Pikes Peak fills the view west from the UCCS campus, which climbs the bluffs on the north side of Colorado Springs. Part of the University of Colorado system since 1965, it has grown fast, with engineering, computer science, business and nursing among its main programmes. The city's Space Force bases and defence contractors shape much of the local job market.
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Official website: uccs.edu
University of Colorado system
1965
North Colorado Springs, below Pikes Peak
NCAA Division II Mountain Lions
$25,000 – $32,000
Non-resident students, undergraduate and graduate
$14,000 – $18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on uccs.edu before you apply.
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
BS Mechanical Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Views of Pikes Peak from most of campus.
Links with Colorado Springs' aerospace and defence employers.
The Ent Center for the Arts, a performance venue on campus.
Engineering and computer science graduates join aerospace and tech employers in the city.
Many defence jobs require US citizenship, so international graduates usually look to private-sector roles.
STEM graduates can apply for up to three years of OPT.
Nursing graduates work in Colorado Springs' hospital systems.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Colorado Springs sits at about 6,000 feet, so the air is thin and dry and the sun is strong. Garden of the Gods and the Manitou Incline are a short drive from campus.
Rent is lower than in Denver, about an hour north on I-25. Winters bring snow and plenty of sunny days, and the big ski resorts are two to three hours away.
Form I-20 issued by the institution
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
UCCS reviews international applications on a rolling basis. Aim for about May for fall and October for spring, so there's time for the I-20 and visa.
Most programmes start in fall (August) or spring (January).
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, University of Colorado Colorado Springs issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, mechanical engineering, business and the MBA are popular. Undergraduates need secondary school results and IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 71; graduate programmes need a relevant bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5.
UCCS offers some merit scholarships to international undergraduates, decided at admission. Graduate students can ask their department about assistantships.
