Colorado College

Colorado Springs, Colorado

ACCEPTED

SETTING

Small liberal arts college at base of Rocky Mountains

SIZE

Small (2,000-2,500 students)

ACADEMIC RIGOR

Very High

Environmental Programs

Environmental Science

B.S.

  • Focus on Earth System science and human-environment interactions
  • Chemistry emphasis option available

Environmental Studies

B.A.

  • Liberal arts approach
  • Policy, society, and environmental issues

Campus & Nature

At the foot of Pikes Peak with immediate mountain access

  • At the foot of Pikes Peak and Rocky Mountains
  • Immediate access to hiking, skiing, outdoor recreation
  • Beautiful campus with mountain views

Academic Rigor

Highly selective liberal arts college with unique Block Plan

  • Block Plan: One intensive course at a time for 3.5 weeks
  • Highly selective liberal arts college
  • Very academically challenging
  • Strong critical thinking and writing emphasis
  • Excellent law school preparation

Liberal Arts Access

  • Classic liberal arts college with Block Plan for deep exploration
  • Strong economics, political science, history, philosophy departments
  • Full breadth across humanities and social sciences
  • Complete freedom to explore diverse subjects

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Best preparation for law school (liberal arts, writing, critical thinking)
  • Unique Block Plan for deep learning
  • Stunning mountain setting with immediate outdoor access
  • Small, intimate community
  • Strong academic reputation

Cons

  • NO engineering program (would need grad school for environmental engineering)
  • Very small school size
  • Block Plan is intense and not for everyone
  • Most expensive option

Student Voices

Real perspectives from students and alumni on third-party review sites

What Students Love

"The Block Plan is amazing - you take one class at a time for 3.5 weeks, which allows for incredible depth and focus. Field trips and immersive learning are built into the curriculum."

— Junior, 3 months ago

What Students Love

"Colorado College has an amazing community. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming, and the professors genuinely care about your success both academically and personally."

— Sophomore, 5 months ago

Common Complaint

"The Block Plan can be intense and overwhelming. If you fall behind even a little, it's very hard to catch up since everything moves so fast."

— Senior, 7 months ago