Community College of Aurora (CCA) is a public, open-access, two-year college serving Aurora and parts of Adams, Arapahoe and Denver counties. Its reach is visible in three very different campuses: CentreTech in Aurora, Lowry Studios in Denver and the health-and-first-responders campus in Centennial. CCA began in 1983 as the Aurora Education Center, teaching in community spaces before opening its first permanent campus at CentreTech in 1991. It added Lowry instruction in 1994. Today the college’s catalog combines transfer degrees, career programs, certificates and selected bachelor’s pathways.
Starting an application and choosing the right entry route
CCA describes itself as open access. New students start an online application and account, then follow the new-student checklist: confirm the program, complete orientation and advising steps, arrange a student ID, and register for the semester. Returning students who have been away for more than a year are directed to a new application. The ordinary admissions process is separate from selective programs such as nursing or some public-safety pathways, where prerequisites, placement, background checks or an additional program application may apply. International students seeking an F-1 visa and high-school students using concurrent enrollment have their own instructions. Open CCA’s application and enrollment page and review the 2026 new-student checklist.
Placement is about getting into an appropriate first class, not an admissions exam for every student. CCA’s checklist accepts recent ACT, SAT or AP scores in some cases, transcripts showing prior college work, self-assessments, or an Accuplacer placement exam. Its testing center lists a $5 fee for placement exams. Students should ask an advisor which route fits their history and program before paying for a test or registering for a course that may not satisfy a requirement. Compare CCA’s current placement options.
2026–27 tuition, Colorado’s COF stipend and aid
For fall 2026, spring 2027 and summer 2027, CCA publishes resident on-campus tuition at $299.75 per credit before the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend and $183.75 after the $116-per-credit stipend. Resident Colorado Online tuition is $417.85 before COF and $301.85 after it. Nonresident on-campus tuition is $754.25 per credit; nonresident online tuition is $460.30. Nursing and bachelor’s programs have separate rates. These figures exclude fees: CCA lists fixed technology, registration and student-ID charges each term, along with per-credit course, student-use, student-government and student-center fees; on-campus students also have a parking-facilities fee. Books, supplies and program-specific costs can add more. Full-time enrollment begins at 12 credits, but the student’s bill depends on residency classification, program, delivery mode and course mix. Check the current tuition and fee table.
Most federal and state financial aid applicants need to submit FAFSA or Colorado’s CASFA, and CCA’s federal school code is 016058. The CCA Foundation offers more than 60 scholarships through a shared application; its handbook says federal-aid eligibility is not required for Foundation awards. A separate Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) program pairs a term scholarship with help navigating enrollment, aid and career planning. Deadlines and eligibility differ, and students should renew aid applications each year. The COF stipend is not automatic: students should check the college and state instructions to see whether they qualify and authorize it. Review CCA financial aid and the CCA Foundation scholarship information.
English study before college-level coursework
CCA’s English Language Learners department offers three distinct paths. Community ESL is noncredit and practices speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar through daily-life and work situations; conversation classes are also available. Citizenship preparation combines English and civics for eligible lawful permanent residents who have a green card and intermediate English. College Preparatory ESL is credit-bearing and focuses on the academic reading, writing, grammar and study skills needed for college certificates and degrees. The department is based at CentreTech, Classroom Building, Suite 108. Community ESL has no general admission requirements, but students take a placement test to select a class level; the college’s policy says federal aid and COF do not cover those noncredit classes. Compare CCA English-language programs and adult-learner support.
Degrees, credits and how long a program takes
CCA’s 2024–25 fact sheet counted two bachelor’s programs, 50 associate degrees and 27 certificates, organized in six guided pathways: Communication and Languages; Creative Industries; Health; People, Societies and Ideas; Professional Studies and Public Service; and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The number of credentials and program names can change, so the current catalog and class schedule are the final reference. An Associate of Arts transfer pathway is typically 60 credits and designed as a two-year full-time plan; it is meant to transfer toward a bachelor’s degree, and students should select a named transfer major and confirm its requirements with an advisor. Career-oriented associate degrees and certificates vary in credits, sequence, clinical hours and admissions rules. CCA also lists bachelor’s completion programs in selected fields, including Behavioral Health and Elementary Education. Part-time attendance, placement classes, prerequisites and course availability can extend the calendar. Search the 2026–27 catalog and browse programs.
Choose a campus by what you plan to study
CentreTech is the first stop for admissions, financial aid, testing and advising, and it houses CAST programs in construction, diesel, engineering, technology and business. Lowry Studios is CCA’s cinematic-arts setting, with film and television equipment and a virtual production stage. Centennial focuses on nursing, emergency medical services, fire science, behavioral health and phlebotomy, with hands-on and simulation-based teaching. The institution also offers online courses, but the class schedule identifies where each in-person section meets; a college-wide program may not be taught at every campus.
Parking, transit and a well-planned first visit
Official campus maps identify parking at CentreTech, Lowry and Centennial, but individual lot rules and availability should be checked before a visit. CCA’s Office of Student Advocacy describes transportation support that can provide RTD bus and light-rail passes to eligible enrolled students. Because the campuses lie in three different cities, route and travel time depend on the specific classroom and time of day; use RTD’s current trip planner rather than assuming that a route to one campus serves another. Check general public hours and appointment requirements with the relevant campus, then confirm the class location in CCA’s live schedule. Open the campus directory and maps and ask about transportation support.
Check current details and choose according to your budget, time and way of travelling.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
Community College of Aurora — CentreTech Campus
16000 E. CentreTech Parkway, Aurora, CO 80011-9036
CentreTech is the best first stop for a student who needs to sort out enrollment before choosing classes. The Administration Building brings together admissions records, advising, cashier services, financial aid and testing; the Student Center houses food service and student advocacy. The campus als
Admissions, financial aid, testing, student advocacy, STEM and skilled-trades programs at the main Aurora campus.
Community College of Aurora — Lowry Studios
9075 E. Lowry Blvd., Denver, CO 80230
Lowry Studios gives CCA’s Cinematic Arts students a specialized base in Denver’s Lowry neighborhood. The college describes industry-grade film and television equipment and a Virtual Volume stage for building immersive 3D scenes. Its campus map also marks food service, student advocacy, security and
Cinematic Arts, film and television production equipment, a Virtual Volume stage and student services in Denver’s Lowry neighborhood.
Community College of Aurora — Centennial Campus for Healthcare and First Responders
12650 E. Arapahoe Rd., Suite 100, Centennial, CO 80112
Centennial Campus is CCA’s specialized site for health sciences and public service. The college places Nursing, EMT, Paramedic, Fire Science, Behavioral Health and Phlebotomy here, with hands-on instruction, clinical simulation and student-support services. The nursing program describes a mix of cla
Nursing, EMT, paramedic, fire science, behavioral health and phlebotomy programs, with simulation-based instruction.
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of Community College of Aurora — CentreTech Campus ↗
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Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
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Official website of Community College of Aurora — Lowry Studios ↗
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Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
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Official website of Community College of Aurora — Centennial Campus for Healthcare and First Responders ↗
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Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
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Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
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Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
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Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Community College of Aurora · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.