2026 Best Value Value Schools in Colorado
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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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
Leading the list is Colorado State University Fort Collins, our #1 best value for value in Colorado. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Typical student debt for value graduates is $22,843. Value graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $51,693 early in their careers. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Colorado School Of Mines one of the best values for value. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Value graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines generally make around $76,298. That is a strong return on a $24,521 median debt. Colorado School Of Mines admits about 61% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 5 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.
