Best Colleges in Colorado (2026)
88 colleges ranked by graduate earnings, acceptance rates, and outcomes — powered by federal data from the U.S. Department of Education.
88
Colleges
$44,239
Avg Earnings (10yr)
$17,577
Avg Net Price
77%
Avg Admit Rate
57%
Avg Grad Rate
State Overview
Colorado is home to 88 colleges and universities, ranging from research universities to community colleges. Colorado School of Mines leads the state in graduate earnings, with state alumni earning $44,239 on average ten years after enrollment. Whether you're looking for a flagship research university, a liberal arts college, or a career-focused program, Colorado offers diverse options across all price points.
Quick Facts — Colorado Colleges
Top 10 Colleges in Colorado by Graduate Earnings
Ranked by median earnings 10 years after enrollment. Public and private nonprofit only.
6
Colorado College
Colorado Springs·Private Nonprofit
Admit
20%
Net Price
$31,678
Grad Rate
86%
Earnings
$65,222
7
Admit
78%
Net Price
$19,133
Grad Rate
46%
Earnings
$64,270
8
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins·Public
Admit
90%
Net Price
$20,332
Grad Rate
67%
Earnings
$60,543
10
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs·Public
Admit
97%
Net Price
$16,431
Grad Rate
44%
Earnings
$54,659
Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado
Lowest average net price after grants and scholarships. Public and private nonprofit only.
#2 Most AffordablePublic
Colorado Mountain CollegeGlenwood Springs, CO
$6,342/ yr avg net
26% grad rate
Popular Majors
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Find my Colorado collegeAll Colleges in Colorado
All 88 accredited institutions. Click column headers to sort.
| School | City | Type | Admit Rate | Net Price | Grad Rate | Earnings (10yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy of Natural Therapy Inc | Greeley | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $25,770 |
| Adams State University | Alamosa | Public | N/A | $14,173 | 30% | $44,372 |
| Aims Community College | Greeley | Public | N/A | $9,535 | 35% | $41,887 |
| Apex College of Veterinary Technology | Colorado Springs | Private For-Profit | N/A | $10,030 | N/A | N/A |
| Arapahoe Community College | Littleton | Public | N/A | $10,790 | 27% | $48,341 |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora | Aurora | Private For-Profit | 100% | N/A | N/A | $34,657 |
| Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder | Boulder | Private For-Profit | N/A | $12,193 | 44% | $32,001 |
| Avalon Institute-Aurora | Aurora | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,882 | 78% | $24,367 |
| Aveda Institute-Denver | Denver | Private For-Profit | N/A | $21,495 | 81% | $38,020 |
| Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology | Denver | Private For-Profit | 59% | $24,961 | 60% | $39,506 |
| Cheeks Beauty Academy | Loveland | Private For-Profit | N/A | $10,481 | 70% | $25,459 |
| Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology | Colorado Springs | Private For-Profit | N/A | $24,273 | 67% | N/A |
| Colorado Chinese Medicine University | Denver | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Colorado Christian University | Lakewood | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $25,458 | 58% | $50,416 |
| Colorado College | Colorado Springs | Private Nonprofit | 20% | $31,678 | 86% | $65,222 |
| Colorado Media School | Denver | Private For-Profit | N/A | $30,582 | 67% | $37,423 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction | Public | 81% | $15,331 | 40% | $45,823 |
| Colorado Mountain College | Glenwood Springs | Public | N/A | $6,342 | 26% | $44,127 |
| Colorado Northwestern Community College | Rangely | Public | N/A | $12,316 | 29% | $43,526 |
| Colorado School of Healing Arts | Lakewood | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | 88% | $33,444 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden | Public | 60% | $29,240 | 81% | $97,335 |
| Colorado School of Trades | Lakewood | Private For-Profit | 77% | $22,635 | 79% | $51,591 |
| Colorado State University Global | Denver | Public | 93% | $14,099 | N/A | $76,813 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo | Public | 100% | $12,948 | 36% | $55,563 |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Fort Collins | Public | 90% | $20,332 | 67% | $60,543 |
| Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Private For-Profit | N/A | $14,954 | 19% | $37,180 |
| Colorado Technical University-Denver South | Aurora | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $37,180 |
| Columbia College - Denver | Aurora | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $45,378 |
| Community College of Aurora | Aurora | Public | N/A | $7,466 | 26% | $44,592 |
| Community College of Denver | Denver | Public | N/A | $9,431 | 17% | $39,095 |
| Concorde Career College-Aurora | Aurora | Private For-Profit | 100% | $16,547 | 70% | $42,456 |
| Denver College of Nursing | Denver | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $81,809 |
| Denver Seminary | Littleton | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Dr. Ida Rolf Institute | Boulder | Private Nonprofit | 100% | $38,347 | N/A | N/A |
