Founded in 1864, the University of Denver is one of the oldest private higher learning institutes in Colorado. This four-year university is in Denver's University neighborhood. The main campus features the Newman Center for the Performing Arts and DeBoer Park. Various colleges include the Daniels College of Business and Sturm College of Law.
The University of Colorado-Denver has two campuses in the greater Denver area. The main campus is the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver and the Anschutz Medical Campus is in Denver's eastern suburb, Aurora. This university draws more than $375 million a year for research purposes, most of which goes toward medical research at Anschutz.
Located in Lakewood, the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, or RMCAD, is a four-year institute and provides degrees in game art, animation, interior design and illustration. The college was founded in 1963. RMCAD's facilities include a professional sound studio, auditorium and ceramics studio.
The Art Institute of Colorado, or AIC, is a for-profit university founded in 1952. When it was originally founded, AIC was known as the Colorado Institute of Art; many locals still call the college by its former name. Bachelor of arts degrees include media arts and animation, culinary management and industrial design.
The Denver chapter of Johnson and Wales University is on the eastern edge of the city in the Park Hill neighborhood. The original Johnson and Wales campus is in Providence, Rhode Island; the Denver campus opened in 2000. This college is a four-year institute and specializes in culinary arts and business programs. JWU has a trimester schedule with fall, winter and spring sessions.
Colorado Heights University is a member of the Teikyo University Group, based in Tokyo, Japan. This university was founded as Teikyo Heights College in 1989, until its name change in 2009. The campus' centerpiece is the Administration Building, built in 1891 when the university was Loretto Heights College, a private Catholic institute.
Platt College is in southern Aurora, within walking distance of Cherry Creek State Park. This college offers associate's degrees in nursing and design. The college was founded in Missouri during the 19th century, but the Denver campus opened in 1986. Platt is a member of the Accrediting Commission of Career Colleges and Schools.
The Community College of Aurora has its main campus in Aurora's CentreTech area, less than 2 miles from Buckley Air Force Base. This two-year college offers degrees in psychology plan of study, pre-health plan of study and criminal justice plan of study.