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Last Updated: September 12, 2021

Colorado - The Centennial State

Colorado, despite being one of the larger states of the USA, has quite an average population of around 6 million in 2021. The state is named after the river Colorado and plays a significantly huge role in the shaping of the state. Colorado received its statehood in the year 1876, which was a hundred years after America’s “Declaration of Independence”. This is why the state got its popular moniker, ‘The Centennial State’. Colorado has a spontaneous landscape that comprises mountains, forests, and rivers. The state is famous for its extreme weather conditions with thunderstorms, lightning, and tornadoes. Several severe devastations are part of the life of Coloradans. Denver as the capital of the state has been instrumental in building the industrial establishment of Colorado that makes this state third among all states of the USA in prosperity.

Major Cities in Colorado

Denver

Denver is the largest city in Colorado with a population of about 700,000. It was founded in the year 1858 and was named after the governor, James Denver. It is popularly known by the nickname 'Mile-High City' as it is a mile above sea level. Denver is the state's capital city, commercially and industrially flourished, with a thriving economy. The University of Denver is situated in this city. It is widely known for some of the best restaurants, and popular tourist destinations such as Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Art Museum, Colorado State Capitol, Civic Center Park, Denver Zoo, and more.

Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is the second-biggest city with a population of around 500,000. It was founded in 1871 by General William Palmer. The city is known for its unique beauty, and is often called 'The Springs'. It is also called 'Little London' by a few because of how quintessentially 'British' the residents of the city used to be. The city is famous for several sporting agencies related to the Olympics, and is also nicknamed 'Olympic City USA'. Popular sightseeing spots include Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Cave of the Winds Mountain Park, The Broadmoor Seven Falls, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, etc.

Aurora

Founded in 1891 as Fletcher City, it was later renamed Aurora in 1907. This is the third-largest city in Colorado, with a population of around 390,000. It got the popular nickname 'Gateway to the Rockies' because of its proximity to the famous Rocky Mountains. Aurora is a beautiful and vibrant city that attracts a lot of tourists and is also a cultural hub. Major tourist destinations in this city are Cherry Creek State Park, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National, Aurora Reservoir, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Cherry Creek Trail, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, and so on.

Fort Collins

Fort Collins is the state's fourth-largest city situated in Larimer County. It was founded in the year 1864 and was named after Lt. Col. William O. Collins. The city is famous among tourists for its 'Colorado Brewer's Festival'. Fort Collins also used to be a major agricultural hub that contributed to the majority of the state's economy. The city has got many nicknames such as 'The Lilac City', 'Horn of Plenty', and 'Choice City'. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Lory State Park, Horsetooth Reservoir, Gardens on Spring Creek, Devil's Backbone Open Space, Boyd Lake State Park, etc., are some of the fascinating places to visit in this city.

Economy/Job Market

Tuition Fee and Living Cost in Colorado

The cost of living in the 'Centennial State' is higher than the national average. Health services and utilities are comparatively cheaper, whereas housing costs, groceries, and transportation are more expensive. Therefore, an out-of-state student moving to this state needs to be financially prepared to spend an ample sum for basic living. The average household income is around $73,000.

With regards to overall educational costs, the state of Colorado is slightly cheaper than other states like Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York. It is quite affordable for in-state students attending public colleges or universities. The educational costs are mostly higher for out-of-state students in a public institution. However, private institutions charge an equal amount for all students regardless of their residential status.

List of Few Major Universities/Colleges

The state has several good educational institutes and some of them are even famous internationally. Certain courses are considered path-breaking in their approach and methods of teaching. The top colleges/universities in the state of Colorado are:

Scholarships/Financial Aid for Students

Colorado is an excellent place to live in, as well as to make a living. But considering the cost of living, it can be unnerving for students who plan to leave their home state and pursue an educational career in Colorado. This is when scholarships and grants tend to be a boon for students. There are several scholarships and grants available to make education easier for students, based on merit, need, service, program, gender, or ethnicity.

All students need to complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA). CASFA will be helpful in case students apply for state and institutional aid. Non-citizens and out-of-state students may also apply for certain scholarship programs through the completion of CASFA. It is recommended that students contact the Bursar office of their respective institutes for further details or check the websites of the specific scholarship or grant one is looking for.

