Why This Matters
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30 INSTITUTIONS WITH ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN COLORADO
According to College Navigator, there are 30 two-years institutions in Colorado that offer associate degree programs.
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$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.
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80.6% OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID
The National Center for Education Statistics estimates that 370,718 students attending two-year institutions during the 2020-21 school year received some type of financial aid.
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.
Online College Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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 the most recent data, 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.