College is an investment in a student's future. Students who graduate from college earn, over the course of their working lives, on average a million dollars more than their peers who don't hold a college degree. A college education also provides students with an education that prepares them for civic participation in our democratic Republic. Because other Coloradoans believe college is important to a student's future, taxpayers provide resident undergraduate students with a stipend to help offset the cost of college. Through the College Opportunity Fund, students get state assistance to help finance their college education. Combined with other financial aid, scholarships, work study and loans, college can be affordable for every Colorado student. This guide presents a snapshot of important information to guide students in choosing a college or university that is right for them. It helps students compare important information on all the schools, including the types of academic programs offered, application criteria and deadlines, and how to pay for college. Choosing to go to college is one of the best decisions students will ever make. Consider the facts: jobs requiring just a high school diploma are expected to grow by just 12 percent in the next few years while jobs requiring a college degree will grow by more than 22 percent.