After training high-country health care workers for more than two decades, Colorado Mountain College’s sought-after nursing program expanded to CMC Steamboat Springs in 2020. The third campus to offer the program has an associate degree in nursing, as well as an online bachelor’s degree in nursing.

There is now space on campus for a nursing simulation lab, where the Yampa Valley Entrepreneurship Center used to be. Thanks to a partnership between the college and sports nutrition brand Honey Stinger, CMC’s YVEC moved into space at Honey Stinger’s new headquarters. Construction of the nursing simulation lab is scheduled for completion in January 2021. 

“Our highly experienced faculty provide students with individual attention in small classes,” says J.C. Norling, interim college vice president and Steamboat campus dean. “Not only are our students empowered to reach their academic and career goals, they can enjoy mountain living.”  

Founded in 1965, Colorado Mountain College has 11 locations in mountain communities throughout the state’s north-central region. Locally, CMC Steamboat Springs is an ideal setting for students to take advantage of excellent skiing, hiking, biking, river running and other outdoor adventures right outside their residential hall. And career preparation for mountain and resort living is woven into the curriculum. 

The Steamboat campus highlights associate degrees and certificates in ski and snowboard business, resort and restaurant management, engineering, outdoor studies and more. The campus offers bachelor’s degrees in sustainability studies, business administration, education, and applied science in leadership and management.  

The college also offers personal enrichment and adult basic education classes, as well as career training. Concurrent enrollment courses allow local high school students to earn college credit free of charge while still in high school.  

Eight years ago, CMC Steamboat Springs opened a new $18 million, 60,000-square-foot academic and student center overlooking downtown, which has quickly become a cornerstone of the community. The U.S. Department of Education has ranked CMC among the country’s most affordable colleges offering bachelor’s degrees.  

Tuition is an affordable $85 per credit hour for students who qualify as in-district, $175 for students living outside the district but within the college’s service area (Grand, Jackson and Chaffee counties), $185 for in-state/out-of-district students and $466 for out-of-state students. Slightly higher tuition rates apply for education and nursing bachelor’s degrees. Info: http://www.coloradomtn.edu.