Education

Educational Excellence Elevated

Northern Colorado cultivates the crops that feed the nation and the minds to lead it. Here education underpins our success.

The area is home to universities that boast nationally acclaimed programs for bioscience, research, nursing, business, performing arts and others. K-12 school districts include 80-plus schools that are regularly recognized for excellence. 

With access to increasing job opportunities and exceptional quality of life, college and high school graduates frequently plant roots and grow their careers in Northern Colorado. 

Are you ready to grow your opportunities in Northern Colorado? Need some help making training and education decisions? PathwayU is our free resource to help you connect your purpose to the right programs of study, choice of major and career destinations.

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Higher Education

  • Colorado State University (CSU): Located in Fort Collins, CSU is a major research university. An example is the renowned College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, where students explore fields such as atmospheric science, infectious diseases and clean energy technologies. In recent years major investments have been made to facilities across the campus.
  • University of Northern Colorado (UNC): UNC, based in Greeley, offers the appeal of a mid-size university and the benefit of nationally recognized programs, with 100 undergraduate and 120 graduate programs. One of UNC’s hallmarks is diversity and inclusion. The university is home to the Marcus Garvey Center for Black Cultural Education, Cesar Chavez Cultural Center and campus centers for Native American, Asian and Pacific cultures. Courses are also available at extended campuses in the region, including Loveland.
  • Front Range Community College (FRCC): FRCC Northern Colorado’s presence includes a campus in Fort Collins and a center in Loveland, among other locations. It is the largest community college system in the state, with nearly 19,000 enrollees (including concurrent high school students). More than 30 programs train students for careers in fields such as cybersecurity, manufacturing and nursing.
  • Aims Community College: With more than 200 programs and 4,000 courses, Aims students have a wide choice of career paths from which to choose. The college’s main campus is in Greeley, with satellite facilities in Loveland, Windsor and other regional locations.

Northern Colorado also offers access to other leading university in the region. 

K-12

Weld County is home to multiple school districts, including Weld County School District 6, where enrollment has increased by 21 percent over the last decade, with continued growth forecasted in the coming years. Many of the district’s 22,200-plus students benefit from paid summer internships, innovative STEM programming and college courses at local higher education institutions.

In Larimer County, Poudre School District students develop knowledge and skills thanks to bilingual/dual language immersion, hybrid/online and STEM options. This district stretches across Fort Collins, Laporte, Timnath, Wellington, Red Feather, Livermore, Stove Prairie, and parts of Windsor. Recently, 97 percent of Poudre High School graduates earned full International Baccalaureate diplomas. The international average is 79 percent, while the national average is 70 percent. 

Thompson School District, the state’s 17th largest school district, also serves Larimer County, including Loveland and surrounding communities. More than a dozen early childhood centers and 25-plus schools empower students as they journey toward career or college.

Rankings