Colorado Mountain College, the largest concurrent enrollment provider on the Western Slope, is celebrating two decades of saving families tens of millions of dollars in tuition and helping students gain a head start on college and careers — according to a column from college president Matt Gianneschi.

For the past 20 years, the college has worked with local school districts to deliver concurrent enrollment classes to high schools across the Western Slope. These programs help students earn college credit for free while still in high school, reducing their overall cost for higher education and allowing many to earn a college certificate or degree before graduation.   

More than 40% of students registered at CMC are in concurrent enrollment programs earning credits that will transfer to any public university in Colorado. 

The college estimates that it has supported nearly 20,000 high school students. Since 2009, the program has helped students earn 200,551 credits — equivalent to approximately 1,671 bachelor’s degrees or nearly $21 million in free college credits, according to CMC.

CMC has also announced it is expanding its concurrent enrollment opportunities to allow English language learners to earn an English Acquisition for Academic Purposes certificate in high school through concurrent enrollment, empowering them to earn college credit while acquiring English skills.