Colorado Springs Higher Education: 10 Cool Facts You Might Not Know
In Colorado Springs, we take pride in going above and beyond—and our city’s top-tier colleges and universities are no exception. With academic programs that are annually recognized among the nation’s best, Colorado Springs has been called one of the five most educated cities in the nation. Here are some fun facts that make Colorado Springs’ top colleges and universities stand out:
1. One reason why CC is ranked the No. 2 Most Innovative School in the nation? Rather than typical semesters, CC operates in three-and-a-half week blocks, with students taking one class at a time for maximum focus on the subject at hand. Total it up and you get eight classes per year, each with a break of nearly five days in between. Take a look at the school’s academic performance and you’ll see: this schedule works.
2. To promote the importance of the teacher-student relationship, CC adopted the Breaking Bread program, which reimburses professors when they host students at their homes. Last year, CC teachers hosted nearly 200 events for their students.
United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)
3. Sometimes the national rankings say it all: Air Force Academy is currently ranked as the No. 3 best public college, No. 1 aerospace engineering program and No. 4 electrical engineering program.
4. The cybersecurity industry is becoming more important than ever in today’s digital age, and the USAFA’s new computer security degree program saw its first graduates last spring. The program is growing, with almost 20 additional computer security majors graduating last month.
Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC)
5. Flexibility is the name of the game at PPCC: classes are offered online and at three locations, as well as at Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base for military and veteran students.
6. When it comes to choosing a school, affordability is key, and PPCC doesn’t break the bank for its students: a year’s tuition at PPCC averages $3,400.
University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS)
7. UCCS is fresh off of $200 million in facilities development in recent years, and is far from slowing down. Evidence of a deep commitment to their students, UCCS administration says $270 million more will be used for facilities by 2020.
8. UCCS is also a boon to the Colorado economy. With 1,547 employees, the university is one of the largest employers in the southern half of Colorado, and 65 percent of graduates stay in the state after graduation.
Colorado Technical University (CTU)
9. CTU, one of Colorado Springs’ four NSA-certified universities, is home to one of the top cybersecurity programs in the nation.
10. Colorado Springs sees immeasurable benefits from its military community, and CTU is a leader in continuing education for veterans. CTU’s online programs also earned rankings in U.S. News and World Report for top bachelor’s degree and top graduate criminal justice degree categories.