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Colorado College Today
Cutler Hall
A private, four-year liberal arts college, Colorado College is located on a 90-acre campus in downtown Colorado Springs near the base of the 14,110-foot Pikes Peak and about an hour from Denver. Colorado College is the only top-tier liberal arts college in the Rocky Mountain region. Best known for our innovative Block Plan, where students take and professors teach only one course at a time, CC offers a new perspective on core classes and standard curriculum. We create small and supportive learning communities with every block and give students the time to 
Students outside participate fully, without distractions. Our students are the best proof that CC is exceptional. They come from every state in the nation and more than 25 countries. They come from a wide range of ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and they have interests as diverse as their backgrounds. Our students are poets, inventors, musicians, performers, and politicians. Our students are independent-minded adventurers who love a challenge. At Colorado College, they find the encouragement and inspiration they need to reach their greatest potential.
History of CC
In 1874, two years before Colorado became a state, General William Jackson Palmer, founder of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, laid out the city of Colorado Springs along his new rail-line from Denver. Envisioning a model city, and determined that it would be one of intelligence and sophistication, General Palmer contributed funding and set aside a plot of land destined to become Colorado College. He staffed the college with a small faculty of traditionally trained liberal arts scholars from New England and dedicated the resources necessary not only to build the campus but also to attract top minds. Today, we maintain this tradition of attracting internationally acclaimed faculty, just as we preserve General Palmer's visionary tradition of breaking new ground.
About Colorado Springs
Garden of the Gods Situated at the base of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs has all the features of a modern urban area, including parks, bike trails, open-area spaces, restaurants, and theatres.
Population: about 596,000 in the city and the metro area.
In 2006, Colorado Springs was named the best place to live in America by Money magazine in the big city category (cities with 300,000+ population).
VIDEO - Colorado Springs: City of the Future (courtesy of the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation)
The Block Plan
Advantages of our distinctive academic program:
- Students only take one class at a time; professors only teach one class at a time.
- Eight three-and-a-half week blocks per year.
- Three hours of flexible class time five days a week. No bells ring to start and end class.
- Class sizes are capped at 25 students. Average class size is 13.
- Four days of vacation in between each block (called a block break).
"While block scheduling offers a variety of
benefits for all teachers and students, there are
some advantages that are especially promising
for foreign languages. For example, block
scheduling allows for more concentration in
foreign language. The longer class periods offer
exciting opportunities for both learners and
teachers . and in block scheduling, students
have more opportunities to work with teachers
and with one another."
- ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics, Washington, D.C.
More About Colorado College
CyberTiger is an e-newsletter from the CC Alumni and Parent Relations office
84% of students engage in community service while at CC. Students can volunteer at the oldest soup kitchen on a liberal arts college campus or volunteer during the four-day block breaks on BreakOut trips.
The academic honor system is an essential part of the Colorado College program. Under the honor system, students pledge honesty in all academic situations. The honor system is based on trust and maturity and reflects the academic values of the Colorado College community.
We strongly encourage every prospective student (and parents) to visit our campus. More information is available regarding how to arrange a visit, what to expect, our seasonal schedule and where to stay.