About

Because You're Chasing Dreams

You come to Pikes Peak State College wanting more. More than learning a skill. More than earning a degree or certificate. You come dreaming of a better life.

We take that charge very seriously. To help you get there, we start by reaching you where you are – physically, educationally, financially.

Four campuses and additional learning centers throughout Colorado Springs and many online options, along with day and evening classes, make PPSC adaptable to just about any lifestyle.

Meeting you where you are also means keeping within your budget. With tuition less than half of our university counterparts’ and millions of dollars in aid and scholarships available, PPSC should prove well within your financial reach.

Your specific path through Pikes Peak depends on your interests. Our advisors and online tools can help you navigate our 150-plus degrees and certificate programs, turning your passions into something tangible, something extraordinary: a fulfilling and rewarding career.

We have as many dreams here as we do students, and they come in every variety: high school grads, veterans, single moms, factory workers, jocks, artists, geeks, book worms and retirees from every race, ethnicity and age. Together, we create a supportive learning environment and a sense of belonging for those who want to build a better future while staying close to home and for travelers on their way from here to everywhere.

We are here for you.

At PPSC, we offer more paths to success than Colorado offers mountain trails.

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Mission, Vision & Values

Vision

Students succeed at PPSC

Mission

Our mission statement closely mirrors the statutory role and mission set forth in Colorado Revised Statutes § 23-60-201.

Our mission is to provide high quality educational opportunities to all with a focus on student success and community needs, including:

  • Occupational programs, including certificates, associate and bachelor degrees, for youth and adults in career and technical fields;
  • Two-year transfer educational programs to qualify students for admission to the junior year at other colleges and universities; and
  • A broad range of personal, career, and technical education for adults.

You can find. out more about our state system's mission here.

Values

We value a community built on learning, mutual respect, and diversity.

We demonstrate these values in the following ways:
  • Teaching and Learning: Our primary commitment is to student learning, success, and achievement, while promoting open and universal access to an affordable education and affirming the importance of our facilities and learning environments.
  • Mutual Respect and Accountability: Because people are our greatest resource, we foster a culture rooted in civility, mutual trust, and support, and hold ourselves accountable for our decisions and actions.
  • Community and Diversity: We engage and support our community while embracing diversity, as it enriches lives and educational experiences.

Fast Facts

PPSC is the largest and most diverse college in the Pikes Peak region.

Main Campuses

$ million

Scholarships awarded annually

Transfer partners with Bridge to Bachelor's Program

Explore Pathways

Learn more about Pikes Peak State College's Academic Pathways - which lead to 198+ degree and certificate options.
Explore Pathways
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Our History

Pikes Peak State College was established in 1968 as El Paso Community College, a two-year college offering three associate degrees. Operating out of rented buildings in Old Colorado City, first-year enrollment was roughly 800 students. The first graduation was held in April 1970 at Bancroft Park, yielding 17 associate degrees and 70 certificates.

Enrollment rapidly grew, in part because of an emphasis placed on military programs, which have become a significant aspect of the college, and the need for permanent facilities became apparent.

Early in 1973, the U.S. Government declared 212 acres of land along the northern boundary of Fort Carson as surplus land and on Feb. 15, 1974 the deed to the site was transferred to the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education for use by El Paso Community College. The full-service Centennial Campus was built in 1978 and the College Council approved a new name, Pikes Peak Community College.

The college experienced a variety of changes throughout the 1970’s including a tremendous surge in occupational majors due to heavy veteran enrollment, the birth of KEPC college radio, along with the arrival and departure of collegiate sports teams and the El Paso International Community College in Germany. Despite these changes, PPSC stayed true to its historical roots by adapting to serve community needs first and foremost.

Continued Growth

Significant population growth in the Pikes Peak region over the last several decades created a need for expanded educational services. As a result, the PPSC Downtown Studio Campus opened in 1986 to enhance access to the college’s arts and science programs and establish a center focused on the arts. The Rampart Range Campus was built in the northern part of the city in 1998, and PPSC now also operates education centers at Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

PPSC has become the largest post-secondary educational institution in Southern Colorado and offers the most widely accessible and affordable education in the region.

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Governance

PPSC was established as El Paso Community College in 1968 with the legislative mission to provide vocational and liberal arts programs to students from the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado. The College became a member of the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) in 1968. The CCCS comprises the state’s largest system of higher education, overseeing 13 community colleges and serving over 115,000 students annually. The CCCS mission is to provide an accessible, responsive learning environment where  students can achieve their educational, professional and personal goals in an atmosphere that embraces academic excellence, diversity and innovation.

In 1985, the Colorado State Legislature passed House Bill 1187, which established the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE or Board) as the governing body of the Colorado Community College System, or CCCS. The Board consists of nine voting members who have demonstrated significant achievements in a broad range of public, private and non-profit organizations. Voting members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. 

Recognizing the importance of faculty and student voices in its decision-making process, the Board also comprises one faculty member who represents the State Faculty Advisory Council and one student who represents the State Student Advisory Council. Both the student and the faculty board members serve in an advisory capacity, making motions, speaking in debate and/or serving on committees.  

Pursuant to Board Policy 2-25, Pikes Peak State College has established an Advisory Council whose membership is representative of the diverse constituencies within its three-county service area. One of the main purposes of the PPSC Advisory Council is to serve as liaison between the College and its external constituencies (e.g., employers, school boards, county commissioners, city councils).

PPSC has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1975 and officially joined the Open Pathway in 2016.