Colorado Resident and Non-Resident Student Enrollment
Pursuant to CRS 23-1-113.5, the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) is required to report every 3 years on the resident and non-resident enrollments at Colorado public institutions of higher education. CRS 23-1-113.5 sets several different thresholds (calculated on a three-year rolling average) for resident enrollment based on three different groups:
- For Fall incoming freshman, up to 55% of the incoming class must be resident.
- For the total student population as calculated by FTE (full-time equivalent), at least 66% of the student population must be resident.
- For Fall enrollment of foreign students, up to 15% can be foreign.
Colorado statute allows several student populations to be excluded from these calculations and for institutions to receive added resident counts when calculating resident percentages related to these thresholds. For example, per CRS 23-1-113.5 (5)(a) a student identified by Colorado public postsecondary institutions as a Colorado Scholar defined by CRS 23-1-113.5 (5)(e)(I) is counted as two resident students for the purposes of these calculations. More details on these provisions are documented in the data file below and student populations given in-state tuition classification (and considered resident students for the purposes of this reporting) can be found in CDHE’s data documentation (SURDS Enrollment file and Tuition Classification Detail field). Additionally, several Colorado institutions of higher education are exempted from these thresholds if other conditions are met (as outlined in CRS 23-1-113.5).
Due to these provisions allowed by statute, the resident and non-resident population counts and proportions presented in this report provide a distorted enrollment snapshot at Colorado public institutions of higher education and should not be used for any other analysis apart from compliance with CRS 23-1-113.5.
Using data collected by CDHE from Colorado institutions of higher education, the dashboard and data file below show the resident and non-resident student enrollment numbers by institution. These data demonstrate that most Colorado institutions of higher education are in alignment with their respective resident and non-resident enrollment counts and proportions per CRS 23-1-113.5. Adams State University resident enrollment counts are below one of the required thresholds (total student population as calculated by FTE), however Adams State University has confirmed in past years that all qualified Colorado applicants have been accepted exempting them from this requirement. CDHE is working to receive confirmation from Adams State University for the latest years of data.
Statute requires CDHE to report how state institutions of higher education that utilize the Colorado Scholars program use associated tuition revenue for purposes of merit- and need-based scholarships for resident students. Below are the responses from University of Colorado and Colorado School of Mines:
University of Colorado:
In addition to scholarships provided to Colorado Scholars, the associated revenue generated pursuant to Section 23-1-113.5 (4)(d)(I)(A) is used to benefit all resident undergraduate students. Between FY 2019-20 and FY 2021-22, about $13.0 million was used annually to help provide merit- and need-based aid and to reduce the percent of total undergraduate tuition paid by resident students by about 2%.
Colorado School of Mines:
Through participation in the Colorado Scholars program, Colorado School of Mines is authorized to enroll additional nonresident students. The incremental tuition revenue generated from these enrollments is directed toward enhanced merit- and need-based financial aid for Colorado residents, enabling greater support than would be feasible under standard nonresident enrollment caps.
Statute requires CDHE to report the number of entering first-year Colorado residents, by county, who qualify as a Colorado Scholar. Those data are listed below:
CO Scholar counts by counties
The University of Colorado and Colorado State University are required to annually report to CDHE information demonstrating that qualified in-state students are not displaced or denied admissions as a result of the provisions outlined in CRS 23-1-113.5 and that any increase in the enrollment of foreign students at a specific campus of the University of Colorado system or at Colorado State University is a result of increased capacity at the institutions. Below are these reports submitted to CDHE:
University of Colorado System Report
Colorado State University Report
For questions, please contact: CDHE@dhe.state.co.us.