Our Mission: To Create a Better Future

A unique college in a spectacular setting prepares students to excel in careers around the world.

The spirit of Colorado Mountain College is reflected in the surrounding mountains. Eleven learning locations and our Virtual Campus provide liberal arts and science degrees, career and technical training, basic and lifelong learning, and custom business training across 12,000 square miles of western Colorado. CMC prepares Colorado’s workforce through apprenticeships, internships and experiential learning in beautiful mountain settings. CMC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Uniquely Colorado Mountain College

  • Fifth-largest rural community college in the U.S. (20,000 enrollment)
  • Highest college campus in the US (Timberline Campus, elevation 10,152 ft.)
  • A recent Student Engagement Survey rated CMC faculty and staff highest in Colorado for helpfulness, availability and flexibility.
  • Second-largest English as a second language program in Colorado
    (4,002 enrolled 2005-06)
  • Largest interactive videoconferencing system in Colorado (coverage area)
  • Community participation rate of 14%, nearly five times the state benchmark of 2.7%
  • 8% of 2005-06 credit enrollments were via distance learning
  • One of two Ski Area Operations degree programs in the US
  • First Ski and Snowboard Business retailing program in the US
  • First and largest community college Outdoor Recreation Leadership (ORL) program in the US
  • Number of states from which full-time CMC students originate: 46
  • Number of countries from which CMC students originate: 24


Size and Coverage

  • Founded: 1967
  • College type: public associate degree-granting institution
  • District and service area: 12,000 square miles
  • Number of all students attending annually: approx. 20,000
  • Collegewide student/teacher ratio: 12:1
  • 2006-2007 annual operating budget: $45.8 million
  • Number of sites: 11
  • Counties served: 9 (Eagle, Grand, Jackson, Lake, Garfield, Pitkin, Summit, Chaffee, Routt)
  • Full-time college faculty and staff: 354
  • Part-time adjunct faculty: 509
  • Average full-time employee tenure: 7.5 years
  • Business sales in the CMC district and service area are $1.6 billion larger, and labor income is $253.7 million larger, due to the past and present operations of CMC.
  • Coverage area includes 16 of the top 25 ski areas in Colorado.


Enrollment, Program and Graduation Statistics

  • In 2005-06 the Workplace Training and Development Office trained over 700 employees in supervisory skills, workplace Spanish, safety, computers and more.
  • Top degree programs by enrollment: Associate in Arts and Associate in Science for transfer
  • 2,755 full-time students in 2005-06
  • Average part-time student: 36-year-old female taking physical activities, humanities, art or social science classes
  • Average full-time student: 22-year-old male taking general education classes for transfer, or classes in business, ski business, ski area operations, resort management or outdoor education
  • Financial aid awarded each year to CMC students: over $5 million
  • 38% of full-time students are from out-of-state
  • CMC graduates include: Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Pat Davison, NASA researcher and professor Dr. Aileen O’Donoghue, and E-commerce pioneer Michael O'Hara, Colorado Veterinary Technician of the Year Leslie Rockey, US Dept. of Interior Conservationist of the Year Sherri Griffith, and Nurses with Purpose Founder and National Community College Alumna of the Year Patricia Guenther.

Download file. Download the CMC Fact Sheet (pdf)
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