<p>While I agree with @intparent that you should definitely retake if you are interested in/are applying to UCCS, an increase of 6 points on the ACT is no small feat. I wouldn’t expect a result like that, especially considering that, to be frank, your ACT is in line with your GPA. I think that going to a CC for a year or two, getting good grades, proving you are college material, and then transferring may be your best option. </p>
<p>To answer your question directly though, yes, they are probably more interested in your application fee than you. Colleges try to convince students to apply by offering “special status” on their application all the time. </p>