2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Colorado

[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/other-general-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for general engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Colorado
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Engineering Schools
Red Rocks Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools in Colorado. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,471 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $76,340 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Colorado Denver earned it the #2 place for general engineering. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $26,582. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $66,288. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Front Range Community College one of the best values for general engineering. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,384 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $40,414 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,384 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earned it the #4 place for general engineering. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,906, with out-of-state students paying around $25,039. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $23,559. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs generally make around $114,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Fort Lewis College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Durango. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,958, with out-of-state students paying around $21,526. Students borrow a median of $28,450 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Fort Lewis College generally make around $50,985. That is a strong return on a $28,450 median debt. Fort Lewis College admits about 77% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $22,843. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $93,602. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #7 position for value in general engineering this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $20,373. General Engineering graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $115,924 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,373 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Colorado School Of Mines ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,521 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.