Trinidad State Junior College

What Trinidad State Junior College does

Trinidad State College is a public two-year community college established in 1925 in Trinidad, Colorado, operating as a member institution of the Colorado Community College System (CCCS). It serves students across eight southern Colorado counties through two campuses — the original 17-acre Trinidad campus and the Valley Campus in Alamosa — delivering more than 60 academic programs leading to associate degrees (AA, AS, AGS), certificates, and select bachelor's degrees. The institution has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1962 and holds a federal Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation, with documented support services including TRiO, COSI Achieve, tutoring, disability services, and career coaching.

The college's differentiated product portfolio centers on a nationally recognized Gunsmithing program established in 1947 by P.O. Ackley, paired with a Summer NRA gunsmithing program, the Prator Gun Range facility, NRA Firearms Safety Instructor certification, and 17 intercollegiate athletic programs competing as the Trojan brand. Workforce-aligned offerings in nursing, automotive, welding, construction trades, law enforcement, dental assisting, and a Rocky Mountain Lineman School round out the catalog. Course delivery combines in-person instruction at both campuses with online and hybrid delivery through the D2L/Brightspace learning management system; a 16:1 student-to-teacher ratio is maintained. Transfer pathways are formalized through articulation agreements with Adams State University, Colorado State University Pueblo, and Western Governor's University.

Revenue is generated principally through per-credit-hour tuition with three publicly disclosed tiers ($175 effective in-state after a $116 Colorado Opportunity Fund stipend; $288 WUE; $292 out-of-state), supplemented by state appropriations, federal grants (notably TRiO), and fundraising through the wholly-owned Trinidad State College Foundation, which manages scholarships (over $500,000 awarded annually), endowments, and planned gifts. Distribution relies on campus-based instruction, online delivery, concurrent-enrollment partnerships with regional high schools, recruitment events and campus tours, and a multi-channel digital presence spanning the website and major social platforms.

Name

Trinidad State Junior College

Legal name

Trinidad State College

Website

http://www.trinidadstate.edu/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Trinidad State College is a public two-campus community college in southern Colorado serving eight counties with 60+ academic programs, including a signature Gunsmithing program, workforce certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), Transfer/University-Parallel Community Colleges (EDAHADAF), Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Workforce training certificates
• Gunsmithing vocational program
• Higher education tuition

Headquarters

HQ city

Trinidad

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from student tuition and fees charged per credit hour, with different rates for in-state, WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange), and out-of-state students. Additional course-specific fees apply.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The Trinidad State College Foundation receives charitable donations, endowment contributions, and planned gifts to support scholarships, programs, and college operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Trinidad State College is a public two-year community college that delivers higher education services across two Colorado campuses (Trinidad and Alamosa), offering more than 60 academic programs that lead to associate degrees, certificates, and bachelor's degrees. Core offerings include academic and workforce programs (e.g., nursing, business, criminal justice, welding, automotive), signature vocational programs like Gunsmithing (since 1947), student support services (TRiO, COSI Achieve, career coaching), intercollegiate athletics, and online learning via D2L Brightspace. The college also operates the Prator Gun Range facility and manages the TSC Foundation's scholarship and endowment programs.

