What Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs is like

What it's like

Colorado Technical University is a for-profit online-first institution. About 92% of students learn entirely online, making this a predominantly remote academic community rather than a traditional campus experience. Founded in 1965 to train military personnel, it has evolved into a degree-granting university with a strong veteran focus, holding Purple Heart University status and offering scholarships specifically for wounded service members.

Academic feel

CTU offers accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, engineering, health sciences, information technology, security studies, and project management. The university employs a lean full-time faculty (52) supplemented by a large contingent of part-time instructors (1,095 as of 2021). Academic programs are ABET-accredited for engineering disciplines and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The NSA and Department of Homeland Security recognize CTU as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. However, student outcomes reveal significant challenges: the graduation rate is approximately 23–25%, and debt distress is high—among student loan repayment cohorts, 32% are in forbearance, 25% are not making progress, and 18% have defaulted.

What you should consider

CTU is well-suited for working adults and veterans pursuing degrees online, particularly those in military or government sectors. The school has a 58-year history focused on serving military personnel and now confers scholarships on wounded service members and their spouses through the Patriot Scholarship program. Students seeking affordable access to degrees in business, technology, and engineering—and especially those accessing military education benefits—find a structured pathway. The institution has received recognition on U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Programs rankings for 12 consecutive years in several categories and on Military Times' Best for Vets list.

Strengths

• CTU receives extensive recognition for online programs, ranked among U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Bachelor's Programs and Best Online Master's Programs (in Criminal Justice, Computer IT, MBA, Business, and Nursing) for multiple consecutive years.[1]
• The university is recognized as a Purple Heart University and operates the CTU Patriot Scholarship program, which has awarded over 900 scholarships totaling more than $23 million to wounded service members and their spouses since 2008.[1]
• Engineering and computer science programs at the Colorado Springs campus are accredited by ABET, and CTU is recognized by the NSA and Department of Homeland Security as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.[1]
• CTU ranked in CEO Magazine's Global MBA Programs Rankings at #57, appearing on the list for the 5th time, and maintains consistent recognition on Military Times' Best for Vets list.[1]

Weaknesses

• Colorado Tech's graduation rate is low, at approximately 23–25%, significantly below national higher education benchmarks.[1]
• Student loan repayment outcomes are problematic: 32% of student debtors in repayment are in forbearance, 25% are not making progress, and 18% have defaulted.[1]
• In March 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs suspended G.I. Bill reimbursement eligibility for CTU due to what the VA described as 'erroneous, deceptive, or misleading enrollment and advertising practices,' though the threat was withdrawn in July 2020.[1]
• CTU was under heightened cash monitoring by the US Department of Education in 2017 for cash management oversight, and approximately 95% of the university's funding comes from the US government, creating heavy dependence on federal sources.[1]

Traditions

• Founded in 1965 by Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Robert Turkisher specifically to train former military personnel in technical and vocational subjects, CTU maintains a 59-year heritage centered on military and veteran education.[1]