2026 Best Value Value Schools in Colorado
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-animal-health-technologies/veterinary-animal-health-technology-technician-and-veterinary-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Colorado
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
For return on investment in value, no school beat Community College Of Denver this year. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $17,750. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Community College Of Denver generally make around $38,655. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Pikes Peak Community College one of the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,510, with out-of-state students paying around $17,110. Typical student debt for value graduates is $16,066. Early-career value graduates make about $41,037. That is a strong return on a $16,066 median debt.
Delta Montrose Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the rural area of Delta, Delta Montrose Technical College is a small public university. Value graduates carry a median of $11,244 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Delta Montrose Technical College generally make around $32,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Pickens Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Aurora, Pickens Technical College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,140 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,250 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Value graduates of Pickens Technical College earn a median of $35,622 early in their careers. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Front Range Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, compared with $17,263 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $22,228. Value graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $35,040 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,228 median debt.
Pima Medical Institute Aurora placed #6 among the best values for value. Pima Medical Institute Aurora is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Aurora. Value graduates carry a median of $13,584 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $32,842.
Pima Medical Institute Denver ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the suburb of Denver, Pima Medical Institute Denver is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for value graduates is $8,227. Value graduates of Pima Medical Institute Denver earn a median of $25,638 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,227 median debt.
Pima Medical Institute Colorado Springs came in at #8 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Pima Medical Institute Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for value graduates is $14,689. Early-career value graduates make about $30,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology landed the #9 spot for value value this year. Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,691. Typical student debt for value graduates is $19,917. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology generally make around $29,194.
Bel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology placed #10 among the best values for value. Set in the suburb of Denver, Bel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,819 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $26,772 in student loans. Value graduates of Bel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology earn a median of $38,899 early in their careers. Set against $26,772 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
