Fort Collins
Campus Information

Fort Collins is booming with an influx of modern industries with the likes of Hewlett Packard and NCR building plants in the vicinity. 300 days of sunshine per year encourage townsfolk to enjoy the abundant recreational opportunities afforded by the nearby Front Range of the Rockies. Some of the state's best hiking, skiing, fishing, mountain biking and more encourage the healthy lifestyle that abounds in Fort Collins. A renovated Old Town offers boutiques, bookstores, gift shops, galleries, and restaurants. Museums and historical tours inform visitors of the rich cultural past of Fort Collins and northern Colorado. Numerous city parks provide relaxing locales for walking, picnicking, fishing, handball, golf, tennis, and more.

Fort Collins offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural and recreation opportunities, a strong economic base, and diverse employment opportunities. Median household income is $56,300 (family of four). Over forty percent of the population has completed four or more years of college.

Colorado's key economic strength is its diversity. The state is not dependent on any single sector, but has a strong base of businesses in a variety of high-tech and traditional industries. It has become a hub for telecommunications and transportation. Colorado is home to Qwest Communications International and Level 3 Communications. AT&T Broadband, Worldcom, Inc. and Verizon Wireless also have major facilities in the state. Colorado serves as a key distribution center for the growing Rocky Mountain Region. An excellent system of highway and rail transportation supports this function.

Colorado's economy has a diverse manufacturing base, especially in high-tech durable goods. Electrical and non-electrical machinery and instruments are the largest employers, primarily in computers, peripherals and other high tech equipment. Exports of manufactured products rose by 11.2% in 2000 to a record level of $6.6 billion. The export of Colorado's manufactured goods has enjoyed phenomenal growth over the course of the past decade. The future for Colorado's manufactured goods in overseas markets remains extremely bright.

The state's largest employment base is in the multi-faceted "services" sector. Business services is the fastest growing sub-sector, along with professional services, including legal, engineering, and architecture. Colorado is also a regional medical center, serving neighboring states as well as its own population. Agriculture and mining, once the economic strongholds in Colorado, represent a decreasing share of the state's total output. Nevertheless, technological advances have increased productivity in these sectors, and they continue to play an important role in the state's economy.

Finally, tourism, though not easily identifiable as a separate economic sector, is an important industry in Colorado. Visitors are drawn to Colorado year round, but primarily for the world-class skiing in the winter months, and for the myriad of recreational activities and breathtaking scenery in the summer months. Colorado currently ranks 17th in the nation for total tourism spending, and 5th on a per capita basis. For the seventh consecutive year, Colorado received among the highest grades

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in the nation in the Corporation for Enterprise Development's "2000 Report Card for the States." Colorado received A's in all three major indices of Performance, Business Vitality, and Development Capacity. Colorado's superior business climate and diversified economic base have attracted a number of expanding or relocating companies.

With a vibrant business base and wide variety of choices for employment, Fort Collins is an exciting place to make the next step in your life. Add to all this the flexible class structure, stimulating intellectual opportunities, and you have the mix for a fascinating learning experience.