Tourism

One of the most popular nicknames for the state of Colorado is 'Colorful Colorado'. The reason is evident enough because it is a state that displays the most magnificent colors of nature, nature in all its forms, a state that has both beauty and bounty to offer. Tourism is a major sector that contributes to the economy of the state, with several popular destinations like the Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Pikes Peak in Pike National Forest, Garden of the Gods Park Visitor & Nature Center, San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway and the Million Dollar Highway, and so much more. The best time to visit the state is from June to August or even September. Popular foods one must try on visiting Colorado include the famous Rocky Mountain Oysters, Colorado Style Pizza or the Mountain Pie, Palisade Peaches, Olathe Sweet Corn, and Colorado Style Green Chili (Chilli Verde).

Universities & Colleges in Colorado

University (city) Total StudentsUG (in) / UG (out)G (in) / G (out)
United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) 4111$N/A / $N/A$N/A / $N/A
University of Colorado Boulder (Boulder) 40353$13590 / $38681$14636 / $35545
Colorado School of Mines (Golden) 6639$20908 / $41817$20908 / $41817
University of Denver (Denver) 14429$55408 / $55408$54363 / $54363
Colorado State University-Fort Collins (Fort Collins) 37356$12545 / $32408$13590 / $30318
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (Denver) 32857$10454 / $27181$9409 / $25090
Western State Colorado University (Gunnison) 4196$11499 / $22999$18818 / $18818
Fort Lewis College (Durango) 3743$9409 / $20908$8363 / $8363
University of Northern Colorado (Greeley) 15950$10454 / $24045$13590 / $22999
Regis University (Denver) 8725$35545 / $35545$11499 / $11499
University of Colorado Colorado Springs (Colorado Springs) 11988$8363 / $18818$10454 / $20908
Colorado State University-Pueblo (Pueblo) 13683$9409 / $22999$8363 / $19863
Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction) 10835$9409 / $22999$10454 / $15681
Metropolitan State University of Denver (Denver) 24781$9409 / $22999$11499 / $15681
Adams State University (Alamosa) 3696$10454 / $21954$8363 / $11499
Denver Seminary (Littleton) 929$N/A / $N/A$17772 / $17772
Colorado Technical University-Greenwood Village (Aurora) 713$12545 / $12545$13590 / $13590
Taft University System (Denver) 900$4181 / $4181$6272 / $6272
Southwest Acupuncture College-Boulder (Boulder) 99$N/A / $N/A$18818 / $18818
Iliff School of Theology (Denver) 340$N/A / $N/A$21954 / $21954
Westwood College-Denver North (Denver) 0$15681 / $15681$N/A / $N/A
Jones International University (Centennial) 0$13590 / $13590$9409 / $9409
Westwood College-Aurora Campus (Aurora) 0$16727 / $16727$N/A / $N/A
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs (Colorado Springs) 46002$13590 / $13590$15681 / $15681
CollegeAmerica-Denver (Denver) 299$19863 / $19863$N/A / $N/A
Naropa University (Boulder) 1081$35545 / $35545$25090 / $25090
Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Denver) 101$N/A / $N/A$16727 / $16727
Aspen University (Denver) 8912$4181 / $4181$5227 / $5227
Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture (Louisville) 41$N/A / $N/A$18818 / $18818
National American University-Colorado Springs (Colorado Springs) 221$14636 / $14636$N/A / $N/A
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (Lakewood) 1779$20908 / $20908$24045 / $24045
Colorado Christian University (Lakewood) 13563$26136 / $26136$15681 / $15681
Platt College-Aurora (Aurora) 216$20908 / $20908$N/A / $N/A
National American University-Denver (Denver) 38$14636 / $14636$N/A / $N/A
Colorado College (Colorado Springs) 2131$51227 / $51227$36590 / $36590
University of the Rockies (Denver) 1425$N/A / $N/A$18818 / $18818
Argosy University-Denver (Denver) 388$14636 / $14636$14636 / $14636
Colorado Heights University (Denver) 130$8363 / $8363$13590 / $13590
Nazarene Bible College (Colorado Springs) 783$12545 / $12545$N/A / $N/A
The Art Institute of Colorado (Denver) 1145$18818 / $18818$N/A / $N/A
Johnson & Wales University-Denver (Denver) 1388$31363 / $31363$13590 / $13590
CollegeAmerica-Fort Collins (Fort Collins) 118$19863 / $19863$N/A / $N/A
Colorado Technical University-Online (Colorado Springs) 22757$12545 / $12545$14636 / $14636

*UG - Undergraduate
*G - Graduate
*in - In-state Fees
*out - Out-of-State Fees
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