Dear Students and Families,

At Colorado College, we are proud to deliver a rigorous liberal arts education that prepares students to engage thoughtfully in their communities and democracy. The Block Plan makes this possible, facilitating deep faculty-student relationships, year-round research, immersive fieldwork, and civic engagement opportunities. These high-impact practices help students develop adaptability, leadership, and constructive communication — crucial skills in high demand across industries.

Small class sizes enable mentorship from faculty with the highest degrees in their fields — world-class educators who come to CC specifically to teach on the Block. Meanwhile, access to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, a thriving athletics culture, and Block Break adventures extend learning beyond the classroom. Holistic advising, tutoring, and health and wellness resources are built into the CC experience to ensure students are supported along the way. At graduation, they are well prepared for the world that awaits, thanks to career-aligned curriculum, paid internships, career services, and the connections of a thriving alumni network.

Providing this elevated educational experience requires considerable resources. Tuition and fees — along with earnings from our endowment and philanthropic support — help sustain the infrastructure and people that bring it all to life.

We know a CC education is a significant investment, and any increase in cost can present a hardship to students and their families. This is why CC is one of only 70 institutions nationwide that meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students with a combination of scholarships, student loans, and work-study options — distributing more than $60 million per year in financial aid.

Each year, the faculty, staff, and students on our Campus Budget Committee (CBC) develop a budget recommendation for the president and the Board of Trustees. I would like to thank the CBC for their thoughtful and comprehensive approach over several months, taking into account both the market in which we operate and our institutional priorities.

For the 2025-26 academic year, the CBC recommended the trustees set tuition at $73,038, and the comprehensive fee (inclusive of tuition, room, board, and mandatory student fees) at $90,230.

This is a 4.01% total increase from 2024-25. I supported the CBC’s recommendation, and the Board of Trustees approved the tuition and comprehensive fee changes last week. For full details and to learn more, visit our tuition and fees webpage.

This increase is broken down as follows:

Tuition will be $73,038, an increase of 4.0%. This is less than the college’s average increase over the last seven years. The increase largely supports:
- Our ongoing commitment to access and opportunity, with more than a third of this year’s increase allocated to financial aid.
- Faculty, staff, and student compensation, with an emphasis on paying a living wage to all employees and bringing staff and faculty salaries closer to market rate;
- Addressing deferred maintenance to ensure college facilities remain safe, functional, and conducive to learning and living;
- Funding inflationary increases experienced over multiple years, particularly in custodial services and insurance rates.
Standard room rates will be $9,288, an increase of 4.0%. This is to meet the rising costs of wages, benefits, operations, and maintenance in the housing program.
Standard meal plans will be $7,376, an increase of 4.0%. This will cover the rising costs of food and labor in our dining operations, as well as federal financial aid requirements for greater meal capacity in the college’s standard meal plan.
Student fees will be $528, an increase of 3.5% primarily to supplement transportation for club sports and provide permanent funding for the Esports team.

As we steward our resources to sustain and elevate the CC experience, we are also focused on amplifying its impact. We are reclaiming our space in the higher ed market, ensuring the world recognizes the liberal arts’ role in shaping engaged, informed citizens. At the same time, we are reducing our reliance on tuition by streamlining operations, building our philanthropic pipeline, and maximizing non-tuition revenue streams like Ed Robson Arena and the Fine Arts Center.

Most importantly, we are committed to upholding the value of a CC education as a life-changing investment — one that combines academic excellence, career preparation, and personal growth. Thank you for choosing CC, for being part of this community, and for believing in the power of the liberal arts.

Warmly,

Manya Whitaker

Interim President

Colorado College Board of Trustees

You are receiving this email because you are a member of the Colorado College community. Thank you for the important work you do each day.

View this email online.

14 E. Cache La Poudre St. | Colorado Springs, CO 80903 US