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SUPPORTING OUR GRADUATES

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 Yampa Tuition Grants (YTG) provides need-based grants for accredited undergraduate and vocational schools. All Routt county and Moffat county graduates, as well as residents who have lived here at least 5 years, of any age are eligible to apply. Grants range from $1000 to $7500, dependent on need. The Yampa Tuition Grants Fund is held at the Yampa Valley Community Foundation.

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Is There Financial Need? YES

We all know that a key to the future of our community is the ability of families to afford to live here. We also know that one of the most daunting expenses for any family is the cost of college education. Not only has it become much more expensive to live here, but college costs also continue to escalate. In Routt and Moffat counties:

  •    70% of graduates apply for aid via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). That's about 190 current seniors. YTG is open to current college students as well, so our group of students needing aid is several times that number.

  •    28% of our high school students qualify for free or reduced lunch, meaning they are at or below 185% of the poverty level ($56,338 for a family of four)

  •    A family of four earning the median household income for our area, $68,000, is expected to contribute about $10,000 per year for a college education. This compares to an average cost to attend an in-state four year college of about $30,000. The gap must be filled by a combination of grants and loans. 

  • Most student aid packages include a large element of loans. The average total loan amount for bachelor’s degree seekers at public institutions is $28,600. This puts a burden on our college grads. Our grants lessen this burden significantly.

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WHO WE ARE

Our Roots

We are lucky to live in a community that is incredibly generous. At the same time, the cost of living and local economic changes make it increasingly difficult for many families to fund higher education. By working together we can help improve the lives of the young people who are the future of our community, and that is why we ultimately decided to launch Yampa Tuition Grants. 

We help the dreams of higher education come true through the support of residents, past-recipients, local businesses, private foundations and civic organizations.
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