Colorado Mountain College

Colorado Mountain College is a dual-mission public higher education institution serving mountain communities across Colorado. Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Glenwood Springs, it was the first institution in the state to be officially designated as dual mission, offering certificate, associate and bachelor's degree programmes under one roof. Its programmes are designed to prepare graduates for in-demand jobs, with a stated commitment to affordable education so that students graduate with less debt.

The college serves roughly 14,000 students a year, nearly 90% of them from Colorado and more than 40% Latino; it is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. Teaching is delivered at a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1, and the college reports higher graduation and transfer rates than peer institutions. Its work spans higher education, workforce development and career and technical education.

The institution operates 11 locations across a district of 7,500 square miles covering eight counties, 15 wilderness areas, 24 fourteen-thousand-foot peaks and 18 ski resorts. Three campuses are residential - Leadville, Spring Valley at Glenwood Springs and Steamboat Springs - while eight are commuter campuses: Aspen, Breckenridge, Dillon, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Salida and Vail Valley at Edwards.

Colorado Mountain College describes its culture as mission-driven, with a focus on welcoming all learners, strengthening mountain communities and providing hands-on education that leads to employment.