Understanding CCD Tuition and Fees: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the world of college tuition and fees can be daunting. This guide aims to provide a clear and comprehensive overview of the tuition and fees structure at the Community College of Denver (CCD), empowering students to make informed financial decisions. The CCD Cashier’s Office is your primary resource for all questions related to tuition, billing statements, payments, and refunds. They are committed to supporting students in achieving their educational goals.

Payment Information

It's important to be aware of payment deadlines, which can be found in the CCD Academic Calendar. Effective Fall 2025 (202620), a one-time late fee of $70.00 will be assessed on all past due balances. Past due balances are student accounts that have outstanding balances after the payment deadline of that term. Contact the CCD Cashier’s Office with any questions.

Tuition Rates

Standard Tuition

The State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education determines tuition, which is subject to change annually. For the academic year 2025-2026, the standard tuition rates per credit hour are as follows:

Resident: \$291.00 per credit hour, which can be reduced to \$175.00 per credit hour with the College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend.
Non-Resident: \$718.35 per credit hour.

Note: These rates apply to on-campus classes only.

Online Tuition

Online courses have different tuition rates:

Read also: Affording ECU

Resident: \$403.50 per credit without COF (\$287.50 per credit using COF).
Non-Resident: \$438.40 per credit.

Tuition rates and refund deadlines vary for Colorado (CO Online) online courses.

Differential Tuition

Certain programs have differential tuition rates:

Program	Resident (with COF)	Non-Resident
AAS Dental Hygiene	\$348.20	\$728.70
BAS Dental Hygiene	\$360.05	\$467.40
BAS Cannabis Science and Operations	\$360.05	\$467.40
BAS Health Informatics	\$294.55	\$458.00
BAS Business Administration	\$287.50	\$438.40
Practical Nursing	\$263.25	\$734.85

Understanding the College Opportunity Fund (COF)

The College Opportunity Fund (COF) is a stipend paid by the state of Colorado to eligible students, reducing their out-of-pocket tuition expenses. Colorado residents are encouraged to apply for COF to lower their tuition costs.

Additional Fees

In addition to tuition, students are required to pay certain fees. These fees support various services and programs on campus:

General Fees

Registration Fee: \$17.55 per semester. This is a mandatory fee charged by the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) to students at all 13 of its colleges.
Student Government Operations/Student Activity Fee: \$9.67 per credit hour. This fee supports student life programs, student government, orientation, child care scholarships, and recreational activities.
Immunization Fee: \$2.00 per semester. This fee supports the provision of immunizations on campus.
Student Building Renovation Fee: \$8.00 per credit hour. This fee supports the construction of the Confluence building and the renovation of the Cherry Creek Building.
AHEC Library Resource Fee: \$8.95 per credit hour. This fee supports Auraria Library functions.
MSUD Health Center Fee: \$24.00 per semester. This fee allows students to use the medical center located on the Auraria Campus.
Mental Health Counseling Service Fee: \$13.32 per semester. This fee provides access to mental health counseling services on the Auraria Campus.
Clean Energy/Student Sustainability Fee: \$10.86 per semester. This student-approved fee is for purchasing clean, renewable electrical power for the Auraria Campus.
Student Facilities Fee: \$7.12 per semester. This fee supports the Tivoli Park/Student Spaces.
Malpractice Insurance Fee: \$10.01 per semester. Assessed to those Health Science courses that require clinical activity.
RTD Pass Fee: \$250 per semester (subject to change). The Auraria student RTD pass covers fares for local bus service in the Denver-metro area, Light Rail, and all Express or Express Regional services.

Auraria Campus Fees

Students at the Auraria Campus pay set fees that support a variety of services and programs. Students enrolled exclusively online or at CCD's satellite campuses pay all fees except the AHEC Bond Fee, RTD Pass, Student Facilities Fee, and AHEC Clean Energy Fee.

Auraria Bond Fee: \$54.16 for 1-3 credits, \$74.92 for 4-6 credits, \$99.89 for 7-11 credits, \$114.48 for 12 credits or more. This fee pays off the bonds that funded construction on the Tivoli Student Union, Auraria Early Learning Center, campus health physical education, and recreation facilities.

