Why This Matters

  • 29 INSTITUTIONS WITH ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN COLORADO

    According to College Navigator, there are 29 two-year associate degree programs in Colorado.

  • $4,911 AVERAGE IN-DISTRICT TUITION DURING THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR

    Data from College Board suggests that the average Colorado student paid a total of $4,911 in tuition and fees for public, in-district community college.

  • 452,493 STUDENTS ATTENDING TWO-YEAR COLLEGES USE FINANCIAL AID

    The National Center for Education Statistics estimates that 80.6% of students enrolled in two-year programs received some sort of financial aid during the 2019-20 school year.

Our Research

This list features some of the best community colleges in Colorado. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included small, midsize, and large colleges as well as trade, technical, and vocational programs. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The colleges on our list are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a reputable organization that examines objectives, quality and overall effectiveness of education programs throughout the United States.

We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

The Top 50 Community Colleges in Colorado

Best Community Colleges In Colorado Badge 2023
01
Intelligent Pick
Aims Community College
01
Best Healthcare Program
Morgan Community College
01
Best Volunteer Opportunities
Arapahoe Community College
01
Best Student-to-Faculty Ratio
Trinidad State College
01
Best Faculty
Front Range Community College
01
Best for Transfer Students
Community College of Aurora
01
Best in Southeastern Colorado
Lamar Community College
01
Best Student Support Services
Northeastern Junior College
01
Best for Veterans
Pikes Peak State College
01
Best Scholarships
Otero Junior College
01

Red Rocks Community College
01

Colorado Northwestern Community College
01

Pickens Technical College
01

Pueblo Community College
01

Community College of Denver

What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in Colorado

As you pursue higher education, you should keep in mind your career and earning potential. According to data from 2021, the occupations with the highest median wages for associate degree holders in Colorado were aerospace engineering and operations technologists, dental hygienists, radiation therapists, nuclear medicine technologists, and diagnostic medical sonographers.

While having an associate degree can expand your career opportunities, those new to the job market might benefit from focusing on careers that tend to have high job availability. The top five occupations with the most annual job openings for associate degree holders in Colorado are paralegals and legal assistants, preschool teachers (excluding special education), veterinary technologists and technicians, computer network support specialists, and dental hygienists.

Job seekers in Colorado should also consider which career fields are projected to decline. The only occupations expected to see a drop in employment over the next decade are desktop publishers and air traffic controllers.

What’s Next?

As you research community colleges in the state of Colorado, it’s important to consider how you plan to fund your education. We’ve put together a list of federal and state resources that connect you to scholarships, grants, and financial aid opportunities in Colorado.

  • Colorado Department of Education. From state-based loans to federal grants, the Colorado Department of Education offers everything residents need to find financial aid resources.
  • Federal Student Aid. The U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid provides over $120 billion in scholarships, grants, and loans every year. Determine your eligibility for FAFSA by visiting the FAFSA4caster and apply by completing the online FAFSA form.
  • CareerOneStop. Sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CareerOneStop is a useful resource that connects students to information about the different scholarships and grants available in their state. After filtering searches by location and degree level, students gain access to information about award amounts, qualification requirements, and application deadlines.