Colorado Universities Schools - need advice asap

College Search & Selection
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Hello Wise Ones! We are a CA family that is rather unexpectedly planning a trip to Colorado on Thursday. Our daughter is very excited about visiting Colorado College. We would like to visit one more university in the area that would be a good fit for her, but are struggling with which to choose.

Statistics: 4.6GPA, IB Candidate, planned major something that combines art and science (biology). Plastic surgeon? Biomedical? Industrial Design? Hasn’t shown any interest in engineering to date, but a lot will likely decide on her college coursework and what “lights her fire”. Christian - conservative - vegan. Would be living on campus, and I would like her to attend a school where staying on campus after Freshman year is at least a strong alternative. I only see that (so far) at Colorado College. Isn’t especially into the big team atmosphere or sororities, but who knows. She thrives on connection with teachers and classrooms wehre there is lots of discussion. I think she would be unhappy with a lot of big classes, especially if there are TAs teaching. (Not sure where to find statistics on how many classes are taught by professors as opposed to TAs)

I am thinking of Colorado State for it’s honors program, but I am not sure if honors at any of the CO schools would be compatible with a double major or science major.

I have had several people suggest University of Colorado Boulder - likely because she has a hipster kind a vibe and they think she would like Boulder. On paper so far, it looks like an excellent choice.

The “vibe” of Jesuit schools appeals to her - she is deeply involved in her youth group, but secure in her faith so doesn’t especially need a school with a Christian influence (although it would be a plus).

She does not want a rural school, as she wants plenty of access to internships. It doesn’t appear that any of the schools I viewed are rural - just saying. In a perfect world, she would be a half hour away from a large city, but not IN a big city.

Our EFC will preclude anything except merit aide. Done this rodeo before and our income has risen, so we focus on merit aid. She can attend without it, but would need to take out loans for advanced degrees, which may well be in her future.

I really know almost nothing about our choices in CO, and would love help!

Thank you SO MUCH!! I am guessing posters will reecommend Boulder, but I am waiting to see if I am right!

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I was just visiting CU Boulder with my son. Sounds like a perfect fit.

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Boulder is beautiful, Fort Collins too, and we are fans of Colorado College. What about the University of Denver? That might work too, and I’d think merit aid would be available. Don’t know enough about it to say that for sure though. Good luck!

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From a resident of CO but by no means an expert -

How much time do you have for the trip? The drive from (presumably) DIA to the Springs and then up to Ft. Collins or even Boulder, will be long - my estimate is 1.5-2 hours to CO Springs, 2 hours back to Denver, an hour to Boulder, and 2-3 hours to Ft. Collins, not including the hideous Denver traffic. Something to consider when making plans.

That said - Boulder is really, really liberal, both the town and the school (other parts of the state call it the People’s Republic of Boulder). Of course, it’s huge, so there are definitely conservative students there, but the atmosphere on campus and the surrounds will be very different, politically, if that’s going to bother her. It’s also extremely expensive OOS and stingy with OOS FA. There’s a lot to love, but I’d be careful with it.

CSU is smaller than CU, less prestigious, and with more of an agriculture focus. It does have some fantastic biology & disease research labs (I have no idea how accessible that would be to an undergrad, though). Ft. Collins is also a really fun town. I know nothing about its OOS costs.

DU is also expensive, but gives pretty good merit aid. It’s a quarter system school which will be closer to the block schedule which presumably interests her at CC.

Edited to add - it’s my understanding that few people stay on campus at CU after sophomore year. Everyone I personally know (although they were all in-state) moved after freshman year, and Boulder housing is not cheap.

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Check Presidential and Chancellor scholarships for OOS kids at CU Boulder and see if it is enough. Decide if you want to pay OOS prices for a public school. What about their honors program? D admitted to Leeds honors at CU Boulder, but even though I loooove Boulder as did my D, it is not the right college choice for her. But it sure is gorgeous there. Good luck, it’s a great trip, check out all the turtles in the pond on campus if you go!

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I’d agree that if you’re looking for a selective LAC or small university in Colorado, the most similar alternative is the University of Denver. If it’s the setting and “vibe” that most appeals to you about CC, then UC Boulder also is worth a close look (although it’s a much larger school.)

If you do want a LAC, with or without the block plan, then the closest alternatives to Colorado College (geographically & otherwise) are hundreds of miles away (in Minnesota, Iowa, maybe Tennessee, etc.) For someplace a little more conservative and with a stronger religious influence (without being a Christian College), then you might want to consider St. Olaf College in Northfield Minnesota (which isn’t too far from internship opportunities in the Twin Cities). Rhodes (in Memphis) or Davidson (in NC) also might be worth a look.

One of my kids graduated from Colorado College; it’s one of my favorite LACs. However, as you can see from the Kiplinger rankings, many other LACs (including St. Olaf, Rhodes, and Davidson) tend to award more merit money than CC does.
http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts

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I would definately check out Colorado Christian University while in town. Try to catch one of their hip christian rock services.

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^Sorry too late to correct my spelling.
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A friend of my kid got full tuition at UCCS. Colorado Springs is more conservative than Boulder.

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Is CA part of WUE? If so CSU is a WUE school. The D of a friend of ours (not from CO), got good merit aid from CSU + WUE. She’s in biological science of some sort. CSU’s biological departments are one of the stronger of the XYZ State Universities.

Re Colorado College. I don’t think they give any (much) merit aid except for some very competitive full scholarships. They have a reputation for being ‘need’ aware, though sounds like that doesn’t apply to you. There are many equally strong LACs that do give merit aid. Here’s a table I did which shows % students with merit aid at LACs along with some numbers re strength/size of science departments. The thread has various other STEM metrics for LACs also.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19801988/#Comment_19801988

Colorado College’s student body is unusually high income, btw
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/college-mobility/colorado-college
median family income $277,500
54% of students from from the top 5% income bracket.

This is unusually high for a LAC and up there with famously rich Middlebury ($244,300/53%). In contrast, many other tippy top LACs are lower: Williams ($185,800/42%), Amherst ($158,200/41%), Bowdoin ($195,900/46%)

Here are some other LAC #s also outside of the NE: Carleton ($172,400/41%), St Olaf ($140,400/31%), Macalester ($125,600/26%), Oberlin ($178,000/37%), Grinnell ($119,700/24%); The last 4 give merit aid.

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Wow…the depth of your data is incredible!!! Thank you!!!

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^^ On the other hand, for students who do get need-based aid at Colorado College, the average amount is rather generous.

$49,134 Amherst
$46,007 Williams
$41,778 Middlebury
$41,582 Bowdoin
$40,539 Colorado College
$39,933 Bates
$38,612 Grinnell
$36,482 Carleton
$35,887 Macalester
$34,557 Oberlin
$30,182 St. Olaf
Source: Kiplinger’s

Your Mileage May Vary. Run the online net price calculators to build your own estimates for each school.

(Although, they may or may not show merit scholarships.)