Colorado leads the nation in several important areas when it comes to military contributions.
For one it’s a leading state for the military’s growing presence above earth’s atmosphere, hosting vital units from NORAD, US Northern Command, and US Space Command. For another, it’s home of the Air Force’s elite officer school, the USAF Academy. It’s Army training center, nicknamed Mountain Post, is one of the largest of its kind in the nation.
Because Colorado punches above its weight when it comes to its contribution to our Armed Forces, it’s also no stranger to sacrifice and deployments. Recent units have seen action in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Serving in the military can be a lot of fun, but it can also be difficult if not deadly. Colorado wants to recognize the sacrifices and contributions its active duty, discharged veterans, and their family members have made in service to country. It has a dedicated agency to connect veterans and their families with benefits at the state and federal levels.
Chief among these are the educational benefits you’ve earned; benefits that will help you and your loved ones secure a bright future as you transition back to civilian life.
Colorado Division of Veterans’ Affairs (CDVA) Military Education Benefits
Part of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Colorado Division of Veterans’ Affairs (CDVA) is at your service to help you navigate veteran education benefits wherever you are in the state.
Your point of contact with the CDVA will be at a County Veterans Service Office. The CDVA’s team of Service Officer representatives are assigned to every county in the state. For you it’s as simple as consulting the county directory on the CDVA’s website and contacting your representative.
One of the main benefits you’ll likely be taking advantage of with the help of a CDVA Service Officer is the GI Bill®. You can use this benefit to cover the cost of an education at places like:
- Colleges and universities
- On-the-job training sites
- Apprenticeships
For a school to be eligible to admit you on the GI Bill® it needs to be approved by the Colorado State Approving Agency (SAA) for Veterans Education and Training, which is a division of Colorado’s State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE). The Colorado SAA maintains a list of approved schools that are cleared for GI Bill® benefits.
The CDVA can also help you through the application process for other federal veteran education benefits.
The CDVA can also help you get connected with the following benefits available at the state level:
In-State Tuition for Veterans and Their Dependents
If you’re a veteran and you reside in Colorado, then you and your dependents qualify for in-state tuition. Normally a person would need to reside in Colorado for at least a year before this is possible. If you’re using the GI Bill® to fund your education, qualifying for the in-state rate can help stretch your funding.
In-state tuition means big savings. Our research on military friendly colleges in Colorado shows the average annual savings you get for paying in-state instead of out-of-state tuition is over \$12,500 at public schools for an undergraduate degree. That adds up quickly when you multiply it out over four years for a bachelor’s degree.
Tuition Assistance for Colorado National Guard (CONG)
If you’ve been serving in the CONG (Air or Army) for at least six months on any of the following titles then you’re eligible to apply for this benefit, which covers up to $5,000 per semester ($15,000 per year) at approved state-supported schools:
- Title 10: Deployment or Call Up
- Title 32: Traditional, AGR, Federal Technician, M-Day, or One-Time Occasional-Tour (OTOT)
Currently there are 32 schools participating in this program. You’re not eligible for this program if you’re Title 10 Active Duty, Title 38 Veteran/Retiree, or a Reservist. Spouses and dependents/children aren’t eligible either.
You can apply for this benefit every semester, and you should apply as soon as applications are accepted because this program is subject to change based on availability.
This tuition assistance program is a big deal, representing big savings for you; the potential to earn a bachelor’s degree while paying very little tuition. According to our research on military friendly colleges in Colorado, the average cost at a public school paying in-state tuition for a bachelor’s degree is $5,070 per semester.
What’s more: this program allows you to study up to 132 semester credits or for eight years in total, whichever comes first. This could mean double majoring, attending school part-time, and exploring electives in subjects you’ve always been curious about; maybe even changing your major. Not only is this a great benefit financially; it also provides you with a lot of flexibility.
Possible Station Assignments and Military Bases in Colorado
Even if Colorado’s not your home state, the welcome you get here will make it feel like it is. As a member of the Armed Forces you’re eligible for some of Colorado’s military education benefits the moment you set foot in the state.
If you’re planning to be an officer in the Air Force or are interested in joining the military’s newest branch, the Space Force, then there’s a good chance you’ll be stationed in Colorado at some point in your career.
Army
- Fort Carson – Colorado Springs
Known informally as the Mountain Post, this base hosts a dozen units specializing in everything from transportation to special forces, and is home to the 4th Infantry Division. If you’re stationed here it’s likely you’ll be familiar with the fort’s training territory, the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, which is nearly 600 square miles. The base’s education center –located at 1675 Long Street, Building 1117– can connect you with resources for area colleges and universities.
- Pueblo Chemical Depot – Pueblo County
Under the command of the US Army Chemical Materials Activity, this depot is one of only two in the nation to maintain a declared inventory of chemical weapons. Even though it’s ultimately slated for closure, it’s going to take a while to destroy our last remaining chemical stockpiles, which at Pueblo is approximately 2,600 tons of mustard gas distributed among 780,000 munitions.
Air Force
- United States Air Force Academy – Colorado Springs
Entry into this prestigious academic institution requires you to be single and between the ages of 17 and 23. Having inappropriate tattoos –including any on your face, neck, or hands– is just one of the ways to instantly disqualify yourself from admission. Training cadets for the USAF officer corps requires no less. There are at least three additional prominent non-military colleges located in the Colorado Springs area.
Space Force
- Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station – El Paso County
Hosted by Space Base Delta 1 out of Peterson, this base has been made famous in countless movies because it’s the one that’s located within a hollowed out mountain designed to shield it from a nuclear blast. Today it still serves as an important center for missile early warning and is a key backup site for NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command).
- Peterson Space Force Base – Colorado Springs
Perhaps the most important base in the newly created Space Force, Peterson hosts several major mission partners including NORAD, US Northern Command, US Space Command, Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and more. Approximately 4,000 military service members and contractors work as part of the Peterson-Schriever Garrison, supporting nearly 18,500 personnel.
- Buckley Space Force Base – Aurora
This facility hosts the Buckley Garrison which provides space-based missile warning, space surveillance, and more. It also hosts National Guard and Reserve units, as well as Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado. The facility’s Education Office hosts on-base college-level classes through one local university and provides computer-based testing for initiatives like the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).
- Schriever Space Force Base – El Paso County
This facility hosts the Buckley Garrison which provides space-based missile warning, space surveillance, and more. It also hosts National Guard and Reserve units, as well as Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado. The facility’s Education Office hosts on-base college-level classes through one local university and provides computer-based testing for initiatives like the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).
Military Friendly Colleges in Colorado that Accept GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon Program Benefits
Of the more-than 2,000 colleges and universities that participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, only around 500 provide full funding and place no limits on the number of eligible students who can take advantage of it. These schools ensure that every eligible veteran who enrolls can count on full coverage of all tuition costs that exceed GI Bill® limits.
You’ll be glad to know that a number of those military friendly colleges and universities are located right here in Colorado:
Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- art and design
- biological sciences
- business
- computer science and engineering
- health sciences
- kinesiology
- languages literature and mass communication
- mathematics and statistics
- music
- physical and environmental sciences
- social and behavioral sciences
- teacher education
- theatre arts
Colorado State University
Ft. Collins, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- Arts, Humanities and Design
- Environmental and Natural Resources
- Global and Social Sciences
- Health, Life and Food Sciences
- Land, Plant and Animal Sciences
- Organization, Management and Enterprise
- Physical Sciences and Engineering
Colorado Technical University
Greenwood Village / Colorado Springs, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- business and management
- engineering and computer science
- healthcare
- IT
- nursing
- project management
- security studies
Columbia College Aurora
Centennial, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- Business Administration
- Computer & Mathematical Sciences
- Education
- History, Philosophy, Political Science & Criminal Justice
- Language & Communication Studies
- Nursing
- Physical and Biological Sciences
- Psychology, Sociology & Human Services
- Visual Arts & Music
Concorde Career College
Aurora, CO
Accreditation: ACCSC
Allied Health Programs
- medical assistant
- medical office administration
Diagnostic Programs
- cardiovascular
- sonography
- radiologic technology
Nursing Programs
- practical nursing
Dental Programs
- dental assistant
- dental hygiene
Patient Care Programs
- physical therapist assistant
- respiratory therapy
- surgical technologist
Denver College of Nursing
Denver, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- RN to BSN Nursing (undergrad)
- AS Nursing (undergrad)
- MS Nursing (grad)
Devry University
Nashville, TN
Accreditation: HLC
Associate Degrees
- Technology
- Engineering
- IT and Networking
- Network Systems Administration
- Business
- Healthcare
Bachelor's Degrees
- Business
- Computer Information Systems
- Healthcare Administration
- Accounting
- Liberal Arts
- Media Arts
Undergrad Certificates
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Business Essentials
- Cloud Computing
- IoT
- Technology
- Media Arts
Master's Degrees
- MBA
- Accounting
- Project Management
- Technology
- Business
- Healthcare
- Public Administration
- Human Resource Management
Graduate Certificates
- Human Resources Management
- Project Management
- Healthcare
- CPA Preparation
- Big Data and Analytics
- Entrepreneurship
- Global Supply Chain Management
Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- School of Arts and Sciences
- School of Business Administration
- School of Education
Johnson And Wales University
Denver, CO
Accreditation: NECHE
Online:
- business
- criminal justice
- culinary management
- health science
- hospitality
- HR management
- liberal studies
- MBA
Lincoln College of Technology
Denver, CO
Accreditation: ACCSC
- Automotive Technology
- Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology
- Diesel and Truck Technology HVAC
- Welding & Metal Fabrication
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- College of Business
- College of Health and Applied Sciences
- College of Letters, Arts, and Science
- School of Education
- School of Hospitality
Newman University
Colorado Springs, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- School of Social Work
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design
Lakewood, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- animation
- art education
- fashion design
- fine arts
- game art
- graphic design
- illustration
- illustrative design
- interior design
- photography
University of Denver
Denver, CO
Accreditation: HLC
Undergraduate Degrees:
- Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science
- Daniels College of Business
- College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics
- College of Arts Humanities & Social Sciences
- Josef Korbel School of International Studies
- Morgridge College of Education
- University College
Graduate Degrees:
- Korbel International Studies
- University College
- School of Social Work
- Business
- Professional Psychology
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- Education and Behavioral Sciences
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Monfort College of Business
- Natural and Health Sciences
- Performing and Visual Arts
University of Phoenix
Lone Tree, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- business
- criminal justice
- education
- healthcare
- nursing
- psychology
- behavioral sciences
- liberal arts
- technology
- RN to BSN
- MBA
- health administration
- information systems
- criminal justice and security
- business fundamentals
Webster University
Greenwood Village / Peterson AFB, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- Advertising and Marketing Communications
- Counseling
- Criminal Justice
- Cybersecurity
- Data Analytics
- Education
- Educational Leadership
- Health Administration
- Human Resources Development
- National Security Studies
- Management & Leadership
- Marketing
- MBA
- Media Communications
- Nurse Anesthesia Practice
- Procurement and Acquisitions Management
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO
Accreditation: HLC
- Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering
- School of Business
- Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability
- School of Graduate Studies
