Earning a college degree is a goal for millions of Americans, but sometimes life gets in the way. Western Colorado University’s Adult Degree Completion program serves to aid professionals with some college experience in finishing their credit requirements and earning a bachelor’s degree in a flexible, accessible and completely online environment. Let’s finish what you started!
*New for Fall 2024: ADC will offer the Professional Certificates in Graphic Design and Sport Management.
Department Overview
Customized solutions for your success.
According to the Colorado Department of Higher Education, over 500,000 Colorado adults have some college education but have not yet earned a degree. Through the Adult Degree Completion program, you have the opportunity to take your previously earned college credits and apply them toward a valuable and versatile bachelor’s degree. The online program is conducive to your busy lifestyle, and provides the work-related knowledge for career advancement.
In addition to the existing B.A. programs, starting in the Fall of 2024, ADC will offer the Professional Certificate Series: highly focused, skill-based certificates for learners who are moving forward to meet the demands of tomorrow. The first wave of certificates includes Graphic Design and Sport Management, and, in the coming year and pending approval, additional certificates related to engineering and nonprofit leadership.
A degree for your lifestyle
As an adult learner, you may have different life commitments than traditional undergraduate students. Our program works to ensure that you have sufficient time and resources to meet your current obligations while pursuing your degree.
Scholarships
Eligibility
- ADC students enrolled in 15 credits or more per school year in ADC program
- 2.75 cumulative GPA or greater
Description
Awards are up to $1500 per student scholarship awarded annually for two years, to be applied to tuition and fees.
Selected by: The ADC Program
Application:
No scholarship application is needed but students must be admitted into ADC and apply for financial aid to receive award. Contact ADC for scholarship deadline and information. 970.943.2997, adc@western.edu
Eligibility
- In-state Colorado residence
- Work with ADC advisor to Create Master Academic Plan (MAP)
- Qualify to receive $1 or more of Federal PELL Grant
- Enrolled in ADC and degree seeking, with a minimum of six credits per academic year
- Must participate in ADC advising sessions each semester
Description
Based out of Tucson, AZ, Earn to Learn (ETL) is leading a wave of funding innovations in higher education by offering postsecondary matched savings scholarship programs. In short, ETL helps qualified college students save $500 per year for their schooling and then matches that investment 8:1 with the help of Western funding, turning the amount into $4500.
Application
Scholarship applications accepted in the spring of the year. Email adc@western.edu or call 970.943.2997 for more information.
Eligibility
- Recipients must have not been enrolled in an institution or higher education for two or more consecutive semesters
- Minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher
- Enrolled in a minimum of 15 credits per academic year
- Must participate in the ADC Adult Learner mentoring program
Description
- Awards are up to $3000 per academic year.
Application
- No scholarship application needed but students must show through transcripts that they have not been enrolled in an institution or higher education for two or more consecutive semesters prior to the applying to the ADC program. Additional COSI and Western policies apply. Email adc@western.edu or call 970.943.2997 for more information.
Eligibility
- Intended for in-state Colorado residents
- Minimum GPA of 2.00or higher
- Enrolled in ADC and degree seeking, with a minimum of six credits per academic year
- Must participate in ADC advising sessions each semester
Description
This Western-funded scholarship ranges from $1000 – 2,500 per school year to be used for tuition and fees.
Application
Qualification of scholarship determined upon entry of the ADC program and reviewed on a regular basis. Email adc@western.edu or call 970.943.2997 for more information.
Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.
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Department Information
Adult Degree Completion
Department Chairperson
Terry Schliesman, Ph.D.Adult Degree Completion Program Director
Adult Degree Completion Associate Director
Eliza Ekstrom SullivanAdult Degree Completion Associate Director
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Taylor 303
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231