City: Colorado Springs, CO

Category: Education

Telephone: (719) 255-8227 or (800) 990-82

Address: 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy.

Description: Sitting against a bluff above downtown, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) campus used to be the little brother in the CU system. Not so anymore. Founded in 1965, it is the fastest growing campus in Colorado and one of the fastest growing campuses in the nation. There are currently 36 bachelor’s, 19 master’s, and 5 doctoral degree programs with 6 academic colleges on campus: business, education, engineering and applied science, public affairs, letters, arts and sciences, and nursing and health sciences. In addition, UCCS offers many unique programs such as the bachelor’s degree in innovation, geropsychology, and professional golf management. U.S. News & World Report has named UCCS a top Western public university and the undergraduate engineering program one of the nation’s best. The 532-acre, sloped campus supports a student population of about 9,000. The average undergrad is slightly older at 24 years, and the military make up a significant percentage of the student body. There are also about 30 US Olympic athletes pursuing degrees at UCCS. The campus has gone from old, original buildings to innovative, impressive structures as the predominant look. Centennial Hall recently underwent a $17 million renovation, making it now the fourth LEED-certified building on campus. It joins the imposing, contemporary, and environmentally friendly Science and Engineering building, a $56.1 million, 159,000-square-foot home to the departments of biology, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and physics as well as the CU Institute for Bioenergetics and the National Institute for Science, Space, and Security Centers. Also LEED certified are the newer Gallogly Events Center and the Recreation Center, a 54,000-square-foot facility with an elevated, two-lane track, pools, dance studio, a large fitness area, and a bike repair and ski/snowboard tuning shop.