Colorado program provides free tuition for students in in-demand fields

The fields include forestry, construction, education, early childhood education, firefighting, law enforcement and nursing.

WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Career Advance Colorado has been providing free tuition for three semesters at select community and technical colleges across the state.

Career Advance Colorado started during the fall of 2023. The state legislature approved about $40 million for free tuition in in-demand fields at almost 20 community and technical colleges in the state. The fields include forestry, construction, education, early childhood education, firefighting, law enforcement and nursing.

“In Colorado, one of the things that we need a lot more of are wildland, firefighters, foresters and people that are working in land stewardship,” said Jennifer Lee, the program director for Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Resources at Front Range Community College.

Casey Coe, a student in forestry, found the program after he was let go from his last job.

“I have always loved to be in the outdoors,” Coe said. “And I found the Career Advance program online when I was just looking for a job and something new to do as a career transition. And found out that it was going to be, the tuition was paid for.”

“Once they’re done with their two-year program, they can actually go out and work in the field, kind of just like you see them now,” Lee said.

Fall of 2024 is the last semester the free tuition will be offered, unless more money is allocated. But there are no bounds for where this education may lead the students in the future.

“I hope to look back on this and say that this was the beginning of a fruitful career and something that I can really move forward with and make something that I feel like I’m doing some benefit to the world,” Coe said. “But also doing something I love and feel passionate about. I feel really lucky that I was able to find it the way I did. And fortunate that I was able to participate in the way that I can.”

The participating schools include: