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Preparing for College

After completing high school requirements for graduation, there are many avenues of higher education.

Residency Requirements

The State of Colorado partially subsidizes the cost of tuition for all students whose domicile, or permanent legal residence, is in Colorado. Tuition classification determines if students should have in-state or out-of-state tuition. Learn more about how your residency determines your tuition classification.

Selecting an Institution

Before applying to any institution, it is important to understand how your experience and skills match up with that institution. You can peruse approved and registered institutions, whether public, private, or vocational, online. Using tools such as My Colorado Journey, you can compare institutions side-by-side and take virtual tours.

Admission Requirements

Each institution of higher learning has specific admission requirements for acceptance. For public institutions, these requirements are primarily based on your course work, grade point average (GPA) and test scores on exams such as ACT and SAT. Visit our Admission requirements page for more details and you can review the CCHE admission policy online (opens in a new tab).

Finances

Tuition Rates: Tuition rates vary depending on the institution, academic level and program of study. For details on current tuition rates, view the Tuition & Fees Reports in the Budget & Finance Reports section.

Financial Aid: There are many types of financial aid including scholarships, grants, and loans. These programs are offered by the Federal government, the State of Colorado, independent agencies and organizations, as well as institutions of higher education. Get more information on Financial Aid.

College Opportunity Fund: Get more information on the College Opportunity Fund.