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City of Wheat Ridge Municipal BuildingPhoto: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Wheat Ridge

Red Rocks Community College is 4.3 miles from Wheat Ridge

No college sits inside Wheat Ridge’s boundary, but Red Rocks Community College’s campus in Lakewood, with 5,913 students on campus, is 4.3 miles from the center of town. About 5% of Wheat Ridge’s residents are enrolled in college, below Colorado (6%).

Regis UniversityRed 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 Wheat Ridge. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
20
101,348 students on campus
Nearest college
2.1 mi
Colorado School of Trades
Residents in college
5%
Below CO (6%)
Nearest community college
4.3 mi
Red Rocks · $4,859 tuition
Nearest public university
4.3 mi
Red Rocks · $4,859 in-state
Median household income
$91K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Wheat Ridge

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

Two colleges within 4.3 milesRegis University admits 86% of applicants. Together they have 9,263 students on campus.A community college 4.3 miles awayRed Rocks Community College in Lakewood: tuition and fees $4,859 a year for Colorado residents.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 5% of residentsBelow Colorado (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Wheat Ridge

13 private colleges within 13.5 miles, three public colleges within 14.3 miles, and four community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miFront RangeMetropolitan State University of DenverWheat Ridge
University or collegeCommunity college
Colorado School of TradesUniversity or college · For-profit · 108 on campus · 2.1 mi · Lakewood91%admitted$26knet price81%graduate$52kearningsRocky Mountain College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · For-profit · 489 on campus · 2.7 mi · Lakewood · mostly online$32knet price32%graduate$43kearnings74% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Regis UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,350 on campus · 4.1 mi · Denver86%admitted$18knet price61%graduate$72kearningsColorado Christian UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,659 on campus · 4.1 mi · 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 · 4.3 mi · Lakewood$9knet price32%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $4,859 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Metropolitan State University of DenverUniversity or college · Public · 13,478 on campus · 5.7 mi · Denver99%admitted$15knet price32%graduate$52kearningsCommunity College of DenverCommunity college · Public · 5,660 on campus · 5.9 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 · 6 mi · Denver$82kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Colorado School of MinesUniversity or college · Public · 7,376 on campus · 6.5 mi · Golden61%admitted$29knet price82%graduate$97kearningsPima Medical Institute-DenverUniversity or college · For-profit · 764 on campus · 6.8 mi · Denver$22knet price73%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.Front Range Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 17,358 on campus · 9.6 mi · Westminster$13knet price35%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $4,663 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Spartan College of Aeronautics and TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 321 on campus · 9.9 mi · Broomfield$30knet price63%graduate$59kearningsUniversity of DenverUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 10,402 on campus · 10 mi · Denver78%admitted$36knet price76%graduate$71kearningsIliff School of TheologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 154 on campus · 10.2 mi · DenverGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Arapahoe Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 11,756 on campus · 12.3 mi · Littleton$12knet price29%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $4,434 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Denver SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 592 on campus · 12.7 mi · LittletonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Lincoln College of Technology-DenverUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,104 on campus · 13.2 mi · Denver$32knet price71%graduate$46kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Concorde Career College-AuroraUniversity or college · For-profit · 196 on campus · 13.2 mi · Aurora90%admitted$17knet price64%graduate$42kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Bel-Rea Institute of Animal TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 161 on campus · 13.5 mi · Denver$23knet price27%graduate$40kearningsUniversity of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusUniversity or college · Public · 18,774 on campus · 14.3 mi · Denver75%admitted$12knet price46%graduate$64kearnings

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 Wheat Ridge’s median household income ($90,564) falls.

Community College of Denver5.9 mi · Denver · sticker $19,550 · tuition $4,902$13,041a year
Red Rocks Community College4.3 mi · Lakewood · sticker $18,143 · tuition $4,859$14,489a year
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus14.3 mi · Denver · sticker $24,902$15,232a year
Arapahoe Community College12.3 mi · Littleton · sticker $18,332 · tuition $4,434$15,437a year
Front Range Community College9.6 mi · Westminster · sticker $21,526 · tuition $4,663$16,596a year
Metropolitan State University of Denver5.7 mi · Denver · sticker $24,622$19,539a year
Concorde Career College-Aurora13.2 mi · Aurora · sticker $22,697$21,966a year
Regis University4.1 mi · Denver · sticker $54,800$24,295a year
Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology13.5 mi · Denver · sticker $28,043$26,185a year
Colorado Christian University4.1 mi · Lakewood · mostly online · sticker $54,242$26,257a year
Colorado School of Mines6.5 mi · Golden · sticker $40,560$28,183a year
University of Denver10 mi · Denver · sticker $78,476$31,759a year
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver13.2 mi · Denver · sticker $37,032$35,138a year
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design2.7 mi · Lakewood · mostly online · sticker $37,505$36,040a year
Colorado School of Trades2.1 mi · Lakewood · sticker $29,397—a year
Pima Medical Institute-Denver6.8 mi · Denver · sticker $26,476—a year
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology9.9 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 Wheat Ridge: 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 →Metropolitan State University of DenverColorado School of MinesFront RangeUniversity of DenverArapahoeUniversity of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus46% graduate$64k earnings$20k typical debt
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

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); Lincoln College of Technology-Denver (8); Concorde Career College-Aurora (2).

Questions about college near Wheat Ridge

Is Wheat Ridge a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Wheat Ridge residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Colorado (6). The nearest campus, Colorado School of Trades, is 2.1 miles away in Lakewood.

What colleges are near Wheat Ridge?

20 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (14.3 miles, 18,774 students on campus), Front Range Community College (9.6 miles, 17,358) and Metropolitan State University of Denver (5.7 miles, 13,478).

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

Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, 4.3 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 Wheat Ridge. 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 →