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History of CMU

Colorado Mesa University, in Grand Junction, Colorado is dedicated to providing an exceptional educational experience in a student-centered environment featuring small class sizes and a high level of student-faculty interaction. The school has a long history of growth and evolution. Founded in 1925, the institution originally started as a junior college enrolling 41 students. It was in 1937 that the school was renamed to Mesa College and it was in 1974 the institution began offering bachelor programs. As the school began to develop and change in 1988 the school went through another renaming process and became Mesa State College. Following that in 1996 the institution began offering if first Masters Program. After this under the leadership of President Tim Foster the school continued to expand in both campus size and student enrollment. Finally in 2011 the Board of Trustees and the State of Colorado officially renamed Mesa State College to Colorado Mesa University. The change reflects the growth that the institution has seen over the years and it further advances the institution as a learning community.

Today, enrollment exceeds 8,100 students and the University offers more than 90 undergraduate programs of study along with graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. In addition to help achieve its goal in meeting the educational needs of Western Colorado a two-year open admission division, Western Colorado Community College, was created in 2005 offering both technical certificates and associate degrees. The University also has a branch campus in Montrose, Colorado. Campus expansion to accommodate an ever-growing student body has resulted in state-of-the-art learning facilities on 86 acres in the heart of Grand Junction.

With all that has changed in the institution’s 86-year history, the dedication to providing the highest quality education in a student-centered environment has always remained. It is this principle that will continue to guide the momentum of Colorado Mesa University into the future.