Getting Started

Admissions Information 

Pikes Peak State College is an open admission college meaning that students who are at least 17-years old are admitted to the college*. Students under 17 can receive a waiver to attend PPSC. Admission to the college and declaring a major does not guarantee admission into a specific academic program. 

*Admission may be denied when any individual whose personal history and background indicates that his or her presence at the college would endanger the health, safety, welfare, or property of the college community or interfere with the orderly and effective performance of the college’s functions; and/or any individual who has misrepresented his/her credentials or background. 

F-1 visa international students have specific deadlines and requirements to apply for admission and an I-20. Visit www.pikespeak.edu/international for more information. 

Admissions Procedure

Applying to PPSC is free and there are no essays or tests required. There is no application deadline, so students can apply at any time. Students who have attended or applied to PPSC in the last year remain active and do not need to reapply. Visit www.pikespeak.edu/apply to get started. 

Student Type

Students will be classified as one of the following student types upon admission to PPSC. 

• High School Student:
  • A student currently in high school who is taking college level courses while in high school for dual credit (concurrent enrollment). 
  • High school students will remain as an “H” student type until they graduate from high school or receive a high school equivalency. For more information on enrolling as a high school student visit www.pikespeak.edu/hsp.
• New First Time Anywhere:
  • A student who has never attended college since completion of high school or received a high school equivalency. 
  • Students formerly coded as “High School” will become “New First Time Anywhere” once they graduate high school or receive a high school equivalency, and as long as they have completed a credit bearing class with a grade within the prior three terms, they will not need to reapply. For more information on enrolling as a new first time anywhere student visit www.pikespeak.edu/admissions/enroll/prospective-students/new-student.php.
• Transfer Student:
  • A student who has attended another college other than PPSC, prior to their planned start term, even if they did not complete a term at their prior college. For more information on enrolling as a transfer student student visit www.pikespeak.edu/admissions/enroll/prospective-students/transfer-student.php.
• International Student Admit:
  • A student who is enrolled for credit at an accredited higher education institution in the U.S. on a temporary visa issued by PPSC (F1 and M1 visa holders), and who is not an immigrant (permanent resident with an I-51 or Green Card), or an undocumented immigrant, or a refugee. For more information on enrolling as an international student visit www.pikespeak.edu/international.
• Re-Admit:
  • A student who has previously attended PPSC (but not within the prior three terms). For more information on enrolling as a re-admit student visit www.pikespeak.edu/admissions/enroll/prospective-students/returning-student.php.
• Guest Student:
  • A student who is attending a college or university other than PPSC (including other CCCS colleges) who intends to transfer their classes back to the other college or university. For more information on enrolling as a guest student visit www.pikespeak.edu/admissions/enroll/prospective-students/visiting-summer-students.php.

Readmission of military service member students

• PPSC will allow readmission of service members to selective application programs or to reenter their original program of study at the academic year of their enrollment if the service member is required to completely withdraw from the institution for a period of more than 30 consecutive days in compliance with Section 484C of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and with Federal Law 20 U.S.C 1091c. Service members who believe they meet this criterion should contact the Department of Military and Veterans Programs (719-502-4200 or mvp@pikespeak.edu) to begin the re-admission process.
• Additionally, service members using VA Education benefits are provided additional protections under 38 U.S.C. §3691A(b) when service members receive orders to “perform a period of service…” (i.e., active duty, in active duty training or state service) and cannot continue in their enrolled classes. If service members believe that they are protected under this law, they should contact the Department of Military and Veterans Programs (719-502-4100 or mvp@pikespeak.edu) to determine options for the student.

Registering for Classes

Students can register for classes for which they meet the pre-requisite. Meeting with an Academic Advisor, placement testing, submitting an academic history form, and submitting transcripts from other colleges for transfer credit evaluation are all steps students can take ensure they are registering for the correct courses to meet their goal. 

To learn more about the steps and resources for registering for classes, visit www.pikespeak.edu/register.