When outsiders think of Colorado, they typically think of scenic mountain vistas and alpine meadows. Those things are certainly there, but today's Colorado is a place where manufacturing and technology are central to the life of its many bustling cities. This economic activity brings with it a need for skilled employees, and the state's Department of Higher Education oversees hundreds of schools seeking to fill that need.
Two-Year & Community Colleges
Publicly-funded community colleges are distributed throughout the state, providing local access to vocational and technical programs for most residents. These schools offer a wide range of programs that usually awarding a vocational certificate or diploma, or an associate degree. In many cases, credits can be transferred to degree programs at other institutions. There are a total of 13 colleges in this category, including Littleton's Arapahoe Community College, Community College of Denver and Pike's Peak Community College in Colorado Springs.
Local District Community Colleges
Local district community colleges are administered separately from the state's main community college system. Rather than draw their primary financing from the state, these schools are supported directly by a levy within their own district. Additional funds are received from the state, private donors and tuition and fees. Aims Community College is based in Greeley, with satellite campuses in Loveland and Fort Lupton. Colorado Mountain College is headquartered in Glenwood Springs, with campuses in Aspen, Breckenridge, Buena Vista, Carbondale, Dillon, Edwards, Spring Valley, Leadville, Rifle and Steamboat Springs. Both offer vocational certificates and associate degrees in many disciplines.
Area Technical Colleges/AVS
Colorado's Area Technical Colleges are regional schools with a strong vocational emphasis. Most programs are geared toward vocational certificates and diplomas, and may be completed in one year or less. In some cases, credits can be transferred from the area college to a corresponding program at one of the state community colleges. The three area colleges are Delta-Montrose Technical College in Delta, Pickens Technical College in Aurora and the Emily Griffin Opportunity School in Denver.
Private Accredited Schools
There are a large number of private schools licensed to offer technical and vocational instruction in the state of Colorado. These include large chains, branch campuses of institutions from other states and small single-subject schools. Accredited technical colleges comparable to the state and regional schools include Aurora's Pratt College, which awards associate and bachelor's degrees; Colorado Technical University, which administers a total of six campuses in Colorado and neighboring states; and the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, with offers several specialized programs.
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