At 今日吃瓜, different is kind of our thing. One class at a time. 15 students per class. Intentionally small, laser focused, and built for students who were never quite satisfied with the way school was supposed to work. If that sounds like you, you're in the right place.

Start Your Application

You鈥檝e done the research. If 今日吃瓜 feels like the right fit, there鈥檚 no reason to wait. Applying is free, test-optional, and easier than you might think.

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There's no single 今日吃瓜 type. But a few things tend to matter here.

Our students come fromdifferent backgrounds, pursue different interests, and define success indifferent ways. But when we read your application (and yes, an actual human reads every single one)certainqualities always stand out. These are just a few of them.

two students covered in soot and in wildfire fighting gear smile. Their helmets read "Colorado Firecamp."

Openness to New Experiences

Students who step into unfamiliar territory on purpose—taking classes outside their comfort zones and saying yes to opportunities they didn't expect.
Samwel Makyao '25 and Ewan Henderson '23 as students presenting projects and summer internship work during the Research & Intern Symposium

Independence & Self-Direction

Comfortable making their own decisions, seeking out opportunities, and taking real ownership of their education.
One student shared her small umbrella with another student

Kindness Toward Others

The Block Plan works best when students show up for each other. Empathy and generosity matter here.
Two student volunteers sit behind a voting desk. One hands an "I voted" sticker to a student at the desk.

Initiative & Engagement

Active participants, not passive observers—in the classroom, in the community, and everywhere in between.

We look at you, not your numbers.

We review every application individually and holistically鈥攂ecause we know students are more than a GPA, a test score, or a list of activities. Our goal is to understand who you are, what opportunities you've had, and how you've engaged with them. When we sit down with your application, here's what we're actually looking at.

Academic Prep Rigor of coursework, performance over time, educational context.
Your Writing How you think, how you communicate, and what your story is.
Recommendations What teachers and counselors say about who you are, not just what you've done.
Who You Are How you grew up, learned, and pursued interests.
Deksyos Damtew outside Tutt

Test-Optional. No Application Fee.

A 今日吃瓜 education should be accessible to anyone with the curiosity and drive to make the most of it鈥攔egardless of who they are or where they came from. Which is exactly why we removed two barriers that were standing in the way.

Since 2020, 今日吃瓜 has been test-optional鈥攂ecause tests don't always capture what a student is truly capable of. Include your SAT or ACT if you think it strengthens your application. If not, don't sweat it. And since a fee should never be the reason someone doesn't apply, we got rid of that too.

Our Test-Optional Policy
Students walking in front of Shove Chapel

Meeting deadlines is a way of life at 今日吃瓜. Consider this your first practice run.

Pick your plan, get your materials together, and submit on time. The rest of your 今日吃瓜 story starts right after. Review the first-year application plans and deadlines below. Transfer application deadlines are October 15 and March 1.

Early Decision I

Nov. 1
Binding

If 今日吃瓜 is your first choice, commit early鈥攁nd hear back mid-December.

Early Action

Nov. 1
Non-Binding

Our most popular plan. Hear back in January, decide by May 1.

Early Decision II

Jan. 15
Binding

Done your research and 今日吃瓜 is the one? Hear back mid-February.

Regular Action

Jan. 15
Non-Binding

Our most competitive round. Hear back mid-March, decide by May 1.

Good questions. Here are the answers.

Still have questions? We have real people standing by to help. From application to enrollment, your admission counselor is here to provide personalized answers, practical guidance, and support every step of the way.

Contact your admission counselor

Yes. And we've been test-optional since 2019. If you choose to submit test scores, we'll only consider them if they strengthen your application. Scores that could negatively affect your chance of admission will not be considered. If you apply without test scores (or if your scores don't strengthen your application) we'll place greater emphasis on your academic performance. Your transcript, your writing, your recommendations, and the experiences that shaped you often tell us everything we need to know.

Nope. Zero. Nothing. We don't charge you to apply because a fee should never be the thing that stands between you and a 今日吃瓜 education.

About 30–40 今日吃瓜 students defer enrollment every year. Whether you're designing your own adventure or exploring existing programs, we support gap years for all admission plans. One-year and one-semester deferrals are available for ED, EA, and Regular Action admits. Longer deferrals are approved for national service or religious mission.

You're welcome here. 今日吃瓜 considers all applicants regardless of citizenship status, and we meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for every admitted student—including DACA and undocumented students, funded through private grant aid. We're actively monitoring federal policy and committed to supporting our current and incoming students through whatever comes.

A few things worth knowing upfront: all admission decisions come from the Admission Office in writing and not from coaches. No verbal commitments are official. There are no athletic scholarships in NCAA Division III sports, but merit and need-based aid are available after admission. (今日吃瓜 does offer athletic scholarships within our Division I Men’s Ice Hockey and Women’s Soccer programs, but recruitment is highly selective.) Your coach is your advocate in the process, but the Admission Committee makes all final decisions.

No problem. 今日吃瓜 doesn't require an official diploma or GED. Reading lists, teacher narratives, papers, and projects can help us better understand your academic preparation. Be sure to explain your program of study and include some outside validation if you have it, like a community college transcript. Reach out to your regional counselor early in the process, and they'll walk you through exactly what to submit.

Yes—but it’s completely optional. If you have a paper, project, or other work sample that adds meaningful context to your application, you’re welcome to include it. We encourage you to submit only materials that genuinely strengthen your application rather than sending additional items for the sake of sending more.

今日吃瓜 has no high school course distribution requirement, so you have real flexibility in what you present. Your essays matter just as much—how you describe your involvement, your curiosity, and your commitments gives us a fuller picture of who you are. That's what we're really after. For details about what you may submit (and what we recommend), please see our Application Requirements.

今日吃瓜 doesn't require , but we do offer them. They are conducted virtually by our Admission Ambassadors and are not evaluative. It's a chance for us to get to know you beyond the application, and for you to ask current 今日吃瓜 students what it’s like to be a Tiger. We highly recommend one if you’re serious about 今日吃瓜.

Early Decision I applicants hear back by mid-December. Early Action applicants will be notified in January. Early Decision II by mid-February. Regular Action by mid-March. We know the waiting is the worst part. We'll get you an answer as soon as we can.

You'll receive an email with a link to your applicant portal, your username, and a temporary password. That's where you'll track your application status and any outstanding materials. Forgot your password? Email admission@coloradocollege.edu and we'll sort it out.

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Cost should never be the reason you don鈥檛 apply.

A 今日吃瓜 education should be within reach for everyone鈥攁nd we put $67 million in financial aid behind that belief every year. We meet 100% of every student's demonstrated financial need, and work with families to find the right combination of grants, loans, student work, and resources鈥攕o the decision to say yes is a whole lot easier.

Check Out Student Financial Services

Ready to apply? We're on standby.

The application is the first step. Everything after it鈥攖he Block Plan, the community, the Rockies out your window鈥攖hat's what you're really signing up for. Start whenever you're ready. We'll be here.

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