After Colorado Colleges Visit - Culture Question

We are in California and our D wants to attend college in the Pacific NW or Colorado. She is looking at public universities between 5,000-15,000, a few smaller LAC or Jesuit schools such as Lewis & Clark, Gonzaga, Western Washington U, University of Northern Colorado, Univ of Colorado-Colorado Springs, University of Denver, and Regis Univ.

While we are not a Catholic or Christian family, the service and global community aspects of the Jesuit colleges are appealing. My D has grown up in the Bay Area and has progressive values and liberal politics (if one were to slap labels on such things). My D really enjoyed her recent Colorado visit to UC-Colorado Springs and Regis U.

Back in California we were surprised to be told that Regis is a conservative school (“right wing” was the phrase). My daughter’s GC was surprised Regis was even on the list. Not much better reaction to Colorado Springs.

Both schools are affordable and interested in D. She in turn connected with each school and the admissions counselors. (Choices such as Univ if Denver or Colorado College are probably out of reach financially, we would end up full pay.)

We looked up conservative colleges in Colorado and to our surprise both Regis and UC-CS were in the top 10.

Can anyone offer insight into the culture or student diversity at Regis U? UC-CS? Did we totally miss something essential here? We are finalizing our list and truly surprised,

I live in Colorado Springs. I’m very conservative, but not everyone here is. I think the student population at UCCS is great, because it’s diverse politically. In my opinion, its student population mirrors our country’s…some of each. At the school, there’s opportunity to express your opinion and participate in politics on any end of the spectrum. I think Denver area is more Libertarian or Independent with more of a skew to being more liberal than conservative. CO Springs is the most conservative area of the state. It’s too bad she wants a small school, because CU Boulder seems like it would be a good fit for her otherwise.