When was Mesa State College founded?
Mesa was founded in 1925 by the wholehearted support of the people of the community. County, city, community, and private donations provided classroom facilities and equipment for the first classes.

Where is the Mesa State College campus?
The Mesa campus includes 42 acres in central Grand Junction. Mesa is accessible by the Grand Valley Transit System, car or taxi. Mesa State's address is 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501-3122. Visit our online maps for maps and driving directions.

How would you describe Grand Junction and the surrounding area?
Grand Junction is described as a beautiful and friendly city at the junction of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains. Grand Junction is at the center of a fertile valley that is surrounded on three sides by mountains and mesas climbing to heights of 9,000 to 10,500 feet. Grand Junction is the largest community in Western Colorado (referred to also as the Western Slope) and was established in 1881. Encompassing 13,935 square acres at a mean altitude of 4,592 feet, the city was recognized as a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in 1995. Grand Junction is located within Mesa County and reports over 126,000 population. Much of the land is owned and controlled by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Libraries, museums, theaters, restaurants, coffee shops, shopping mall, downtown shopping district, music clubs, and a variety of businesses offer considerable opportunities for learning and recreation. Grand Junction is characterized by its wealth of green spaces, including numerous city parks. Within a couple hours, you can drive to the mountains and enjoy great skiing at resorts such as Vail, Aspen and Telluride, or drive to the desert areas of Moab and Canyonlands for great mountain biking and exploring.

When is a good time to visit Mesa State?
Tours are offered throughout the year and provide a great opportunity for parents and students to get acquainted with the Mesa State community. Special visitation programs are offered in the spring and fall.

How can I arrange for a campus tour?
The Admissions Office will be happy to help you schedule an information session and a tour of our campus. For a campus tour please contact the Admissions Office at 800.982.6372 or 970.248.1875. Tours by appointment are available all year long and begin at 1:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. Tours take approximately two hours. Current Mesa State students lead tours of the campus. We look forward to seeing you on our campus!

What characteristics define the Mesa State student body?
Mesa is committed to building a diverse community, providing intellectual challenges to all students, and encouraging critical thinking and original thought. Respectful social interaction among people with geographic, ethnic, economic, or ideological differences is paramount to the success of the entire community. Students who have identified an ethnic minority background account for approximately 10% of the current enrollment.

What are the financial requirements for attending Mesa State?
Full tuition, room, and board for in-state students for the 2003-04 academic year are $8,728. Mesa State annually awards over $10 million dollars in financial aid and scholarship support to
approximately 75% of the student body. The typical financial aid package consists of grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans.

What is the criteria for admission?
Mesa State is considered a moderately selective institution. All applicants are carefully evaluated on an individual basis. Several factors are considered in the application process including overall grade point average, curriculum, class rank and the test results on the ACT or SAT.

What support services are available?
Mesa State offers services and programs to all students to help them succeed in their academic endeavors. Mesa State provides many support services for students attending Mesa, including disability services, health and counseling, academic support, financial aid, student activities, international student programs, community service, and the employment search center. The local community is committed to helping students enjoy a successful college experience.

What are the most popular majors at Mesa State?
Top programs at Mesa State include Business Administration, English, Biology, Fine and Performing Arts and Psychology. Click here for a complete list of Mesa's academic departments and links to information about specific academic majors. for a complete list of Mesa's academic departments and links to information about specific academic majors.

How accessible are Mesa State faculty members?
Mesa State students have great access to their professors. Our student-faculty ratio is 18 to 1. Students can approach professors comfortably outside class during informal discussions in
a professor's office or even in the dining area or quad, and students often work side by side with their professors on their current research.

How do I reach staff or faculty members at the college?
The campus switchboard (970.248.1020) can put you in touch with all campus offices and departments. Staff and faculty members may also be reached through Mesa's electronic mail system; visit our contact us page for e-mail links to campus departments or use the campus directory to look up individuals.

What does the Library offer?
The library holds more than 70 databases containing a large variety of full text journal articles, newspaper stories, e-books, pamphlets, encyclopedia articles, etc. Our databases cover a wide range of academic subjects including business, medicine, sciences, social sciences, law and the humanities. Our patrons have access to 15,000 online journals. Our online catalog helps patrons find books in our 300,000-volume collection, and another 18 million titles are available through Prospector. The library also offers reference (both online and in person), interlibrary, special collections, and a host of other information resources.

What computing facilities are available to students?
Computer labs are open 24 hours a day, 364 days a year. The campus network reaches all residence hall rooms, classrooms, labs, offices, and common areas. Students can access grades and curriculum online from their room.

What about life after Mesa State?
Many Mesa State alumni work in education, and in business and industry. Several of our students have gone on to graduate school at institutions including Cornell University, University of California-Irvine, CU-Boulder, University of Texas-Galveston, Ohio State University, to name a few. Other students enjoy satisfaction and success as journalists and poets, ambassadors, congressmen, technology entrepreneurs, authors, research scientists, corporate leaders, teachers, musicians, painters, and graphic designers. The possibilities are unlimited.

Where can I purchase Mesa State memorabilia?
You can choose from a variety of T-shirts and sweatshirts, as well as other gifts, at the college bookstore located in the College Center.

Is Mesa State accredited?
Yes. Mesa State College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602 (www.ncacihe.org). Accreditation by this agency places credits earned at Mesa State College on a par with those earned at other similarly accredited institutions throughout the United States. Various programs at Mesa are approved by appropriate state and national agencies, including the Colorado Board of Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Committee on Allied Health Education of the American Medical Association (Radiologic Sciences).

What health services are offered at Mesa State?
The Student Health Center is located at 1060 Orchard Ave. Suite O and is available to all Mesa State students who have paid their student fees. For a $5 co-pay, students may receive services. An additional minimal fee will be charged for special services. For a listing of these fees see the Student Health Services fee schedule available at the Health Center. Students can make an appointment by calling the Health Center direct. You do not have to have health insurance to be seen, but it is encouraged.

How important is it to have a car for use during the school year?
Most students can make their way around the community by walking or using the transit system. Several routes between the campus and the community are available throughout the day and evening. There is no fare to pay when riding the bus, as the transportation fee paid with tuition and other fees takes care of costs. When traveling home for vacations, students may use the commercial bus service, air or train service.

When are Commencement ceremonies held?
Commencement is held on the morning of Mother's Day each year.

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