“Public research university in the heart of Colorado with six colleges and 142+ degree programs.”
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system, sitting on 550 acres on Austin Bluffs — one of the highest perches in the city — with panoramic views of Pikes Peak. Though CU courses have been offered in Colorado Springs since the 1920s, UCCS was formally established in 1965 on the grounds of the former Cragmor Sanatorium and became a full, comprehensive university in its own right in 1974. Today it serves roughly 11,300 students drawn from all 50 states and more than 80 countries, making it the second-largest campus in the CU system. UCCS has carved out a distinctive identity around the industries that dominate the Colorado Springs economy: cybersecurity, aerospace and defense, and healthcare. The College of Engineering and Applied Science runs nationally recognized programs in cybersecurity (NSA/DHS CAE designation), aerospace engineering, and game-design; the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences feeds the region's major hospital systems; and the College of Business is AACSB-accredited with direct pipelines into Air Force Academy-adjacent contractors. The campus is also unusual for a mid-sized regional university in offering a PhD in Security Studies and a Bachelor of Innovation degree that pairs a traditional major with interdisciplinary innovation teams. Student life is shaped by the outdoors: UCCS sits at the foot of the Rockies with quick access to skiing at Monarch, hiking in Garden of the Gods, and a campus cross-country trail network. The Mountain Lions compete in NCAA Division II athletics, and a recent brand refresh toward 'CU Colorado Springs' signals the university's growing ambitions within the CU system. International students benefit from English-language pathway partnerships, TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo flexibility, and a rolling admissions timeline that fits late applicants well.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Military Friendly School
Military Friendly
Research classification
Carnegie Classification
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceFall Priority
Preferred-action date for best scholarship consideration.
Fall Rolling
Final application deadline for fall; rolling review throughout the cycle.
Spring Rolling
Final application deadline for spring intake.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$10,149
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$24,336
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
4 years
Unique interdisciplinary degree that pairs a traditional major with innovation teams working with real industry partners; invented at UCCS.
4 years
NSA/DHS CAE-designated program with hands-on labs in the new William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center adjacent space and ties to regional cyber employers.
4 years
Offered through the Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences; strong first-time NCLEX pass rates and direct placement with UCHealth and Centura.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $24,336
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
