2027 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Colorado
[Elementary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/elementary-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for elementary education students.
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2027 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Colorado
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the elementary education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Elementary Education Schools
Community College Of Aurora tops our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools in Colorado. Located in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,470 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Students borrow a median of $15,365 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Community College Of Aurora generally make around $38,587. Set against $15,365 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Pikes Peak Community College one of the best values for elementary education. Pikes Peak Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,510, compared with $17,110 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $16,066. Elementary Education graduates of Pikes Peak Community College earn a median of $41,037 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,066 median debt.
Red Rocks Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. In-state tuition and fees average $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $14,471. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $76,340. That is a strong return on a $14,471 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Denver earned it the #4 place for elementary education. Located in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $14,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Community College Of Denver generally make around $18,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in elementary education will find it at Morgan Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Fort Morgan, Morgan Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,252, compared with $16,852 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,746 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $70,412. That is a strong return on a $11,746 median debt.
Trinidad State Junior College came in at #6 for value in elementary education this year. Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Trinidad. Students from in state pay about $4,608 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,318 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $10,502. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College generally make around $53,086. Set against $10,502 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arapahoe Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,434, with out-of-state students paying around $17,034. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $20,448 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $47,579. That is a strong return on a $20,448 median debt.
Pueblo Community College earned the #8 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,049 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,649. Students borrow a median of $10,750 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $26,812. Set against $10,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado Northwestern Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the rural area of Rangely, Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,594 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,304. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $18,127 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Colorado Northwestern Community College generally make around $56,978. That is a strong return on a $18,127 median debt.
Adams State College came in at #10 for value in elementary education this year. Adams State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alamosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,824, compared with $21,944 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $25,523. Elementary Education graduates of Adams State College earn a median of $55,307 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Front Range Community College placed #11 among the best values for elementary education. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $16,150. Elementary Education graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $29,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeastern Junior College landed the #12 spot for elementary education value this year. Located in the town of Sterling, Northeastern Junior College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,730, with out-of-state students paying around $8,267. Students borrow a median of $13,156 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Northeastern Junior College generally make around $38,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,551 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $40,681. That is a strong return on a $27,551 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs landed the #14 spot for elementary education value this year. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,906, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,040 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $40,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Fort Lewis College earned the #15 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,958, while out-of-state students pay about $21,526. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $18,888 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of Fort Lewis College earn a median of $30,676 early in their careers. Set against $18,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #16 for value in elementary education this year. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. In-state tuition and fees average $11,901, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. Students borrow a median of $25,906 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $40,614. Set against $25,906 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants.
Regis University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the city of Denver, Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,140. Students borrow a median of $31,773 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Regis University generally make around $72,028. That is a strong return on a $31,773 median debt. Regis University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #18 spot for elementary education value this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $55,861 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Colorado Christian University earned the #19 position for value in elementary education this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,846. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Colorado Christian University generally make around $40,448. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt.
Colorado College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,734. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $17,921. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $37,342. That is a strong return on a $17,921 median debt. Colorado College admits about 18% of applicants.
More Elementary Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
