by our College Data Analytics Team
Looking for the best colleges for the money in Colorado? This list ranks 30 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. This is our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — use Customize Your Rankings below to narrow the list.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 30 schools to build this 2026 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
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After analyzing 30 schools in Colorado to find which ones offer the best value. We focus on objective measures, not subjective opinion.
The first step is the school’s combined average tuition, fees, and room and board — what a student pays before aid, which is why this is our No Aid ranking. Value also depends on the quality of the education, not just the price. So we weigh that cost against outcomes like degree completion, educational resources, student-body caliber, and post-graduation earnings.
That balance of cost and outcomes is what drives the ranking below. See the full methodology.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is Colorado Mountain College, our #1 best value in Colorado. Set in Glenwood Springs, CO, Colorado Mountain College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,616, compared with $12,840 for out-of-state students. Colorado Mountain College students take on a median of $12,953 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,127. Set against $12,953 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
You'll get strong value at Aims Community College, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Greeley, CO, Aims Community College is a 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 is $11,199. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Red Rocks Community College one of the best values in Colorado. Located in Lakewood, CO, Red Rocks Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,459. The median program debt is $14,471. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,288. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Morgan Community College earned it the #4 place in Colorado. Located in Fort Morgan, CO, Morgan Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,252, compared with $16,852 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $11,746 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,429. Set against $11,746 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Aurora earned it the #5 place in Colorado. This public school is set in Aurora, CO. Students from in state pay about $4,470 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Community College Of Aurora students take on a median of $15,365 in debt. Median earnings reach $44,592 ten years out. Set against $15,365 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Denver ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Community College Of Denver is a public school based in Denver, CO. In-state tuition and fees average $5,058, with out-of-state students paying around $17,658. Community College Of Denver students take on a median of $18,830 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,095. Set against $18,830 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pikes Peak Community College placed #7 among the best values in Colorado. Set in Colorado Springs, CO, Pikes Peak Community College is a public institution. 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 $16,066 to complete their program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arapahoe Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Littleton, CO. Students from in state pay about $4,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,034. The median program debt is $20,448. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $48,341. That is a strong return on a $20,448 median debt.
Front Range Community College landed the #9 spot for value in Colorado this year. Front Range Community College is a public school based in Westminster, CO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Typical student debt is $17,384. Median earnings reach $45,910 ten years out. Set against $17,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar Community College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Located in Lamar, CO, Lamar Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,550, with out-of-state students paying around $7,260. Lamar Community College students take on a median of $9,300 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,719 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trinidad State Junior College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Trinidad, CO, Trinidad State Junior College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,608 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,318 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $10,502. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,475. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pueblo Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Pueblo, CO, Pueblo Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, compared with $17,649 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,106 to complete their program here. Median earnings reach $37,434 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado Northwestern Community College landed the #13 spot for value in Colorado this year. This public school is set in Rangely, CO. In-state tuition and fees average $4,594, while out-of-state students pay about $7,304. Students borrow a median of $18,127 to complete their program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $43,526. That is a strong return on a $18,127 median debt.
Colorado State University Global Campus placed #14 among the best values in Colorado. Set in Denver, CO, Colorado State University Global Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,000. Graduates carry a median of $31,361 in student loans. Colorado State University Global Campus alumni report median earnings of $76,813 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $31,361 median debt. About 98% of those who apply are admitted.
Otero Junior College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. This public school is set in La Junta, CO. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,270 for out-of-state students. Otero Junior College students take on a median of $21,759 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,018. Set against $21,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado State University Pueblo landed the #16 spot for value in Colorado this year. Located in Pueblo, CO, Colorado State University Pueblo is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,720, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Colorado State University Pueblo students take on a median of $25,325 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,563. Set against $25,325 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Pueblo has an acceptance rate of 95%.
Northeastern Junior College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Sterling, CO, Northeastern Junior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,730, while out-of-state students pay about $8,267. The median program debt is $13,156. Median earnings reach $39,893 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $13,156 median debt.
Delta Montrose Technical College placed #18 among the best values in Colorado. Set in Delta, CO, Delta Montrose Technical College is a public institution. Graduates carry a median of $11,244 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,516. Set against $11,244 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver placed #19 among the best values in Colorado. Located in Denver, CO, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Typical student debt is $27,484. Median earnings reach $52,093 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $27,484 median debt. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
Adams State College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Set in Alamosa, CO, Adams State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,824, with out-of-state students paying around $21,944. Adams State College students take on a median of $25,523 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,372. That is a strong return on a $25,523 median debt.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. This public school is set in Colorado Springs, CO. Students from in state pay about $10,906 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,039. Students borrow a median of $23,559 to complete their program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,659. Set against $23,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 97% of those who apply are admitted.
Mesa State College placed #22 among the best values in Colorado. Based in Grand Junction, CO, Mesa State College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. The median program debt is $22,310. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,823. Set against $22,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
Pickens Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. This public school is set in Aurora, CO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,140, while out-of-state students pay about $9,250. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete their program here. Median earnings reach $39,210 ten years out. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Emily Griffith Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Set in Denver, CO, Emily Griffith Technical College is a public institution. Typical student debt is $9,725. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $35,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs landed the #25 spot for value in Colorado this year. Located in Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs students take on a median of $39,095 in debt. Median earnings reach $37,180 ten years out. Set against $39,095 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 ranked schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 30 schools evaluated. References
More about our data sources and methodologies.