Colleges in Colorado

As of 2012, Colorado had 28 public institutes of higher learning, 13 public 4-year schools and 15 public 2-year schools. In addition there are numerous private learning institutions within the state, rounding out the total number of secondary education institutions to around 150. Adding in technical colleges and private training institutions, the total number of higher education schools in Colorado number over 470.

Colorado was recently named the second highest state in the United States for higher education degree attainment based upon US Census data.

Colorado Commission on Higher Education

Colorado Commission on Higher Education serves as the state’s entity that oversees colleges in Colorado. Some of the Commission’s purposes include developing standards for admission, developing and administering student financial aid programs, investigating construction requests at state schools and many other management functions for higher education within the state. It is also responsible for presenting funding requests to the state legislature.

Notable Public Institutions

One of the more notable public schools is the Colorado State University System with campuses at Fort Collins and Pueblo. Colorado State University offers 150 different programs of study, in areas such as agricultural science, business, veterinary medicine and biomedical engineering. Colorado State University’s veterinary medicine program was recently rank second in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.

The largest of the public university systems, the University of Colorado, maintains four campuses, including campuses at Boulder and Denver. The University of Colorado offers more than 150 areas of study, including such studies as aerospace engineering, astrophysics and numerous language specialties.

Private Schools

There are also numerous private institutions in Colorado. There are schools of religious education such as Colorado Christian University and Nazarene Bible College. Johnson & Wales University is a prestigious culinary institution, training students to become chefs, run culinary businesses or work in the area of hospitality. Another notable private institution is DeVry University, which offers a wide variety of degrees. The University of Denver is well-known for its emphasis on business training. Colorado Mountain College recently received distinction for being ranked among the nation’s top 20 community colleges based upon its graduation rates.

One of the more unusual Colorado schools, the Colorado School of Mines, is well known for its campus wide focus on Earth's resources, including minerals, materials and energy. Specializing in the geosciences, this school is also known for obtaining some of the country’s highest starting salaries for its graduates.

Soaring Above the Clouds: The Air Force Academy

Outside Colorado Springs, elite military students receive their undergraduate degrees while training as top-notch pilots and support personnel at the prestigious U.S. Air Force Academy.

Occupational Colleges

Colorado also has a wide variety of occupational colleges available. Some of the occupational training available at colleges across the state includes bartending, massage therapy, automobile mechanics, casino dealing and gunsmithing.

Colorado: Incomparable Beauty, Incredible Adventure

Colorado is renowned for its breathtaking Rocky Mountains and its cities set amidst stunning deep canyons and snow-covered mountains. With so many rivers, mountains and national wilderness areas, Colorado serves as a great backdrop for a student seeking advanced education in a state that can be considered a veritable recreational mecca. Boasting many national forests and vast national wilderness areas, there is never a lack of activity available for outdoor enthusiasts. From hiking to whitewater rafting, skiing to mountain climbing, there are numerous activities to challenge college students seeking a way to relax on the weekends or over the holidays.

The unique nature of the surroundings also cannot be denied. Colorado’s glorious mountain ranges provide the perfect backdrop for some of the most beautiful campuses in the United States. The University of Colorado at Boulder has been named as the fourth most beautiful college campus in the United States. The overwhelmingly breathtaking settings of Colorado colleges cannot be denied.

With enticing wilderness adventures available within a short drive of most major cities, outdoor adventure guides, photographers and other artists have a veritable wealth of opportunities at every turn to hone their newly-acquired skills. The stunning beauty of the Colorado landscape has long served as the muse for those pursuing artistic endeavors.

Colorado Career Opportunities

For the post-graduate, the opportunities available for employment are vast and unparalleled. Recent trends show growth across many industries, increasing employment opportunities for graduates of Colorado’s higher learning institutions.

Major Industries

Some of the major industries located in Colorado are those related to mining, tourism and agriculture. Some industries on the cutting edge of the industry include aerospace science, bioscience and exploration of renewable energy resources. Graduates who have received their degrees in these fields increase their chances of obtaining desirable employment within the state.

Federal Employment Opportunities

Numerous federal agencies maintain facilities in Colorado, including but not limited to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command), NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Other federal agencies maintaining a major presence in the state include the Department of Defense, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Major Employers

Other major industry employers located within Colorado include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Roche and numerous medical providers. Colorado sustains a large number of companies, particularly in the Denver area, which employ persons skilled in scientific fields as well as highly technical fields.

With its wealth of natural beauty and resources as well as the abundance of educational opportunities available for college students, Colorado is one of the most desirable locations in the United States for pursuing post high school education.