Colorado College

Colorado College is a private liberal arts college located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in the nineteenth century, it offers undergraduate programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The college is widely known for its distinctive Block Plan, under which students take one course at a time in intensive three-and-a-half-week terms. Colorado College emphasizes small class sizes, close faculty interaction, and experiential learning opportunities such as research, field study, and study abroad. Its setting near the Rocky Mountains shapes campus culture and supports strong programs in environmental studies and outdoor education. The college attracts students seeking a rigorous liberal arts education in a residential campus environment.

Colorado College was founded in 1874 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, by General William Jackson Palmer and other civic leaders who sought to establish a liberal arts institution in the Rocky Mountain region. The college opened its doors in 1874 with a small preparatory department and collegiate program, and Edward Payson Tenney served as its first president. In its early decades, Colorado College expanded its curriculum in the humanities and sciences and constructed key campus buildings that defined its academic character. During the twentieth century, the institution grew in enrollment and academic scope while maintaining its liberal arts focus. In 1970, Colorado College adopted the innovative Block Plan, restructuring the academic calendar so students take one course at a time in intensive terms. This distinctive model continues to shape Colorado College’s identity and academic experience today.