Colorado Community College System

What Colorado Community College System does

Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is Colorado's largest public higher education and workforce training provider, operating 13 colleges across 35+ locations statewide and serving over 130,000 students annually. Founded in 1967 with roots tracing to 1925, CCCS is governed by the 12-member State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE) and led by Chancellor Dr. Marielena DeSanctis. The institution delivers 600+ associate degrees, 20+ bachelor's degrees, 1+ master's degree, and 1,000+ industry certificate programs, plus concurrent enrollment serving 44,000+ high school students.

CCCS's core technology stack centers on the Handshake platform for employer-student job connections, the Colorado Online statewide distance-learning platform, and the Behavior Health Pathways / QBHA certification stack enabling workforce entry in under four months. The system's product portfolio spans Workforce Programs (behavioral health, IT, healthcare, energy, early childhood education), apprenticeship programs (CO-HELPS, CO-TECH), transfer pathways (Bridge to Bachelor's, Associate of Engineering Science, Reisher Bridge Scholarship), employer grant programs (Skill Advance Colorado, Workforce Resilience), and Prior Learning Assessment awarding 28,500+ credits annually.

CCCS operates a hybrid revenue model combining tuition and fees ($175/credit hour with College Opportunity Fund stipend for residents), state appropriations and workforce grants ($100M+ cumulative in federal/state grants; $65M+ state workforce investment over two years), and Foundation donations ($3M+ annually). Customer segments include traditional degree-seeking students (39% of Colorado undergraduates), working adults and career changers, Colorado employers (400+ custom workforce trainings annually), high school concurrent enrollment students, and behavioral health workforce candidates.

Name

Colorado Community College System

Legal name

Colorado Community College System

Website

https://cccs.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Colorado Community College System is the state's largest public higher education and workforce training provider, operating 13 colleges across 35+ locations and serving over 130,000 students annually with degrees, certificates, apprenticeships, and employer-aligned training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education and Workforce Training

NAICS

Junior Colleges (61121), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA), Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD), Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Workforce training programs
• Associate degree programs
• Career technical education
• Apprenticeship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Students pay tuition and fees for credit-bearing courses. Colorado residents receive state funding through the College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend of $116 per credit hour, reducing effective tuition costs.
2. Foundation Donations: Foundation for Colorado Community Colleges receives charitable donations from individuals and organizations, with over $3 million annually funding workforce development, scholarships, and innovative programs.
3. Federal and State Workforce Grants: CCCS has been awarded $100 million in federal and state workforce grants to support training programs and workforce development initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Colorado Community College System (CCCS) operates 13 community colleges with 35+ locations across Colorado delivering accessible higher education and workforce training to over 130,000 students annually. The system offers 1,500+ degree and certificate programs including certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, one master's degree, transfer pathways, apprenticeships, concurrent enrollment for high school students, and customized employer training. It also delivers statewide online learning through Colorado Online and employer-student job matching via Handshake.

Product overview

The Colorado Community College System operates as a unified educational platform comprising 13 community colleges across Colorado, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and workforce development services. The system provides a multi-tiered academic structure including certificate programs (1,000+ short-term industry credentials), associate degrees (600+ programs including AAS, AA, AS, and AGS), bachelor's degrees (20+ programs including BAS), and one master's degree. Beyond traditional degree pathways, the system offers specialized transfer programs (Bridge to Bachelor's with guaranteed university admission, Associate of Engineering Science, Reisher Bridge Scholarship), workforce development programs (Behavioral Health Pathways, Early Childhood Education, Energy, IT, and Prior Learning Assessment), apprenticeship programs (CO-HELPS healthcare and CO-TECH IT), employer grant programs (Skill Advance Colorado, Workforce Resilience), and concurrent enrollment for high school students. The system also provides Colorado Online for statewide distance learning, Handshake for career services connectivity, and the Certification + Degree (C+D) pathways embedding industry credentials within degree programs. With over $100 million in federal and state workforce grants awarded and partnerships with industry leaders, the system serves 130,000+ students annually through 1,500+ degree and certificate programs across 35+ locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Colorado Online: Online education platform offering distance learning programs across CCCS colleges
• Colorado Skills Institute
• Behavioral Health Pathways

