2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Colorado
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts students.
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2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Colorado
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
For return on investment in liberal arts, no school beat Colorado Mountain College this year. Set in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,616, compared with $12,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,541 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Colorado Mountain College earn a median of $32,551 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,541 median debt.
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,510 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,110 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $26,779. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Community College Of Aurora came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,470, compared with $17,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $12,250. Liberal Arts graduates of Community College Of Aurora earn a median of $38,729 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt.
Red Rocks Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,859, while out-of-state students pay about $17,459. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,913 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $27,242 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,913 median debt.
Morgan Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the rural area of Fort Morgan, Morgan Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,252, compared with $16,852 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $6,250. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Morgan Community College generally make around $70,412. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Denver ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $14,445. Liberal Arts graduates of Community College Of Denver earn a median of $29,078 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,445 median debt.
Lamar Community College came in at #7 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the town of Lamar, Lamar Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,550, compared with $7,260 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $9,300. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $25,669. That is a strong return on a $9,300 median debt.
Colorado State University Pueblo came in at #8 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $38,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Aims Community College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,258, while out-of-state students pay about $11,786. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $9,152. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $29,845. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trinidad State Junior College earned the #10 position for value in liberal arts this year. Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Trinidad. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,608, with out-of-state students paying around $7,318. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $9,995. Liberal Arts graduates of Trinidad State Junior College earn a median of $30,532 early in their careers. Set against $9,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Otero Junior College earned the #11 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the town of La Junta, Otero Junior College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $7,270. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $9,750. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $66,338. That is a strong return on a $9,750 median debt.
Arapahoe Community College landed the #12 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,034. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $15,125. Liberal Arts graduates of Arapahoe Community College earn a median of $38,592 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado Northwestern Community College came in at #13 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the rural area of Rangely, Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,594, while out-of-state students pay about $7,304. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Colorado Northwestern Community College generally make around $56,978. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pueblo Community College earned the #14 position for value in liberal arts this year. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, while out-of-state students pay about $17,649. Students borrow a median of $14,962 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $30,640. That is a strong return on a $14,962 median debt.
Adams State College placed #15 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the town of Alamosa, Adams State College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,824, while out-of-state students pay about $21,944. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $24,879 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $39,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Front Range Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $35,023. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt.
Northeastern Junior College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Sterling, Northeastern Junior College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,730, while out-of-state students pay about $8,267. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,287. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Mesa State College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts value this year. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. In-state tuition and fees average $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $23,485. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $37,298. That is a strong return on a $23,485 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Western State College Of Colorado landed the #19 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the town of Gunnison, Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,318, while out-of-state students pay about $24,434. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $23,455 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Western State College Of Colorado generally make around $36,712. Set against $23,455 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Colorado earned the #20 position for value in liberal arts 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, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $23,974 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $45,705. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #21 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $25,000. Liberal Arts graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $34,540 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Colorado Christian University came in at #22 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $28,846. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $32,500. Liberal Arts graduates of Colorado Christian University earn a median of $47,333 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,500 median debt.
University Of Denver came in at #23 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,398. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $56,999 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
More Liberal Arts 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
