Thank you for your interest in First Step by CollegeInvest. Because we receive birth and adoption records monthly from the State of Colorado, the earliest you are eligible to apply is the 15th of the month following the child’s birth or adoption date. For example, if the child was born or adopted in the month of February, please wait until after March 15th to apply online.

If you are active military with residence in Colorado, and the child was born outside of Colorado on or after January 1, 2020, you are still eligible for First Step. Please send an email to firststep@collegeinvest.org requesting assistance in processing your First Step award.

If the child was adopted in Colorado on or after January 1, 2020, please send an email to firststep@collegeinvest.org requesting assistance in processing your First Step award.

The following is a checklist of items you will need to complete your application:

      1. The State File Number located on the birth certificate.
      2. Your CollegeInvest account number. (You must be the account owner with the child listed as the beneficiary.)
          a. Note: If you do not already have a CollegeInvest account, you can open one today at no cost to you. Visit www.collegeinvest.org.

Parents and legal guardians who claim a First Step award will also have a portion of their future contributions matched. The details of the match will be posted each year on our website. Go to www.collegeinvest.org/first-step to learn more about First Step’s savings incentive plan.

IMPORTANT: Starting on January 1, 2025, anyone may claim a First Step award on behalf of a child if they have the State File Number from the birth certificate. Only one award may be claimed per birth/adoption certificate. However, this savings incentive plan is only available to parents and legal guardians of the child.

Congratulations on taking the first step towards achieving your child’s higher education goals!