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POPULATION (2021): 5.8 million
CAPITAL: Denver
LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN COLORADO: University of Colorado Boulder
LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN COLORADO: Colorado Technical University
Most of the Colorado population is located in or near the major cities of Denver, Boulder, and Colorado, and the state is split into a sprawling desert climate in the east and one of the most mountainous regions in the country in the west, with the most prominent being the Rocky Mountains.
As such, most of the colleges are also located in these metropolitan areas, though some schools break the mold! One thing all college students in Colorado can be sure to experience is a lot of space for adventure and moderate weather throughout the year. The mountains do, indeed, get a lot of snow, but at lower elevations, it tends to melt quickly, and snowstorms are often followed by t-shirt weather a day or two later. Exploration is nearly unlimited in Colorado, no matter where you decide to go to college.
Universities in Colorado – 4-Year Colleges and Online
After a lapse caused by COVID (and certainly not unique to Colorado), college enrollment has increased again, and there are an estimated 295,000 students enrolled in universities, colleges, and community colleges throughout the state. Here is a look at some of them.
Public Universities in Colorado
There are several options for public universities in Colorado, with the two major systems being Colorado State University and the University of Colorado. Colorado State only has two campuses, with the majority of students attending the Fort Collins campus, but the University of Colorado has locations in Boulder (main), Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs.
Even with multiple campuses, these two state schools do only offer classes in the metropolitan areas, but there are several other public universities sprinkled throughout the state, including Adams State in Alamosa, Western Colorado University in Gunnison, and The Colorado School of Mines in Golden.
Additionally, the state’s Community College system is quite robust and offers some 4-year programs as well.
Private Universities in Colorado
There are only two private universities in Colorado with more than 10,000 students (University of Denver, Colorado Technical University) and a full serving of 4-year degrees, but there are quite a few smaller colleges in the state, including some focused universities, such as The Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver.
Community Colleges in Colorado
The Colorado Community College system is very robust, and the 13-school system had a combined student body of more than 71,000 students as of 2020. The majority of students who attend the Colorado Community Colleges (67%) are not full-time students, so if you are looking for a part-time education, Colorado is a great option, and one of their campuses will be close to you, no matter where you’re work or other non-college priorities may take you in the state.
Prominent Online Colleges in Colorado
Colorado State’s “Global Campus” receives annual praise from both students and educators for its online offerings. Many Colorado State students enjoy a hybrid schedule, as well, which can lead to a lot of opportunities for long weekends in the mountains or the deserts, as long as students have a wifi signal.
Denver’s Regis University and the neighboring University of Denver are ranked as the top two private university online programs, and just like CO State, they also have some hybrid programs, with more being offered each year.
The University of Colorado and Colorado Mesa University are good schools to check out if you’re interested in online education.
Universities in Aurora, CO
Aurora is a suburb of Denver and shares the same climate and general scope of “things to do,” if you don’t mind catching some public transportation. It’s also a bit cheaper, which makes it a residency destination for students attending school anywhere in the Denver metropolitan area. As far as universities and colleges located within the Aurora city limits:
- American Sentinel University
- Colorado State University – Global Campus Headquarters
- Platt College-Aurora
Universities in Colorado Springs, CO
Referred to as “Springs” by most college-aged folk in the state, Colorado Springs is a growing city about an hour south of Denver and Aurora. The University of Colorado’s Colorado Springs campus is the largest in the city, but Springs is also home to a National American University campus and Colorado College, both with 4-year degree programs.
Though a community college, Pike’s Peak CC also offers some 4-year degrees in Colorado Springs.
Universities in Denver, CO
Denver is the biggest city in Colorado, the capital of Colorado, and also serves as a gateway to the Rockies, and all of the fun and adventure they offer residents of the state of Colorado. It also has a lot of options for college students looking for a nice work-life balance while pursuing a degree, such as
- Aspen University
- Colorado State – Denver
- Denver College of Nursing
- Johnson & Wales University
- Metropolitan State University
- Regis University
- University of Denver
Get to Know Colorado
Colorado is very close to the middle of the country, making it relatively accessible for everyone who wants to attend college there. Both coasts are 3-hour flights away, and the Denver Airport is one of the busiest in the country. For those who don’t need to fly, there is even more fun to be had on the journey to and around The Centennial State.
Skiing and winter sports dominate the tourist economy in the winter (and well into the spring in many high-elevation places), and outdoor activities are even more popular in the summers. Music and art festivals are frequent throughout the state, and even the renowned Red Rocks Amphitheater is an outdoor venue that attracts some of the biggest acts in the world every year.
The cost of living is fairly high in the cities, but so are opportunities for part-time employment while you pursue a degree.
