Workforce and Training in Boulder

Highly Educated Talent

Boulder has one of the nation’s most highly educated, technically savvy workforces, which contributes to the vitality of the Boulder economy.

  • The Boulder Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has the most highly educated workforce in the United States, with 63% of all adults 25 and older having earned a bachelor’s or higher compared to the national average of 29%.
  • Over 75% of adults 25 and older who live in the City of Boulder have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to the national average.
  • With 39% of the population holding an advanced degree, Boulder is also ranked among the highest in graduate and doctoral degrees per capita in the U.S.
  • Colorado is ranked #3 in the nation in high-tech worker concentration.

Boulder attracts top intellectual talent from around the world. Boulder is a magnet for young, skilled and talented workers who are interested in career opportunities in dynamic industries such as aerospace, bioscience, cleantech, and IT/Software. Employees are attracted to Boulder for its desirable quality of life, beautiful setting and balanced lifestyle.

Boulder’s workforce is employed in a variety of occupations with a high concentration in professional occupations. Nearly 60% of the city’s civilian labor force is employed in managerial, professional or related occupations compared to 36% of the nation’s workers.

University of Colorado Boulder

The University of Colorado Boulder, the state's flagship university, is a world-class research university that offers many nationally recognized programs. CU Boulder has over 90 research centers, institutes and laboratories and offers 3,400 courses in 150 fields of study. CU Boulder is one of only 34 US public research universities invited to join the prestigious Association of American Universities and has the Rocky Mountain region’s largest library collection. Among the University’s faculty are five Nobel Laureates and four National Medal of Science winners.

Leeds School of Business

The University's Leeds School of Business, consistently ranked among the nation’s top business schools, supports the local business community by:

  • Providing interns, student consulting teams, and business graduates
  • Educating managers and executives
  • Providing insight and expertise
  • Creating new business knowledge through research.

The Deming Center for Entrepreneurship in the Leeds School offers one of the best entrepreneurial education programs in the nation. The center:

  • Prepares undergraduate and graduate students for entrepreneurial careers
  • Facilitates high impact research
  • Creates "productive collisions" among students, faculty and the business community.

College of Engineering and Applied Science

cu college of engineering

The College of Engineering and Applied Science offers degree programs in 12 specialty areas, including aerospace engineering sciences, architectural engineering, chemical engineering, chemical and biological engineering, environmental engineering, and computer science.

Faculty and students collaborate across the disciplines and with many external partners on finding solutions to the world's greatest challenges in aerospace, biotechnology, energy, and other fields.

Through its nationally recognized Aerospace Engineering Sciences program, the University of Colorado Boulder receives more NASA funding than any other public university in the United States. The program is home to 42-tenure track, research, and instructional faculty, and more than 200 graduate students and 400 undergraduates. The vibrant community of engineers and scientists tackle challenges in aerospace technology and science, partnering with private industry and focusing on:

  • Aerospace Engineering Systems
  • Astrodynamics & Satellite Navigation Systems
  • Bioastronautics
  • Remote Sensing, Earth & Space Sciences

School of Law

The University of Colorado Law School is housed in the beautiful, "green" Wolf Law Building with one of the largest law libraries in the country. Nationally recognized programs through the School of Law include:

  • Technology and Intellectual Property Law
  • Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law
  • American Indian Law
  • Juvenile and Family Law
  • Public Service Law
  • Entrepreneurial and Business Law

Professional Certificate Programs

The University of Colorado Boulder offers an ever-growing number of interdisciplinary and professional certificate programs to complement traditional education. These programs allow professionals to pursue certification apart from degree completion. Professional certificates are available in the following areas:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering
  • Boulder Digital Works
  • Electrical and Computing Engineering
  • Energy
  • Engineering Management
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Law
  • Renewable and Sustainable Energy
  • Telecommunications

Workforce Development Programs

Employees can add to their knowledge base by taking advantage of Boulder’s many adult educational programs. Area employers can also tap this vast pool of expertise to train workers in specific skills.

Colorado Job Training Programs

Bridging the gap between business needs and future employees is critical to ensure the long-term success of a business. The State of Colorado offers The Skill Advance Colorado Job Training Grant (formerly the Colorado First and Existing Industry Grant) that helps businesses and nonprofits create customized job training for employees.

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