Product overview

Trinidad State College operates as a two-campus community college system (Trinidad and Valley/Alamosa campuses) offering a unified portfolio of educational products and services. The institution's core offerings include over 60 academic programs leading to associate degrees, certificates, and bachelor's degrees across vocational, technical, and liberal arts disciplines. The flagship specialized programs include the nationally recognized Gunsmithing Degree Program (with associated NRA training and the Prator Gun Range facility) and 17 intercollegiate athletic programs. Student support services include TRiO Student Support Services, COSI Achieve, and career coaching. The college utilizes D2L/Brightspace for online learning delivery and maintains transfer articulation agreements with Colorado four-year institutions. The TSC Foundation provides supplementary fundraising, scholarship management, and endowment services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Programs (Associate, Bachelor's, and Certificate Programs) Over 60 academic programs and certificates leading to associate degrees (AA, AS, AGS), bachelor's degrees, and certificates across fields including agriculture, automotive, business, criminal justice, dental, early childhood education, emergency services, nursing, and technical trades, delivered to prospective and current students at the Trinidad and Valley campuses.
• Gunsmithing Degree Program (AAS) A comprehensive two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program in gunsmithing covering bench metal, machining, firearms repair, and stockmaking, with associated certificates (Gunsmithing Certificate, Gunsmithing Technician Certificate, Custom Pistolsmithing Certificate, NRA Firearms Safety Instructor Certificate) for students seeking specialized gunsmithing careers.
• NRA Summer Gunsmithing Program A nine-week intensive hands-on training program with the nation's finest gunsmithing craftsmen, offered through NRA affiliation in Southern Colorado, attracting students from across the nation.
• Prator Gun Range A shooting range located 6.5 miles southeast of Trinidad featuring trap shooting, skeet shooting, and rifle and pistol ranges up to 100 yards, managed by the TSC Foundation in support of firearms training programs.
• Intercollegiate Athletics (TSC Trojans) 17 intercollegiate athletic programs competing as the TSC Trojans, including basketball, cross country, track & field, baseball, softball, wrestling, esports, and more, offered to enrolled students.
• Online Learning (D2L Brightspace) Distance education platform using Desire to Learn (D2L) Brightspace, providing online and hybrid course options for students across both Trinidad and Valley campuses.
• TSC Foundation (Scholarships and Endowment Programs) Nonprofit organization supporting Trinidad State College through fundraising, scholarships, endowment management, and legacy giving programs including the Society of 1925, providing $500,000+ in scholarships annually.
• Transfer & Articulation Agreements Transfer partnerships with Adams State University, Colorado State University Pueblo, Western Governor's University, and other Colorado institutions facilitating seamless transfer to four-year degree completion programs for TSC students.
• TRiO Student Support Services Federally funded program providing academic development, tutoring, mentoring, financial aid advisement, transfer advisement, career advisement, and cultural activities for eligible students.
• COSI Achieve Financial support and holistic student services program offering career planning, student coaching, community connection, and access to public resources for Trinidad State students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16:1 Student to teacher ratio
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Rifle Association (NRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with NRA since 1947 assures students that the TSC Summer NRA program is high quality. For nine weeks, the finest craftsmen and artists from the gunsmithing world gather in Southern Colorado to offer hands-on courses to students from across the nation. TSC is also an NRA Certified Training Center offering the NRA Firearms Safety Instructor Certificate.
• Colorado Community College System (CCCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrinidad State College is part of the Colorado Community College System, operating under system policies, procedures, and governance. The college uses the CCCS portal and D2L Brightspace LMS.
• Adams State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple articulation agreements for transfer including Basic Law Enforcement, Communications, Exercise Science, Law Enforcement, Medical Assistant Professional, Theatre, and Public Health programs.
• Colorado State University PueblocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation agreements for Exercise Science, Pre-Athletic Training, and Sports Management programs for seamless transfer to CSU Pueblo.
• Western Governor's University (WGU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWGU Community College Partner program offering graduate benefits for students transferring from Trinidad State to WGU.
• SLV Healthcare FoundationminorOthersProvides scholarship support for TSC students pursuing a Nursing degree.
• Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad FoundationminorOthersProvides $5,000 scholarship support for industrial trade program students at TSC.
• San Luis Valley Federal BankminorOthersProud supporter of numerous Trinidad State programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Otero College: CCCS community college located in La Junta, Colorado, serving the southeastern plains with associate degrees and workforce programs. Comparable as a small, rural CCCS member institution focused on transfer and technical education in a similar geographic context.
• Pueblo Community College: Another Colorado community college within the CCCS system serving southern Colorado with similar transfer and workforce programs. Directly comparable as a CCCS peer institution offering associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training in the same regional market.
• Pikes Peak State College: CCCS community college based in Colorado Springs, offering associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and workforce certificates. Comparable as a larger Colorado CCCS peer with overlapping transfer, technical, and online learning (D2L Brightspace) infrastructure.
• Lamar Community College: CCCS member institution in Lamar, Colorado, offering associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training in rural southeastern Colorado. Comparable as a small, rural CCCS community college with overlapping programmatic mix and similar service-area scale.
• Front Range Community College: Largest CCCS community college with multiple campuses along Colorado's Front Range. Comparable as a Colorado CCCS peer institution offering associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and workforce certificates under the same system governance and shared D2L Brightspace LMS platform.
• Colorado Northwestern Community College: CCCS community college serving northwestern Colorado with associate degrees and career-technical programs. Comparable as a small, rural CCCS member institution with similar two-campus rural delivery model and workforce program emphasis.

Regional players

• Casper College: Public two-year college in Casper, Wyoming, offering associate degrees and workforce programs. Comparable as a Western regional community college peer with similar size, transfer emphasis, and WUE-eligible tuition structure.
• Laramie County Community College: Public community college in Cheyenne, Wyoming, serving southeastern Wyoming. Comparable as a regional rural community college with similar two-year degree, transfer, and workforce training programs in a neighboring Western state.
• Santa Fe Community College: Public community college in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with similar Hispanic-serving student demographics and rural/small-city service area. Comparable as a regional peer community college serving a predominantly Hispanic population in the Southwest.

Others

• Adams State University: Public four-year university in Alamosa, Colorado, sharing the same San Luis Valley service area with articulation agreements for transfer pathways. Comparable as a key transfer partner for Trinidad State graduates pursuing bachelor's degrees in Exercise Science, Communications, and Public Health.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/trinidadstate
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6PZAsWMx9JxiLKEurwRA1g
• Facebookfacebook.com/204290419427
• Instagraminstagram.com/trinidad_state

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Trinidad State Junior College