| Institution Name | City | State | Website | Degree Levels Offered | Modality | Profit Status (CNTLAFFI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy of Natural Therapy Inc | Greeley | CO | www.natural-therapy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Adams State University | Alamosa | CO | www.adams.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Aims Community College | Greeley | CO | www.aims.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| American Sentinel University | Aurora | CO | www.americansentinel.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| Arapahoe Community College | Littleton | CO | www.arapahoe.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Aspen University | Denver | CO | www.aspen.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder | Boulder | CO | www.escoffier.edu | Certificates Associates |
Online | No |
| Avalon School of Cosmetology-Aurora | Aurora | CO | avalon.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Aveda Institute-Denver | Denver | CO | www.avedainstitutedenver.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology | Denver | CO | www.bel-rea.com | Associates |
Campus | No |
| Cheeks Beauty Academy | Loveland | CO | cheeksUSA.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| College of International Esthetics Inc | Arvada | CO | www.cieskincarecollege.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| CollegeAmerica-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | CO | www.collegeamerica.edu | Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| CollegeAmerica-Denver | Denver | CO | www.collegeamerica.edu | Associates |
Campus | No |
| CollegeAmerica-Fort Collins | Fort Collins | CO | www.collegeamerica.edu | Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology | Colorado Springs | CO | www.cavt.edu | Associates |
Campus | No |
| Colorado Christian University | Lakewood | CO | WWW.CCU.EDU | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| Colorado College | Colorado Springs | CO | www.coloradocollege.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Colorado Media School | Lakewood | CO | beonair.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction | CO | www.coloradomesa.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Colorado Mountain College | Glenwood Springs | CO | coloradomtn.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Colorado Northwestern Community College | Rangely | CO | www.cncc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Colorado School of Healing Arts | Lakewood | CO | www.csha.net | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden | CO | www.mines.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Colorado School of Trades | Lakewood | CO | schooloftrades.edu | Associates |
Campus | No |
| Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine | Denver | CO | www.cstcm.edu | Masters |
Campus | No |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Fort Collins | CO | colostate.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Colorado State University-Global Campus | Aurora | CO | csuglobal.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |
| Colorado State University-Pueblo | Pueblo | CO | www.csupueblo.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Colorado State University-System Office | Denver | CO | www.csusystem.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
No | |
| Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | CO | www.coloradotech.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| Community College of Aurora | Aurora | CO | www.ccaurora.edu | Certificates Associates |
Hybrid | No |
| Community College of Denver | Denver | CO | www.ccd.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Concorde Career College-Aurora | Aurora | CO | www.concorde.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Denver College of Nursing | Denver | CO | www.denvercollegeofnursing.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Hybrid | No |
| Denver Seminary | Littleton | CO | www.denverseminary.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| DeVry University-Colorado | Westminster | CO | www.devry.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |
| Elevate Salon Institute-Westminster | Westminster | CO | esiwestminster.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | Denver | CO | www.emilygriffith.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Empire Beauty School-Aurora | Aurora | CO | www.empire.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Empire Beauty School-Littleton | Littleton | CO | www.empire.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Empire Beauty School-Thornton | Thornton | CO | www.empire.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango | CO | fortlewis.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Front Range Community College | Westminster | CO | www.frontrange.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| IBMC College | Fort Collins | CO | www.ibmc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Iliff School of Theology | Denver | CO | www.iliff.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture | Louisville | CO | www.itea.edu | Masters |
Campus | No |
| Intellitec College-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | CO | intellitec.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Intellitec College-Grand Junction | Grand Junction | CO | intellitec.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| International Salon and Spa Academy | Colorado Springs | CO | www.csbeautyschools.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Johnson & Wales University-Denver | Denver | CO | www.jwu.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Lamar Community College | Lamar | CO | www.lamarcc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Hybrid | No |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Denver | Denver | CO | www.lincolntech.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado | Denver | CO | www.mtic.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver | CO | www.msudenver.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Montessori Casa International | Denver | CO | www.mcidenver.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Montessori Education Center of the Rockies | Boulder | CO | www.mecr.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Morgan Community College | Fort Morgan | CO | www.morgancc.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Naropa University | Boulder | CO | www.naropa.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| National American University-Centennial | Centennial | CO | www.national.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| National American University-Colorado Springs South | Colorado Springs | CO | www.national.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| National Beauty College | Denver | CO | www.nationalbeautycollege.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| National Personal Training Institute of Colorado | Lakewood | CO | www.personaltraininginstitute.edu | No | ||
| National Personal Training Institute of Colorado | Colorado Springs | CO | www.personaltraininginstitute.edu | No | ||
| Nazarene Bible College | Colorado Springs | CO | www.nbc.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Online | No |
| New Dimensions Beauty Academy Inc | Parker | CO | www.newdimensionsbeauty.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Northeastern Junior College | Sterling | CO | www.njc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Hybrid | No |
| Otero Junior College | La Junta | CO | WWW.OJC.EDU | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | CO | paulmitchell.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Denver | Lakewood | CO | paulmitchell.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Pickens Technical College | Aurora | CO | www.pickenstech.org | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Pikes Peak Community College | Colorado Springs | CO | www.ppcc.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Pima Medical Institute-Aurora | Aurora | CO | pmi.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | CO | pmi.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | Denver | CO | pmi.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Platt College-Aurora | Aurora | CO | www.plattcolorado.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | CO | www.pueblocc.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Hybrid | No |
| Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood | CO | www.rrcc.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Regis University | Denver | CO | www.regis.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | Lakewood | CO | www.rmcad.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |
| Rocky Vista University | Parker | CO | www.rvu.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Rolf Institute of Structural Integration | Boulder | CO | www.rolf.org | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Southwest Acupuncture College-Boulder | Boulder | CO | www.acupuncturecollege.edu | Masters |
Campus | No |
| Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology | Broomfield | CO | www.spartan.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Stacey James Institute | Parker | CO | www.staceyjamesinstitute.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Taft University System | Lakewood | CO | www.taftu.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| Technical College of the Rockies | Delta | CO | www.tcr.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | CO | www.thesalonprofessionalacademycoloradosprings.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Grand Junction | Grand Junction | CO | GrandJunctionBeautySchool.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | CO | coloradosprings.toniguy.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Trinidad State Junior College | Trinidad | CO | www.trinidadstate.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Tuana European Beauty Academy | Fort Collins | CO | www.tuanaacademy.com | Certificates |
No | |
| United Beauty College | Denver | CO | ubc-denver.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy | CO | www.usafa.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder | CO | www.colorado.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | CO | www.uccs.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver | CO | www.ucdenver.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| University of Colorado System Office | Denver | CO | www.cu.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
No | |
| University of Denver | Denver | CO | www.du.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley | CO | www.unco.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| University of Phoenix-Colorado | Lone Tree | CO | www.phoenix.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison | CO | www.western.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |