No college sits inside Highlands Ranch’s boundary, but Denver Seminary’s campus in Littleton, with 592 students on campus, is 4.9 miles from the center of town, and Arapahoe Community College is 5.2 miles away in Littleton. About 5% of Highlands Ranch’s residents are enrolled in college, below Colorado (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Highlands Ranch. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
15
48,571 students on campus
Nearest college
4.9 mi
Denver Seminary
Residents in college
5%
Below CO (6%)
Nearest community college
5.2 mi
Arapahoe · $4,434 tuition
Nearest public university
5.2 mi
Arapahoe · $4,434 in-state
Median household income
$159K
prices below start here
What stands out about college from Highlands Ranch
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What it costs
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Family income
Starts at Over $110k, where Highlands Ranch’s median household income ($159,307) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Highlands Ranch: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Metropolitan State University of Denver32% graduate$52k earnings$22k typical debt
Arapahoe Community College29% graduate$48k earnings$12k typical debt
University of Denver76% graduate$71k earnings$22k typical debt
Community College of Denver20% graduate$39k earnings$12k typical debt
Colorado Christian University64% graduate$50k earnings$28k typical debt
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design32% graduate$43k earnings$31k typical debt
Concorde Career College-Aurora64% graduate$42k earnings*$10k typical debt
Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology27% graduate$40k earnings$20k typical debt
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Concorde Career College-Aurora (2).
Questions about college near Highlands Ranch
Is Highlands Ranch a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Highlands Ranch residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Colorado (6). The nearest campus, Denver Seminary, is 4.9 miles away in Littleton.
What colleges are near Highlands Ranch?
15 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Metropolitan State University of Denver (14.1 miles, 13,478 students on campus), Arapahoe Community College (5.2 miles, 11,756) and the University of Denver (9.5 miles, 10,402).
What is the closest community college to Highlands Ranch, and what does it cost?
Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, 5.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,434 a year for Colorado residents; the federal net price, $11,571, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Arapahoe Community College cost if we live in Colorado?
Tuition and fees are $4,434 a year in-state and $17,034 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,588 (under $30,000 income) to $18,077 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Highlands Ranch. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →
Photo: Jguy10218 · CC BY-SA 4.0