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.

  • $4,823 AVERAGE IN-DISTRICT TUITION DURING THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR

    Data from College Board suggests that the average Colorado student paid a total of $4,823 in tuition and fees for public, in-district community college.

  • 437,899 STUDENTS ATTENDING TWO-YEAR COLLEGES USE FINANCIAL AID

    The National Center for Education Statistics estimates that 76.9% of students enrolled in two-year programs received some sort of financial aid during the 2018-19 school year.

Our Research

To create a comprehensive list of the learning opportunities and job training available in Colorado, we reviewed private and public community colleges as well as trade, technical, and vocational programs. To make our selections, we considered their respective tuition fees, credit requirements, and coursework delivery formats (such as online or in-person).

We verified the integrity and quality of every featured program by limiting our selections to accredited institutions. Most of the schools listed are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which holds education programs in the central United States to a high standard. HLC evaluates the quality of schools by assessing five factors: mission, ethics, teaching value, level of improvement, and effectiveness.

  • 22hours to write this article
  • 34universities and colleges we assessed
  • 56education programs we compared

The Top 50 Community Colleges in Colorado

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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 2020, the occupations with the highest median wages for associate degree holders in Colorado were air traffic controllers, aerospace engineering and operations technologists, radiation therapists, dental hygienists, and nuclear medicine technologists.

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 preschool teachers (excluding special education), paralegals and legal assistants, veterinary technologists and technicians, dental hygienists, and computer network support specialists.

Job seekers in Colorado should also consider which career fields are projected to decline. The only occupation expected to see a large drop in employment over the next decade is respiratory therapy technician.

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.