Postsecondary Access and Success for Colorado’s High School Graduates - 2026 Key Findings

Oct 15, 2026

Report presents the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s 2026 key findings on postsecondary access and success for Colorado high school graduates. It summarizes 2022 outcomes including college enrollment after graduation, enrollment by institution type and in-state versus out-of-state patterns, and trends in dual and concurrent enrollment participation. It also details financial aid use among Colorado institution enrollees and highlights persistence into the second year and six-year postsecondary graduation results, providing data-backed guidance for education committees.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Key Findings

2022 High School Graduating Class

Dual and Concurrent Enrollment

Financial Aid Overview for Colorado Institution Enrollees

Outcomes and College-Going Pathways for Colorado high school graduates

Postsecondary Access and Success for Colorado’s High School Graduates 2026 Key Findings 2026 The Colorado Department of Higher Education Report to the education committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Colorado General Assembly and the State Board of Education Statute: §23-1-113 The Colorado Department of Higher Education (DHE), under its own authority and through the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE), oversees and coordinates policy for 31 public institutions of higher education (including community colleges, independent local district colleges and local area technical colleges) and authorizes and regulates private colleges, universities and occupational schools. Mission – We support students, advocate and develop policies to maximize higher education opportunities for all. Vision – All Coloradans will have an education beyond high school to pursue their dreams and improve our communities. Prepared and submitted by the Colorado Department of Higher Education under the Executive Leadership of JB Holston Pursuant to the statutory authority of 23-1-113 April 2026 1600 Broadway, Suite 2200, Denver, CO 80202 For more information contact: Student Success and Academic Affairs Carl Einhaus, Chief Student Success and Academic Affairs Officer [CDHE@dhe.state.co.us](CDHE@dhe.state.co.us) Key Findings: 2022 High School Graduating Class | At a Glance | | --- | | • A total of 61,657 students graduated from a Colorado public high school in 2022.
• 51% of the 2022 Colorado public high school graduates enrolled in postsecondary education the fall after graduation. This is a slight increase from the 2021 class (49 .9%) and 2020 class (50 .5%) . Prior to COVID (2010-2019) the rate ranged between 55.8% to 57.8% .
• 75.7% of the 2022 Colorado public high school graduates who continued in postsecondary education enrolled at 4-year institutions (a slight increase); 24.3% enrolled at a 2-year institution (a slight decrease) .
• 29.3% of the 2022 Colorado public high school graduates enrolled at an out-of-state institution (a slight increase) with 70.7% enrolled in-state (a slight decrease) . Since 2010 (20 .7%) the percentage of Colorado public high school graduates enrolling out-of-state has steadily increased. | | Dual and Concurrent Enrollment | | --- | | • 39.9% of the Colorado public high school graduating cohort attempted Concurrent Enrollment courses and 44.7% attempted dual enrollment courses. Both are continued increases from the previous (in the 2021 high school graduating class, 36.2% attempted concurrent enrollment courses while 42.0% attempted dual enrollment) . Over time, there has been a steady growth in both dual and Concurrent Enrollment-in 2012 14.7% attempted Concurrent Enrollment courses and 21.2% attempted dual enrollment courses. Concurrent Enrollment courses meet the conditions provided in the Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act, while dual enrollment courses are all college courses offered to high school students.
• 3.7% of the 2022 Colorado high school graduating cohort earned a degree prior to enrolling in college. This has been steadily increasing (yearly) since 2012 (0 .9%) . | | Financial Aid Overview for Colorado Institution Enrollees | | --- | | • 81. 2% of the 2022 Colorado public high school graduates who enrolled at a Colorado public higher education institution completed the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) . Since 2011, more than 80% have filled out the application.
• 30.4% of the 2022 Colorado public high school graduates who enrolled at a Colorado public higher education institution received a Pell Grant, a slight increase from the year previous year’s high school class (29 .7%) and the 2020 high school class (28 .5%) . Prior to COVID (2010- 2019), between 32.5% to 36.8% received a Pell grant.
• 35. 2% of the 2022 Colorado public high school graduates who enrolled at a Colorado public higher educat

FAQs

What share of Colorado public high school graduates enroll in postsecondary education after graduation?

In 2022, 51% of Colorado public high school graduates enrolled in postsecondary education the fall after graduation.

How do dual and concurrent enrollment participation rates compare for the 2022 cohort?

For the 2022 Colorado graduating cohort, 39.9% attempted concurrent enrollment courses and 44.7% attempted dual enrollment courses.

What outcomes are reported for college persistence and six-year graduation rates?

The report states that 79.9% of the 2021 Colorado high school graduates who enrolled persisted to their second year, and the six-year graduation rate for the 2017 cohort was 58.9%.

Oct 15, 2026

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