VIDEO: Meet the students who benefit from Roadrunner Promise

Laura Delmonico, Michael Okho and Rosa Serrano are among the thousands of students at Metropolitan State University of Denver who pay no tuition or mandatory fees for their education, thanks to the Roadrunner Promise.

Launched in 2017 and expanded earlier this year, the program is structured as a “last-dollar award” — covering costs that aren’t covered by other federal, state and institutional aid and scholarships. That means eligible students can take up to 15 credits per semester toward their degrees without paying tuition or fees.

“Programs like the Roadrunner Promise are just so important for school to be accessible to more people,” said Delmonico, a Pyschology major at MSU Denver and one of three student who recently shared their stories in a RED video (above). “Without it, I wouldn’t be able to be in school right now.”

RELATED: Promise of free tuition aims to eliminate financial barriers to college

The program reinforces MSU Denver’s mission as a public open-access university that serves more Coloradans, more first-generation students and more Coloradans of color than any other institution in the state, said Will Simpkins, Ph.D., vice president for Student Affairs at MSU Denver, where 30% of its students pay no tuition and fees.

“We strive to create economic mobility for our students and economic returns for the communities we serve,” Simpkins said. “When our students graduate with little to no debt, that means we’re supporting their long-term financial stability.”

The program now offers free tuition and fees for up to four years for:

• All Colorado residents with an expected family income (EFC) of $2,400 or lower, regardless of credit hours or transfer status, or
• Resident, first-time, full-time students with family incomes of less than $60,000 per year

See full eligibility details.