Arapahoe Community College lands NASA aerospace training hub
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Arapahoe Community College isn't sending astronauts into space, but it wants its graduates building the bolts, soldering the parts and drawing the plans that get them there.
Why it matters: ACC's leaning into aerospace as community colleges nationwide face pressures to prove their programs lead to good-paying jobs and four-year degrees.
Driving the news: NASA this month picked the Castle Rock-based Colorado Space Institute (CSI) at ACC as one of seven hubs nationwide tasked with growing the country's technical aerospace workforce.
- The designation comes with $1.3 million in federal funding over three years to expand training, hire industry professionals as instructors and build pipelines into aerospace jobs.
The big picture: Aerospace and aviation employment in Denver's south metro grew about 18% over the past five years — and added more than 1,600 jobs — the regional economic development group Denver South reports.
- Statewide aerospace employment jumped 26.3% over the same period.
Yes, but: NASA says Colorado's aerospace employers face persistent shortages among skilled technical workers who don't need bachelor's degrees.
Zoom in: ACC is targeting jobs like welding, machining, electromechanics and mechatronics — the hands-on work behind the things launched into space.
What they're saying: "There's a workforce gap that's not going to be filled by AI, and it's not going to be filled by four-year degrees right off the bat," CSI director Grace Crain-Wright tells Axios. "It's this technical workforce that is so vital to the growing economy … and we have an opportunity to help fill that."
Between the lines: ACC's space push comes as the school rethinks its curriculum.
- It launched its space institute in March 2025.
- And the school dropped retail management and some entrepreneurship programs while investing in areas tied more directly to jobs.
Reality check: CSI is still small.
- Ten students have completed its soldering course; about 10 more are scheduled for October and 15 are enrolled in an introductory space science series.
How it works: ACC already offers space-focused soldering training and a space science series. The school has plans to tap into Colorado's other community college programs.
- CSI's working with companies — including Douglas County's Safran Defense & Space — to connect students with internships and jobs.
- It's also building relationships with Lockheed Martin, ExoTerra Resource, Sodern America and others.
Zoom out: Colorado has more than 2,000 aerospace businesses.
What's next: ACC plans to launch what it calls a first-of-its-kind associate of applied science in space science technology in fall 2027, pending state approval.
- The first cohort is expected to start with 15 to 20 students.