Dr. Miguel Cardona (left), Secretary of Education and Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/index.html
Dr. Miguel Cardona (left), Secretary of Education and Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/index.html
Data shows that students paid $24,517 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $1,056 more than the previous school year.
Among the 10 institutions providing full disclosure in the county, Colorado Christian University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $37,432. Colorado School of Mines followed with an average of $30,855 per year. Red Rocks Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,704.
At the time, at least $29.4 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Jefferson County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $10.1 million.
Currently there are 11 higher education institutions in Jefferson County, including Colorado School of Healing Arts, Taft University System, and Red Rocks Community College.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Of the 11 institutions in Jefferson County, Taft University System did not provide detailed data on tuition fees.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Mitchell the School-Denver | 31 | $158,635 | $5,117 | 41 | $300,649 | $7,333 |
| Colorado School of Healing Arts | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Colorado Christian University | 436 | $10,218,221 | $23,436 | 222 | $1,923,664 | $8,665 |
| Colorado Media School | 46 | $140,427 | $3,053 | 50 | $354,382 | $7,088 |
| Colorado School of Mines | 1,414 | $15,843,044 | $11,204 | 573 | $5,591,852 | $9,759 |
| Colorado School of Trades | 31 | $146,754 | $4,734 | 29 | $285,851 | $9,857 |
| Empire Beauty School-Littleton | 13 | $75,400 | $5,800 | 13 | $91,500 | $7,038 |
| Elevate Salon Institute-Westminster | 37 | $160,194 | $4,330 | 49 | $303,985 | $6,204 |
| Red Rocks Community College | 214 | $1,932,707 | $9,031 | 61 | $180,613 | $2,961 |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | 105 | $692,226 | $6,593 | 100 | $1,097,802 | $10,978 |
| Taft University System | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
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