Program-Specific Fees

Instructional Program Fee: \$9.05 per credit. This fee is added for Med/High cost classes.
Technology Fee: \$9.05 per credit. This fee is added to MAT and ENG classes.
Certain departments, majors, or classes may assess specific fees in order to offset associated costs, such as textbook fees, lab fees or tool kit fees.

Additional Course Fees

Certain courses provide additional instruction over the standard credit hour-based lecture (e.g., science labs).
\$150 per course charged to DUAL (formerly ECS) students when enrolled in a tuition exempt courses offered at an ACC campus (exceptions apply).
\$60 per credit hour for any course you have attempted three or more times will be added to the tuition charged for that course.

Estimating Your Costs

To complete an associate degree in two years, you should aim to complete a combination of approved credits to equal 30 within the year. One example is 12 credit hours in the fall semester, 12 credit hours in the spring semester, and 6 credit hours during the summer semester.

For one academic year, tuition plus fees equals $6813.85.

Cost of Attendance Example

Let's break down the cost for a Colorado resident taking 12 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters, and 6 credit hours in the summer:

Tuition (Resident with COF): 30 credits * \$175.00/credit = \$5250.00
Student Government Operations/Student Activity Fee: 30 credits * \$9.67/credit = \$290.10
Student Building Renovation Fee: 30 credits * \$8.00/credit = \$240.00
AHEC Library Resource Fee: 30 credits * \$8.95/credit = \$268.50
Registration Fee: \$17.55/semester * 3 semesters = \$52.65
MSUD Health Center Fee: \$24.00/semester * 3 semesters = \$72.00
Mental Health Counseling Service Fee: \$13.32/semester * 3 semesters = \$39.96
Clean Energy/Student Sustainability Fee: \$10.86/semester * 3 semesters = \$32.58
Student Facilities Fee: \$7.12/semester * 3 semesters = \$21.36
Immunization Fee: \$2.00/semester * 3 semesters = \$6.00
Malpractice Insurance Fee: Depends on the courses.
RTD Pass Fee: Not included in the sample calculation.
Auraria Bond Fee: Depends on the exact credit hours.

Total Estimated Cost: (Not including RTD Pass Fee, Malpractice Insurance Fee, Auraria Bond Fee, Program Specific Fees, Technology Fee, Instructional Program Fee, and books, supplies, and cost of living) \$6,273.15

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial aid, including student loans, grants, and scholarships, can help cover part or all of the costs of attending college. CCD has funds available for scholarships, so don't miss out on applying for that FREE money each year. Connect with the Financial Aid Office so you can get that number even lower. You can also estimate your cost of living, plus books, supplies, and financial aid awards.

Read also: NYU Costs Explained

Tuition and Fees Trends

Historical Data

Tuition and Fees for in-state Community College of Denver increased with an average annual rate of -0.03% over the past five years. During the same time period, tuition and fees for out-of-state students have increased by 0.71%.

Projected Costs

This school year, in-state students can expect to pay $4,742 if the growth keeps up. At this rate, we estimate the total cost of in-state tuition and fees for two years at CCD to be $9,483, and $18,962 for four years.

Out-of-state students will be charged approximately $16,397 in this academic year if the costs keep going up at the same rate. This means an estimated $32,910 for two years of out-of-state tuition and fees at CCD, and $66,288 for four years.

CCD Tuition & Fees Compared to Other Schools

National Averages

Nationwide, out-of-state students pay, on average, $19,933 per year in tuition and fees to attend college. With an average cost of $16,167 in tuition and fees for undergraduate students, Community College of Denver is inexpensive when compared to the national average.

Average in-state tuition and fees for schools across the country is $16,784 a year for undergraduate students. CCD only charges $4,745 a year in for in-state undergraduates, making it relatively inexpensive when compared to the national average.

Regional Comparison

Compared to other schools in the Rocky Mountains region and within Colorado, CCD is generally considered inexpensive for both in-state and out-of-state students.

Important Considerations

Financial Disclaimer

During the 2025-2026 academic year, some or all of the instructional formats may change due to an emergency situation affecting college operations, public safety, or public health, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Tuition and fees are charged at the beginning of the semester and will remain in place regardless of any changes in instructional format.

Changes and Updates

The State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education determines tuition, which is subject to change annually. Always refer to the most recent information available on the CCD website or by contacting the Cashier's Office.

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