Colorado Mesa University

Colorado Mesa University is a public university located in Grand Junction, Colorado. Founded in 1925, it serves as a comprehensive regional institution offering certificate, associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degree programs. The university provides a mix of liberal arts, professional, and technical education and operates a two-year division known as CMU Tech, which focuses on career and technical training. Colorado Mesa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and serves students primarily from western Colorado, while also enrolling out-of-state students. Its academic offerings and community-focused mission attract students seeking small class sizes, applied learning opportunities, and access to programs in fields such as business, health sciences, education, and the arts.

Colorado Mesa University was founded in 1925 as Grand Junction Junior College, marking the beginning of public higher education on Colorado’s Western Slope. The institution opened with 39 students and was created to serve a growing regional population that previously had limited access to college education. It was later renamed Mesa College and gradually expanded its academic offerings. In 1974, the college began granting baccalaureate degrees, signaling its transition to a four-year institution. The name changed to Mesa State College in 1988, and in 1996 it introduced its first graduate program. In 2003, Colorado Mesa University was assigned responsibility for serving multiple western Colorado counties. In 2011, the institution was officially renamed Colorado Mesa University, reflecting its broader mission. Today, Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction continues to offer undergraduate, graduate, and technical programs.