Since its launch last year, Opportunity Next has delivered $12.3 million in scholarships, offered education and career coaching to 7,245 enrolled learners, and produced digital career exploration resources — all to help Colorado’s Class of 2024 learners enroll in postsecondary education and explore high-priority career pathways. 

As this one-time scholarship and advising program winds down, we are celebrating the collective wins with the partners who made this work possible: postsecondary scholarship administrators, high school administrators, teachers, counselors, coaches, community partners, and more. 

Established by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade via SB23-205, Opportunity Next shows what is possible when resources are integrated to support learners navigating career-making decisions after high school.

Expanding Access to Postsecondary Education and Training

To date, 8,433 learners from the Class of 2024 have received Opportunity Next scholarships. Learners were able to use this one-time scholarship of up to $1,500 to cover tuition, fees, books, and/or equipment. Fifty-seven designated scholarship administrators across the state, including four-year higher education institutions, technical and community colleges, registered apprenticeship programs, and eligible training providers, disbursed the scholarships.  

For many learners, the Opportunity Next scholarship eased the financial strain of pursuing higher education. Gavan, a student at Colorado State University, described the immediate relief he felt upon receiving the award. With this support, Gavan can prioritize his academic goals without the added pressure of juggling two jobs.

At Pharmakeia Pre-Pharmaceutical School, another learner was the first in their family to graduate from high school. Although this learner was initially concerned about the cost of education, they were thrilled to receive an Opportunity Next scholarship while registering for the Pharmacy Technician program. This funding alleviated the learner’s financial stress, enabling them to focus entirely on training. The learner completed the program with honors and is now preparing for their Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam with plans to work full-time in a pharmacy this summer.

At CyberQubits, students seized opportunities in the Cybersecurity Business Analysis program. One learner discovered a passion for protecting user data and is excelling in their studies while gaining real-world experience through an IT internship. Another learner became interested in cybersecurity after learning about the field's demand, earning potential, and the Opportunity Next scholarship during a visit with a family member. Now, this learner is gaining the skills and certifications necessary to establish a rewarding career in the tech industry.

Opportunity Next scholarships have provided critical support for learners aspiring to create financial stability through careers in commercial truck driving. After facing legal challenges, one leader was connected with the Continuum of Care program at Fortified Academy, which enabled them to obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit and build confidence in safe trucking practices. This student is enrolled in Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) School and a Registered Apprentice Program, steadily progressing toward their dream of owning a trucking business.

Another learner eager to start a transportation career post-incarceration found support through the First Gear Pre-Apprentice Program, which helped them complete CDL School. This learner is now employed as a Heavy Machinery Operator.

Finding Support in Opportunity Next Coaches

Strong developmental relationships—such as those with mentors and caring adults—are crucial in helping young people navigate important decisions. Through Opportunity Next, more than 7,200 Colorado Class of 2024 learners were able to access an education and career coach—a trained professional who helps learners identify and work toward their goals.

Learners connected with coaches via text or phone, with the majority preferring to communicate via text. Coaching sessions lasted an average of 20 minutes, highlighting how even brief engagement can provide critical support. 

After reflecting on their first semester at Colorado State University-Pueblo, a learner made a conscious effort to strengthen their study habits. With their coach, the learner developed a plan for tracking deadlines and exams and limiting distractions while studying. When their coach asked if creating this plan for the semester was helpful, the learner shared, “Up until talking to you about it, I wasn’t really thinking about it…I needed this!”

Many learners may not know how to initiate career conversations or what questions to ask. The Opportunity Next Question Bank was created to help learners make the most of these conversations, suggesting meaningful questions to ask their coach and others in their support system by topic.

Overwhelmingly, academics were the number one topic Opportunity Next learners tackled with their coaches, followed by wellness and motivation. Among the 250+ questions explored through the Question Bank, learners gravitated toward questions related to navigating complexity and setbacks, such as “How do I balance academics and extracurricular activities?” and “How did you handle setbacks or failures in your career?”

These trends suggest that learners turn to coaches and other trusted adults to help them navigate uncertainty, stress, and decision-making with confidence.

Demystifying Financial Aid 

Beyond direct scholarships and coaching, Opportunity Next aimed to demystify the financial aid process for students, their families, and school district staff overall. In 2024, Opportunity Next hosted 29 financial aid webinars, which provided step-by-step guidance on completing the FAFSA and interpreting financial aid offers. In addition, Opportunity Next partnered with the Colorado Department of Higher Education to co-host sessions focused on the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) to support undocumented students. School district staff attended the webinars to enhance their ability to support students in navigating the often complex financial aid process.

Learners Seek Purpose and Jobs

Students explored new possibilities through Opportunity Next’s digital resources. The Career Pathfinder, an online quiz, matched students with potential career pathways based on their interests and skills. The Opportunity Next Question Bank suggested meaningful questions related to careers, finances, academics, and more for learners to ask their support network. The Job Exploration tool showed real-time job postings aligned with the pathways, providing learners with a better understanding of the day-to-day responsibilities and skills required to succeed in various roles.

Among the 10,500 visitors to the Opportunity Next website, learners prioritized tools like the Career Pathfinder and Question Bank, which helped them explore long-term career pathways, over those that focused on immediate job opportunities, such as the Job Exploration tool. 

National research shows that Gen Z is more likely than previous generations to seek meaning, impact, and growth when exploring career options. Learners increasingly ask not only “What job can I get?” but also “What kind of life and career do I want to build?”

Through scholarships, coaching, financial aid support, and digital career exploration resources, Opportunity Next has supported the Colorado Class of 2024 in discovering and working towards their immediate education goals and longer-term career aspirations. 

The Opportunity Next program will sunset on June 30th, 2025. Please visit the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade’s (OEDIT) website for information about other Talent Innovation Programs. 

And be sure to follow OEDIT state partners at the Colorado Department of Higher Education, the Colorado Community College System, Apprenticeship Colorado, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, and the Colorado Workforce Development Council for more learner/earner resources.