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Colleges in and near Lakewood

Lakewood is home to four colleges, with 9,169 students on campus

Red Rocks Community College (5,913 students on campus) and Colorado Christian University (2,659) are inside the city. About 6% of Lakewood’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Colorado (6%).

Red Rocks Community College

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 Lakewood. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
20
82,789 students on campus
Nearest college
1.6 mi
Colorado Christian University
Residents in college
6%
About the same as CO (6%)
Nearest community college
2.3 mi
Red Rocks · $4,859 tuition
Nearest public university
2.3 mi
Red Rocks · $4,859 in-state
Median household income
$90K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Lakewood

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college in LakewoodRed Rocks Community College has 5,913 students on campus in Lakewood, 32% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Red RocksLiving in Colorado, Red Rocks Community College charges $4,859 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $17,459. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Colorado (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lakewood

14 private colleges within 14.9 miles, two public colleges within 6.7 miles, and four community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miFront RangeArapahoeLakewood
University or collegeCommunity college
Colorado Christian UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,659 on campus · In Lakewood · mostly online$30knet price64%graduate$50kearnings68% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Red Rocks Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,913 on campus · In Lakewood$9knet price32%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $4,859 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Colorado School of TradesUniversity or college · For-profit · 108 on campus · In Lakewood91%admitted$26knet price81%graduate$52kearningsRocky Mountain College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · For-profit · 489 on campus · In Lakewood · mostly online$32knet price32%graduate$43kearnings74% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Metropolitan State University of DenverUniversity or college · Public · 13,478 on campus · 6.7 mi · Denver99%admitted$15knet price32%graduate$52kearningsColorado School of MinesUniversity or college · Public · 7,376 on campus · 6.7 mi · Golden61%admitted$29knet price82%graduate$97kearningsCommunity College of DenverCommunity college · Public · 5,660 on campus · 6.9 mi · Denver$9knet price20%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $4,902 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Denver College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 733 on campus · 7.5 mi · Denver$82kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Regis UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,350 on campus · 7.7 mi · Denver86%admitted$18knet price61%graduate$72kearningsArapahoe Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 11,756 on campus · 8.2 mi · Littleton$12knet price29%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $4,434 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of DenverUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 10,402 on campus · 8.3 mi · Denver78%admitted$36knet price76%graduate$71kearningsDenver SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 592 on campus · 8.5 mi · LittletonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Iliff School of TheologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 154 on campus · 8.5 mi · DenverGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Pima Medical Institute-DenverUniversity or college · For-profit · 764 on campus · 11 mi · Denver$22knet price73%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.Bel-Rea Institute of Animal TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 161 on campus · 12.9 mi · Denver$23knet price27%graduate$40kearningsPlatt College-AuroraUniversity or college · For-profit · 215 on campus · 13 mi · Greenwood VillageConcorde Career College-AuroraUniversity or college · For-profit · 196 on campus · 13.4 mi · Aurora90%admitted$17knet price64%graduate$42kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Front Range Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,358 on campus · 14.6 mi · Westminster$13knet price35%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $4,663 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Lincoln College of Technology-DenverUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,104 on campus · 14.9 mi · Denver$32knet price71%graduate$46kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Spartan College of Aeronautics and TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 321 on campus · 14.9 mi · Broomfield$30knet price63%graduate$59kearnings

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 $75–110k, where Lakewood’s median household income ($89,792) falls.

Community College of Denver6.9 mi · Denver · sticker $19,550 · tuition $4,902$13,041a year
Red Rocks Community CollegeIn Lakewood · sticker $18,143 · tuition $4,859$14,489a year
Arapahoe Community College8.2 mi · Littleton · sticker $18,332 · tuition $4,434$15,437a year
Front Range Community College14.6 mi · Westminster · sticker $21,526 · tuition $4,663$16,596a year
Metropolitan State University of Denver6.7 mi · Denver · sticker $24,622$19,539a year
Concorde Career College-Aurora13.4 mi · Aurora · sticker $22,697$21,966a year
Regis University7.7 mi · Denver · sticker $54,800$24,295a year
Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology12.9 mi · Denver · sticker $28,043$26,185a year
Colorado Christian UniversityIn Lakewood · mostly online · sticker $54,242$26,257a year
Colorado School of Mines6.7 mi · Golden · sticker $40,560$28,183a year
University of Denver8.3 mi · Denver · sticker $78,476$31,759a year
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver14.9 mi · Denver · sticker $37,032$35,138a year
Rocky Mountain College of Art and DesignIn Lakewood · mostly online · sticker $37,505$36,040a year
Colorado School of TradesIn Lakewood · sticker $29,397—a year
Pima Medical Institute-Denver11 mi · Denver · sticker $26,476—a year
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology14.9 mi · Broomfield · sticker $37,719—a year

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 Lakewood: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Red RocksMetropolitan State University of DenverColorado School of MinesArapahoeUniversity of DenverFront Range
Front Range Community College35% graduate$46k earnings$12k typical debt
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
Colorado School of Mines82% graduate$97k earnings$23k typical debt
Red Rocks Community College32% graduate$46k earnings$10k typical debt
Community College of Denver20% graduate$39k earnings$12k typical debt
Regis University61% graduate$72k earnings$25k typical debt
Colorado Christian University64% graduate$50k earnings$28k typical debt
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver71% graduate$46k earnings*$12k typical debt
Pima Medical Institute-Denver73% graduate$39k earnings*$10k typical debt
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design32% graduate$43k earnings$31k 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: Pima Medical Institute-Denver (13); Concorde Career College-Aurora (2); Lincoln College of Technology-Denver (8).

Majors

What students study in Lakewood

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Lakewood’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 35%Public safety 17%Liberal arts 9%Business 6%Education 6%Engineering tech 5%Everything else 22%

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Colorado Christian University, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Lakewood

Is Lakewood a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Lakewood residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Colorado (6). The largest campus in the city, Red Rocks Community College, has 5,913 students on campus.

What colleges are in Lakewood?

Red Rocks Community College, Colorado Christian University, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design and Colorado School of Trades are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Lakewood, and what does it cost?

Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, 2.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,859 a year for Colorado residents; the federal net price, $9,044, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Red Rocks Community College cost if we live in Colorado?

Tuition and fees are $4,859 a year in-state and $17,459 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $5,901 (under $30,000 income) to $18,064 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Lakewood. 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 →