Denver, a picturesque city located between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains, is Colorado's capital and largest city. With a population of 554,636 and an area totaling 154.9 square miles, the city is part of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area, the 22nd-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Originally inhabited by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians, Denver was founded by General William Larimer on November 22, 1858, after gold was discovered at the union of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. The town was named after James W. Denver, the Kansas territory governor, of which eastern Colorado was then a part. Shortly thereafter, more gold discoveries triggered the migration of approximately 100,000 people in 1859. This led the federal government to establish the Colorado Territory in 1861.

Nicknamed the "Mile-High City" because of its official elevation of 5,280 feet above sea level, Denver has a cool, semi-arid climate with about 300 days of sunshine each year. In between snowstorms during the winter season, Chinook winds warm the air. Dry winters, moist springs, comfortable summers, and agreeable falls support outdoor activities such as biking & hiking, horseback riding, fly fishing, skiing, golf, hang gliding, and whitewater rafting.

Denver's residents enjoy a diversity of recreational activities in which to take part, both indoor and outdoor. It has the largest city park system in the United States, with 650 miles of bike trails and 90 golf courses. In addition, Denver boasts a cultural and sophisticated environment. With one of the most educated populations in America and a passion for the arts, this western metropolis offers enrichment through the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The city features the Denver Zoo, a collection of museums, several shopping areas, and a downtown amusement park, Six Flags Elitch Gardens. As well, Denver is a huge sports town, being home to the National Football League's Denver Broncos, Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies, National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche, and National Basketball Association's Denver Nuggets.

The region has more federal employees than any other city in the United States except for Washington, D.C. Besides federal agencies, several defense- and aerospace-related companies such as Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace are located in the area. Due to Denver's location one mile above sea level, it is the largest U.S. city to present a "one-bounce" real-time satellite uplink to 6 continents in a business day. As a result, several telecommunications companies including Qwest Communications, Comcast, EchoStar, and Starz-Encore maintain operations there. Examples of other companies that have operations in the Denver area are J.D. Edwards (part of Oracle Corporation), Quizno's, Sun Microsystems, United Airlines, and Coors Brewing Company.

The Denver metropolitan area has 1,429,737 people over the age of 25 (2004 estimate). Of those, 36.1% have a bachelor's degree education, or higher. Over 10% of the population holds a graduate or professional degree.

Private Colleges & Universities

• University of Denver
• Johnson & Wales University
• Regis University
• Teikyo Loretto Heights University

Public Colleges & Universities

• University of Colorado at Denver
• Metropolitan State College of Denver
• Community College of Denver
• Colorado School of Mines

Professional Schools

• Art Institute Of Colorado
• Westwood College, Denver
• Berlitz Language Centers
• Colorado Real Estate Institute
• Colorado Technical University
• Denver Academy Of Court Reporting-Main Campus
• Denver Automotive And Diesel College
• Denver Technical College
• Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design
• University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center

Private Universities

• University of Denver - $ 27,756 full time

Public Universities

• University of Colorado at Denver - $ 6,624 full time resident; $ 15,394 full time non-resident

Technical/Professional Schools

• Art Institute of Denver - $ 42,402 (based on a two-year Associate of Applied Arts Degree)

The above listed tuition rates are base rates only. Other items that can significantly increase one's total financial obligation include room and board, books, computer and lab fees, and other miscellaneous expenses. It's a good idea to keep these factors in mind when assessing the cost of a particular program.

All students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is used nationwide to help determine aid at the federal and state levels. In addition to loans and grants, students should also remember to look for scholarships.

Some scholarships available to students in Denver are as follows:

• RBC Dain Rauscher Colorado Scholarship Fund - At least $2,000 awarded to Colorado high school seniors who have exceptional levels of achievement in one or more areas
• Columbine Memorial Scholarship Fund - Sixteen scholarships awarded annually for individuals with financial need
• Judge Donald E. Cordova Scholarship Fund - Up to $3,000 awarded annually to a Latino high school senior from Las Animas or Huerfano County
• Lauren Townsend Memorial Scholarship Fund - $2500-$3500 awarded each year to graduating seniors from Jefferson County High Schools
• Paul and Paula Sandoval Scholarship - $2,500 awarded to one male and one female student
• Willard and Martha Baker Scholarship Fund - $1,500 for students graduating from Montbello High School
• Colorado Press Association Scholarship Fund - For students studying journalism
• Denver Country Club Scholarship Fund - For Colorado students who have caddied or worked at the Denver Country Club
• Florence Carrie Harris Scholarship Fund - For women with financial need who attend the Women's College at the University of Denver
• Reisher Family Scholarship Fund - For Colorado residents who attend Metropolitan State College, the University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Colorado at Denver
• Terry L. Priest Transportation Education Fund - For undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in transportation, logistics, or supply chain programs at accredited colleges and universities
• Winifred R. Reynolds Educational Scholarship Fund - For students pursuing a graduate degree in Early Childhood education, Child Development, or an equivalent field at Colorado State University, the University of Colorado at Denver, the University of Denver, or the University of Northern Colorado

These scholarships and many more are available for all students. Please visit The Denver Foundation for more information. Also be sure to visit CollegeinColorado.org, a great website that overviews loans, grants, and scholarships for students in Colorado.

Internships can be paid or unpaid and can be for credit or non-credit. As well, they may take place in many environments including government, corporate, and non-profit sectors. Ultimately, they assist in providing the student with a competitive edge that's needed to be successful in today's job market. Several companies in Denver such as The Denver Post newspaper, EchoStar, and ABC 7 - The Denver Channel offer internships. A prime example is the Denver Zoo. Offering internships in horticulture, animal care, marketing, public relations, and exhibit planning, they enable students to adjust and use classroom knowledge in a natural environment. Certain internships at the Denver Zoo are unpaid, while others may pay up to $9.00 hourly.

"We work with students and try to provide them with leads for employment opportunities, on both the local and national levels," says Danielle Zeig. These leads can come through on-campus job fairs, as well as through the faculty themselves.

"Sixty percent of our students are working professionals," Zeig says. Students can network through each other, as well as through professors. "There are multiple opportunities for networking. Many of our faculty are working professionals outside of being educators," Zeig continues. "As a result, they have business contacts and can be helpful to job seeking students."