Products and services

• Associate Degrees
• Bachelor's Degrees
• Certificate Programs
• Master's Degree Program
• Workforce Programs
• Behavioral Health Pathways
• Handshake
• Bridge to Bachelor's
• Associate of Engineering Science (AES)
• Reisher Bridge Scholarship
• CO-HELPS Apprenticeship
• CO-TECH Apprenticeship
• Concurrent Enrollment
• College Opportunity Fund (COF)
• Skill Advance Colorado
• Workforce Resilience Program
• Colorado Skills Institute
• Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
• Customized Employer Training
• Colorado Online
• Certification + Degree (C+D) Pathways
• Care Forward Colorado

Quantifiable outcome

• 494 declared behavioral health learners and 225 pathway completers since fall 2024 with QBHA certification enabling workforce entry in under 4 months
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• WorkcredcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkcred partnered with the Higher Learning Commission and League for Innovation in the Community College to create certification + degree (C+D) pathways that embed industry credentials within degree programs, enabling learners to enter their field faster while completing their education.
• Higher Learning CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Workcred and League for Innovation in the Community College to develop C+D pathways embedding industry credentials within degree programs.
• League for Innovation in the Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Workcred and Higher Learning Commission to create certification + degree (C+D) pathways for faster workforce entry.
• Serve ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServe Colorado is the state's AmeriCorps commission providing grants, training, and strategic support to community-based organizations. Partnered with CCCS through the Youth Mental Health Corps to create pathways for young adults to serve youth while earning behavioral health credentials.
• Colorado Youth for ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit dedicated to keeping students engaged in school and reengaging those who have dropped out. Hosts Youth Mental Health Corps members and partners with Community College of Aurora for behavioral health education pathways.
• Alpine Achievers InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit that inspires, connects, and nurtures youth in rural Colorado. Hosts Youth Mental Health Corps members and partners with Front Range Community College for behavioral health education pathways.
• Colorado Employers and BusinessescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusinesses, manufacturers, and organizations across Colorado partner with CCCS for workforce development, co-designing programs and validating skills to build a talent pipeline aligned with industry needs. CCCS has 400 custom workforce trainings annually and works with employers on apprenticeships.
• Community College of AuroracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched behavioral health pathway featuring QBHA certification allowing workforce entry in under four months with stackable credentials toward associate degree and beyond. Achieved 494 declared behavioral health learners since fall 2024.
• Colorado Department of Higher EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency supporting concurrent enrollment and reporting on ROI of community colleges. Funded $26 million through Care Forward Colorado (SB22-226) for healthcare worker training.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dallas College: Texas multi-campus community college system serving 130,000+ students across the Dallas region with associate degrees, bachelor's, and extensive workforce training—comparable in scale, urban/suburban campus distribution, and workforce integration to CCCS.
• Maricopa County Community College District: Arizona's largest community college system with 10 colleges serving ~100,000 students—comparable multi-campus public community college system with strong workforce development, transfer, and concurrent enrollment programs.
• Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA): Virginia's largest community college with 75,000+ students across multiple campuses—comparable in mission, public funding model, transfer pathways, and workforce credentials focus to CCCS.
• Houston Community College: Texas urban community college system serving ~100,000 students across multiple campuses with extensive workforce programs in healthcare, IT, and skilled trades—directly comparable to CCCS in CTE emphasis and employer partnerships.
• Community College of Philadelphia: Pennsylvania urban-serving public community college offering associate degrees, certificates, and workforce development programs—comparable in scale, dual/concurrent enrollment, and CTE focus to CCCS colleges.
• Ivy Tech Community College: Indiana's statewide public community college system serving ~160,000 students across 19+ campuses with workforce-aligned degrees, certificates, and employer training—directly comparable in scale, public funding model, and CTE focus to CCCS.

Regional players

• Pima Community College: Arizona-based multi-campus public community college serving the Tucson metro area with workforce credentials and associate degrees—comparable in structure and CTE focus, though smaller and geographically adjacent to Colorado.
• Austin Community College: Texas-based public community college district serving the Austin metro with multiple campuses and strong workforce training—comparable mission and public funding model though operating in a different state.

Emerging players

• WGU (Western Governors University): Nonprofit online university offering competency-based degrees at flat tuition with strong employer partnerships—competes with CCCS for working-adult and career-changer segments, particularly in IT and healthcare credentials, though at higher price points.

Others

• Workcred: Nonprofit organization partnering with CCCS on Certification + Degree (C+D) pathways to embed industry credentials within degree programs—an adjacent ecosystem participant that shapes CCCS's credential strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GoCCCS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cocommunitycolleges
• Facebookfacebook.com/gocccs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/colorado-community-college-system

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colorado Community College System