A liberal arts education where you learn by doing
As the Four Corners’ only public liberal arts college, Fort Lewis College blends critical thinking with hands-on learning grounded in the landscapes and communities of Southwest Colorado. Every student builds a foundation in the liberal arts and then specializes through one of our three schools: Arts & Sciences, Katz School of Business, or Education.
Across all three, you’ll find small classes, expert faculty who know your name, and lessons that come to life beyond the classroom through research, internships, and real experiences in Durango and beyond.
Specific skills change, but thinking well doesn’t. At FLC, you’ll question assumptions, connect ideas across disciplines, and solve problems creatively. You’ll learn to use new tools thoughtfully, communicate with purpose, and make ethical choices that strengthen communities and shape a more just and sustainable future.
A liberal arts education teaches you how to think, not what to think, preparing you for today’s careers and the ones still to come. And at Fort Lewis College, learning doesn’t just stay in the classroom—it meets the world head-on through curiosity, compassion, and action.
Experiential learning at Fort Lewis College
Learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. Ninety-five percent of FLC students participate in undergraduate research, often beginning their first year. Whether in the field, in local communities, or across the world, you’ll put your education to work where it matters most.
Dig at archaeology sites across the Southwest. Rappel down canyon walls to study ancient formations. Monitor rivers, restore wetlands, or guide expeditions through Adventure Education. Discovery happens where learning meets the landscape.
Design solar installations for Navajo Nation homes. Partner on restoration projects that protect native species. Work with tribal water experts through media fellowships or renewable energy studies. Students tackle real challenges that strengthen the Four Corners.
Join the Village Aid Project to build essential infrastructure in developing nations. Study abroad in programs that connect your major to global issues. Travel with Outdoor Pursuits to combine cultural immersion with adventure. FLC’s reach and impact extend far beyond Durango.
Fort Lewis College student-athletes now have a brand-new space to focus on their academics with the opening of the Mezzanine, a dedicated study hall located in the Sports Performance Center--a $6 million dollar facility that had its grand opening in April.
Shirley hopes to bring clean energy and sustainable food systems to Navajo Nation communities.
Fort Lewis College alumna and linguist Stacey Oberly (’92) helps revitalize Indigenous languages through teaching and collaboration with the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes.
Durango City Council was to consider a resolution Tuesday.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the research partnership aims to harness sunlight to power chemical reactions and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.