |
| Non-partner outside Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming | Up to $25,000 per year | The remaining net cost after other aid. |
| Non-partner inside those four states | Up to $7,500 per year | Whether an inexpensive local option still has the lower final cost. |
Source: Daniels Scholarship program and partner list, checked October 29, 2026. “Up to” is a maximum, not a promise that every recipient receives that amount.
This is not a scholarship without financial-need restrictions
Published screening rules include graduating-senior status, residence in one of the four states, U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, a 3.0 unweighted GPA, and ACT section scores of at least 18 or SAT Math and Reading/Writing scores of at least 490 each.
The current financial screen uses 2025 household adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less, with $10,000 allowed per additional dependent and review of other assets. Read the provider’s rules for which household claims you. A strong transcript does not remove the financial or residency requirements.
A larger scholarship can still leave a larger bill
Consider a hypothetical non-partner college outside the region with a $40,000 remaining annual cost before Daniels, versus an in-region non-partner option with $15,000 remaining. Applying the respective maximums would leave $15,000 at the first college and $7,500 at the second. These invented figures illustrate the calculation; they are not prices or award promises for actual colleges.
That example deliberately compares remaining cost, not just the scholarship number. Your real aid package may interact with outside funding, so obtain the college’s treatment of Daniels in writing before subtracting an award from a previous estimate. The outside-scholarship adjustment guide explains why the simple subtraction can be incomplete.
For a partner school, ask for the actual combined package and the expenses included in its cost-of-attendance budget. Do not add a separate full Daniels amount on top of a package that already includes institutional participation.
Choose the next action that fits your application status
The official promotional materials identify September 1 through October 15, 2026, as this cycle’s application window. Students who submitted should follow their own selection instructions and requests for documentation. A closed initial application does not mean a submitted applicant should stop checking the program’s messages.
Students who missed the window should focus on other open opportunities instead of building a budget around a retroactive entry. Younger students can use the current requirements to identify questions to resolve, while waiting for future-cycle terms before making eligibility assumptions.
Keep three entries beside each college: confirmed partner status, expected net cost and the source of that estimate. Save the options that remain affordable under a realistic award outcome, using the offer-comparison guide to keep tuition, living expenses and outside aid separate.