Barnes Scholarships

Otis vs. Margaret Barnes Scholarships

Otis A. Barnes Scholarship

Each year, Colorado College typically awards two full-tuition Otis A. Barnes Scholarships in Chemistry and Biochemistry. The scholarship continues for four years as long as students maintain satisfactory progress toward a Chemistry or Biochemistry major at Colorado College. The scholarship covers tuition but does not cover the cost of housing, the meal plan, or the student activity fee. However, students who qualify for need-based aid may receive financial aid to cover these additional costs, depending on calculated need.

Margaret T. Barnes Scholarship

Usually, one full-tuition Margaret T. Barnes Scholarship in Natural Sciences (including Molecular Biology, Organismal Biology & Ecology, Environmental Science, Geology, Physics, Psychology, Neuroscience) and Mathematics (including Computer Science) is awarded each year. The scholarship continues for four years as long as students maintain satisfactory progress toward their major in the Natural Sciences or Mathematics. The scholarship covers tuition but does not cover the cost of housing, the meal plan, or the student activity fee. However, students who qualify for need-based aid may receive financial aid to cover these additional costs, depending on calculated need.

How to Apply

1. Submit the Barnes Interest Form. In it, you will include the name and contact information of an instructor who can submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. Your recommender should be closely related to your anticipated math or science major, and their letter should specifically address your potential for this award. Please complete the form well in advance of the Barnes application deadline to give your recommender plenty of time to submit their letter. Your instructor will receive an email with directions once you submit this form. Please check the spelling of your instructor’s email address carefully before submitting.

2.  If you haven’t already, submit your full application for admission through the Common Application, QuestBridge Application, or Apply Coalition with Scoir. Our ED1/EA deadline is Sunday, Nov. 1, and our ED2/RA deadline is Friday, Jan. 15, 2027. If you’re applying during our ED2/RA round and are interested in the Barnes scholarship, we highly recommend submitting your ED2/RA application before the Barnes deadline of Jan. 3, 2027. We use information from your entire CC application (transcripts, activities, etc.) to evaluate your scholarship application.

3. Once you’ve completed steps one and two, watch your applicant portal for the application link—it goes live Friday, Dec. 11, and we’ll also send an email reminder when it opens. Submit it by the scholarship deadline on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027. To be complete, your application must include the following:

• A 600- to 800-word essay that describes your background in science or math and your reasons for choosing your intended major
• A letter of recommendation from an instructor closely related to your anticipated science or math major when you enroll in college, specifically addressing your potential for this award

The Barnes application will be open from Dec. 11, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027.

Barnes Scholarship winners will be notified in mid-March 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions