If you’ve got an outdoorsy kid who takes to experimental learning, then you’re probably hoping they’ll get into Colorado College. We’re going to talk about all the different vectors that make up the CC admissions process, but first let’s learn what makes Colorado College unique. 

About Colorado College

The defining feature of a Colorado College education is the block plan. At CC, students take one class at a time (not 4 simultaneously as is typical with a semester schedule) for 3.5 weeks with a total of 8 blocks a year. That means Colorado College students take 8 classes in a year just like any other college student but they get to dedicate their focus to one at a time. Classes often meet for around three hours daily, allowing discussion, labs, or fieldwork. After each block, there’s a 4 to 5 day “Block Break” to reset or travel. Because of the block plan, many classes take place away from campus, at national parks, research sites, or even in different countries. 

There are a little over 2,000 undergraduates at Colorado College and, since the campus is located in Colorado Springs, the student body tends to lean outdoors. Rather than resting and lounging, Colorado College students are known to use “Block Breaks” to embark on adventurous hikes. 

Colorado College has an acceptance rate of 18%. That means getting in will require strategic planning (and the help of Ivy Coach’s college admissions experts certainly wouldn’t hurt!). 

Colorado College Admissions Requirements

There’s no cut-and-dry recipe for getting into Colorado College, which holds true for all selective schools. Colorado College maintains a holistic application review process, meaning that they consider each applicant in his or her context. Even with that said, great grades, high test scores, and  impressive extracurricular achievements are the trifecta of any successful application to CC. Without further ado, let’s dive into what these look like for Colorado College students. 

What Kind of GPA Is Necessary To Get Into Colorado College?

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of Colorado’s Class of 2028, as reported in Colorado’s 2024-25 Common Data Set (the most recently available data we have):

GPA	Percentage of Colorado College Class of 2028
4.0	45.2%
3.75-3.99	27.0%
3.5-3.74	15.6%
3.25-3.49	9.1%
3.0-3.24	2.4%
2.5-2.99	0.5%
2.0-2.49	0.2%
1.0-1.99	0%

What Kind of SAT or ACT Scores Are Needed To Get Into Colorado College?

The average SAT score for the Colorado College Class of 2028 was 1340, and the average ACT was 31. Though Colorado College is test-optional, we at Ivy Coach believe that not submitting test scores can only ever hurt an applicant’s chances, even to supposedly test-optional schools. 

What Classes Do Students Need to Take to Get Into Colorado College?

While CC does not explicitly state any minimum high school course preparation for applicants, we at Ivy Coach know that highly selective colleges want to see students excelling in each core subject (English, history, math, science, and foreign language) all four years of high school. In fact, they expect to see five years for foreign language since most students begin their first level of foreign language in eighth grade.

What Kinds of Extracurriculars Does Colorado College Like To See?

There’s a pervasive myth that elite colleges like Colorado College want well-rounded students. Hate to break it to you, but this is not the case. Elite colleges want well-rounded student bodies that are made up of students with singular and unique talents. Rather than admitting a student who is the jack of all trades but master of none, elite universities want to admit students who are on their way to becoming a foremost expert or specialist in a particular field, or who are going to become a world leader in a specific domain. So, rather than shuffling your kid from one extracurricular activity to another, find their talent or passion and have them go all-in on that. 

Colorado College Application Requirements 

Colorado College accepts the Common App and Coalition App. They ask for a counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations. Applicants must fill out two supplemental essays, and have various options of which prompts they would like to respond to. Finally, they ask applicants to write a supplemental essay of 350 words, the prompt of which changes each year. 

Who Should Students Ask For Letters of Recommendation For Colorado College? 

CC applicants should ask two junior year teachers in core subjects. Obviously, the applicant should have a good relationship with the teacher or at least have performed well in their class. In addition, at least one of the recommender’s subject area should be related to the student’s hook: if a student’s singular hook is studying fruit fly DNA, it wouldn’t make sense if their recommenders were their History and English teachers.

Does Colorado College Require an Interview? 

Colorado College does not require an interview, but they offer one. Pro tip: take them up on this offer! 

What Are Colorado College’s Application Deadlines? 

Early Decision I and Early Action applications to CC are due November 1st. Regular Decision and Early Decision II applications are due January 1st.  

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into Colorado College

If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into Colorado College, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into Colorado College, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.