Summer Pre-College Program
Experience College Before College
Challenge yourself this summer, explore new ideas, and experience life at Colorado College.
Pre-College Block: July 13-29, 2026
Colorado College’s Pre-College Block invites rising juniors and seniors to join our community for a summer of exploration and discovery. In just two and a half weeks, you’ll dive deep into a single, for-credit course in environmental studies, history, economics and business, or creative writing. You'll experience the fast-paced intensity of the Block Plan and outside the classroom, you’ll live on campus, explore the Rocky Mountains, and be supported by world-class faculty who are invested in your success.
Applications open December 2025
Why Choose CC Pre-College?
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Earn College Credit
Get a head start with transferable academic credit while challenging yourself with rigorous, engaging coursework. -
Learn on the Block Plan
Focus on one subject at a time, the same way CC undergraduates do, and discover how transformative deep learning can be. -
Live on Campus
Experience residential life, eat in campus dining halls, and join a community of ambitious, curious students. -
Explore the Rockies
Adventure and inspiration are just outside your door. Past activities include hiking, museum trips, and cultural excursions.
Courses
The Entrepreneurial You: Designing Your Life & Career
Visiting Executive in Residence Lora Louise Broady / .75 units (3 credit hours)
This immersive pre-college course shows you how to apply an entrepreneurial mindset to your biggest venture yet: your life. You'll move beyond simply choosing a major and learn to design your career path from the ground up, just like a startup founder would. Through hands-on exercises and strategic thinking, you'll develop the creativity, resilience, and vision to build a future that is not only successful but uniquely your own.
From Grasslands to Glaciers (EV 100)
Professor Mike Taber / .75 units (3 credit hours)
The very name, Colorado, invokes contrast and ecological, geological, and climatological diversity. The defining landscape patterns that emerge are interwoven and complex. This class is an invitation to experience and explore the rich natural history of the Pike’s Peak Region, from the eastern plains to the alpine meadows. On a large scale, the landscape is dominated by mountains and vast horizons. But to get to know the distinctiveness of Colorado, we must get to know the micro scale. This field-focused class will define climate zones in the Pike’s Peak Region: from grasslands to woodlands to montane to subalpine to alpine. We will journey together from eastern El Paso County to the top of Pikes Peak and the Continental Divide. Along the way, we will learn how to visually map the geology, ecology, and microclimates in which we live.
Fall Small: A History of Roller Derby (HY 200)
Associate Professor Danielle Sanchez / .75 units (3 credit hours)
From the emergence of roller derby in Chicago in the 1930s to the 2025 Roller Derby World Championships held in Innsbruck, Austria, two things have remained unchanged: quad skates and athleticism. This course examines transformations in the history of roller sports with a specific focus on roller derby over the past century. We will discuss the origins of roller derby, analyze the significance of gender and racial integration in the sport in mid-twentieth century, dive into the roller derby craze of the 1970s and 1980s, and explore the rebirth of roller derby in the 2000s. In addition to reading about derby and watching historical and contemporary bouts, we will also conduct oral history work by engaging with the founders and leaders of current borderless roller derby teams, including Black Diaspora Roller Derby, Jewish Roller Derby, and Fuego Latino.
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Costs
The total cost for Colorado College's Pre-College Block is $7,250, which includes tuition, housing, meals, programming, and fees.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
More information will be available on need-based scholarships once the application goes live.
Housing, Meals, and Programming
Living on Campus
During Pre-College, you’ll live in a Colorado College residence hall with other high school students. Each hall is staffed by a Program Assistant (PA) — a CC undergraduate who lives on-site, helps you adjust to campus life, and organizes activities like movie nights, hikes, and barbecues. PAs are also a great resource for tips on thriving in the Block Plan and navigating college life.
Your room comes furnished with a bed, desk, dresser, minifridge, microwave, and safe, so you’ll have everything you need for a comfortable stay.
If you require housing accommodations due to a disability, contact the Office of Accessibility Resources by mid-April at (719) 227-8285 or accessibilityresources@coloradocollege.edu
Dining at CC
Your meal plan covers three meals a day Monday–Friday and brunch and dinner on weekends. Most meals are served in Rastall Dining Hall, an all-you-can-eat, buffet-style dining space offering everything from comfort foods to international dishes, plus vegetarian and vegan options. You’ll also get Tiger Bucks, which can be used for coffee, snacks, or grab-and-go items around campus.
Student Life & Daily Rhythm
The Pre-College experience blends academics with campus life and plenty of time to connect with peers.
Class Schedule: 9 a.m.–12 p.m., with labs, field trips, or homework time in the afternoons.
Afternoons: Science labs, group projects, or CC-led excursions.
Supplemental Programming: Workshops 2–3 times a week (4–5 p.m.) on topics like study skills, leadership, or the Block Plan.
Evenings: Social activities, free time, and community events organized by PAs.
You’ll get a taste of college independence while still having structure and support.
International Students
Colorado College welcomes international students to join our Pre-College Block and experience life at a leading liberal arts college in the U.S. Through for-credit summer courses, you’ll expand your academic horizons, strengthen your English skills, and immerse yourself in an American college community.
Academic Requirements
To meet F-1 visa regulations, all international students must be enrolled in at least 1.00 CC credits during the summer.
- Your main Pre-College Block course = 0.75 credits
- Required companion course: GS103: Communication for Collegiate Success (0.25 credits / 4 semester hours)
Together, these courses equal the 1.00 credits required.
About GS103: This course is designed specifically for international students. It builds confidence in college-level writing, speaking, and classroom participation while complementing your primary academic course. The credit you earn is fully transferable to other U.S. colleges and universities.
Visa Information
Once you're admitted to the program, the International Student & Scholar Services office will guide you through the F-1 visa process.
You’ll need to:
- Hold a valid passport
- Schedule an appointment at your nearest U.S. consulate or embassy to obtain your F-1 visa
English Language Proficiency
To succeed in the Pre-College program, international students must demonstrate English proficiency. Recommended minimum scores are:
- TOEFL iBT: 100+
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE): 68+
- IELTS: 7.0+
If you do not have test results, we will also accept a Certification of English Language Proficiency from your school.