| Elevate Salon Institute-Westminster | Westminster | Private For-Profit | N/A | $14,235 | 85% | N/A |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | Denver | Public | N/A | $7,003 | 87% | $35,487 |
| Empire Beauty School-Aurora | Aurora | Private For-Profit | N/A | $17,289 | 43% | $24,022 |
| Empire Beauty School-Littleton | Littleton | Private For-Profit | N/A | $17,149 | 70% | $24,022 |
| Empire Beauty School-Thornton | Thornton | Private For-Profit | N/A | $15,322 | 67% | $24,397 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango | Public | 93% | $17,339 | 41% | $46,349 |
| Front Range Community College | Westminster | Public | N/A | $10,854 | 29% | $45,910 |
| IBMC College | Fort Collins | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,382 | 68% | $34,432 |
| Iliff School of Theology | Denver | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture | Louisville | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Intellitec College-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Private For-Profit | N/A | $22,051 | 44% | $42,169 |
| Intellitec College-Grand Junction | Grand Junction | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,656 | 52% | $31,541 |
| International Salon and Spa Academy | Colorado Springs | Private For-Profit | N/A | $20,904 | 81% | $22,332 |
| Lamar Community College | Lamar | Public | N/A | $10,328 | 43% | $38,719 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Denver | Denver | Private For-Profit | N/A | $32,060 | 67% | $46,396 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver | Public | 99% | $14,294 | 29% | $52,093 |
| Montessori Education Center of the Rockies | Denver | Private Nonprofit | 80% | $13,285 | 84% | $44,643 |
| Morgan Community College | Fort Morgan | Public | N/A | $7,161 | 41% | $39,429 |
| Naropa University | Boulder | Private Nonprofit | 94% | $28,862 | 39% | $28,720 |
| National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) | Denver | Private Nonprofit | 21% | $10,571 | 85% | N/A |
| Nazarene Bible College | Colorado Springs | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $41,450 |
| Northeastern Junior College | Sterling | Public | N/A | $13,224 | 52% | $39,893 |
| Otero College | La Junta | Public | N/A | $11,329 | 37% | $39,018 |
| Otero College - La Junta High School | La Junta | Public | N/A | N/A | N/A | $39,018 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,851 | 57% | $27,683 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Denver | Lakewood | Private For-Profit | N/A | $11,886 | 68% | N/A |
| Pickens Technical College | Aurora | Public | N/A | $7,055 | 60% | $39,210 |
| Pikes Peak State College | Colorado Springs | Public | N/A | $9,682 | 23% | $40,796 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Aurora | Aurora | Private For-Profit | N/A | $18,729 | 55% | N/A |
| Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Private For-Profit | N/A | $24,909 | 64% | $38,673 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | Denver | Private For-Profit | N/A | $21,821 | 63% | $38,673 |
| Platt College-Aurora | Greenwood Village | Private For-Profit | 36% | $42,287 | N/A | $77,602 |
| Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Public | N/A | $11,063 | 32% | $37,434 |
| Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood | Public | N/A | $9,356 | 38% | $46,288 |
| Regis University | Denver | Private Nonprofit | 87% | $22,689 | 64% | $72,105 |
| Relay Graduate School of Education - Denver | Denver | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | Lakewood | Private For-Profit | N/A | $28,037 | 38% | $42,958 |
| Rocky Vista University | Parker | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology | Broomfield | Private For-Profit | N/A | $30,922 | 72% | $59,093 |
| Stacey James Institute | Parker | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,707 | 81% | N/A |
| Taft University System | Denver | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Technical College of the Rockies | Delta | Public | N/A | $3,790 | 89% | $45,516 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Private For-Profit | N/A | $11,079 | 74% | $28,934 |
| Tigi Hairdressing Academy-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Private For-Profit | N/A | $25,699 | 58% | $22,480 |
| Trinidad State College | Trinidad | Public | N/A | $11,197 | 53% | $36,475 |
| Tuana European Beauty Academy | Fort Collins | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,967 | N/A | N/A |
| United Beauty College | Denver | Private For-Profit | N/A | $10,700 | 96% | N/A |
| United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy | Public | 14% | N/A | 94% | N/A |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder | Public | 83% | $21,480 | 75% | $69,738 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Public | 97% | $16,431 | 44% | $54,659 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver | Public | 78% | $19,133 | 46% | $64,270 |
| University of Denver | Denver | Private Nonprofit | 71% | $36,037 | 78% | $71,155 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley | Public | 86% | $18,457 | 52% | $52,231 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison | Public | 97% | $16,773 | 49% | $46,833 |
Showing 88 of 88 schools