by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Colorado, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **18** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 18 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Colorado State University Fort Collins tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Colorado. This public school is set in Fort Collins, CO. About 66% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,693. Typical student debt is $22,843.
Out of the 18 colleges in Colorado in this year's ranking, University Of Colorado Denver landed the #2 spot. Located in Denver, CO, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. University Of Colorado Denver posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $66,022. Students borrow a median of $26,582 to complete a degree here.
Denver School Of Nursing came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Colorado. Based in Denver, CO, Denver School Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,458. Early-career graduates earn a median of $80,304. Students borrow a median of $32,832 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 18 colleges in Colorado in this year's ranking, University Of Northern Colorado landed the #4 spot. Located in Greeley, CO, University Of Northern Colorado is a public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,901, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,705. University Of Northern Colorado students take on a median of $23,974 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Colorado Mountain College, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Glenwood Springs, CO, Colorado Mountain College is a public institution. About 14% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,616, while out-of-state students pay about $12,840. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,694. Graduates carry a median of $12,953 in student loans.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver landed the #6 spot in Colorado this year. Set in Denver, CO, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public institution. About 31% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,124, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,861. Graduates carry a median of $27,484 in student loans.
Aims Community College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Greeley, CO, Aims Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,258, with out-of-state students paying around $11,786. Aims Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,909. Graduates carry a median of $11,199 in student loans.
Arapahoe Community College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Littleton, CO, Arapahoe Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,434, while out-of-state students pay about $17,034. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,579. Graduates carry a median of $20,448 in student loans.
Colorado Northwestern Community College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Colorado Northwestern Community College is a public school based in Rangely, CO. In-state tuition and fees average $4,594, compared with $7,304 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,978 early in their careers. Colorado Northwestern Community College students take on a median of $18,127 in debt.
Adams State College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set in Alamosa, CO, Adams State College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 32%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,824, while out-of-state students pay about $21,944. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,101. Students borrow a median of $25,523 to complete a degree here.
Red Rocks Community College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Lakewood, CO. In-state tuition and fees average $4,859, with out-of-state students paying around $17,459. Median early-career earnings reach $76,340. The median student debt is $14,471.
Mesa State College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Grand Junction, CO, Mesa State College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,617 early in their careers. Mesa State College students take on a median of $22,310 in debt.
Front Range Community College landed the #13 spot in Colorado this year. Located in Westminster, CO, Front Range Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,414 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,384 to complete a degree here.
Colorado State University Pueblo landed the #14 spot in Colorado this year. Colorado State University Pueblo is a public school based in Pueblo, CO. Colorado State University Pueblo posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,720, with out-of-state students paying around $17,944. Median early-career earnings reach $49,098. Typical student debt is $25,325.
Community College Of Aurora placed #15 among the best colleges in Colorado. Based in Aurora, CO, Community College Of Aurora is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,470, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Community College Of Aurora graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,587. Graduates carry a median of $15,365 in student loans.
Morgan Community College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Fort Morgan, CO, Morgan Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,252, while out-of-state students pay about $16,852. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,412. Typical student debt is $11,746.
Trinidad State Junior College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Trinidad, CO, Trinidad State Junior College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,608 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,318. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,086 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $10,502 in student loans.
Northeastern Junior College landed the #18 spot in Colorado this year. Based in Sterling, CO, Northeastern Junior College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,730, with out-of-state students paying around $8,267. Northeastern Junior College graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,543. Typical student debt is $13,156.
Community College Of Denver did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Denver, CO, Community College Of Denver is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,058, with out-of-state students paying around $17,658. Community College Of Denver graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,202. The median student debt is $18,830.
Pikes Peak Community College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Set in Colorado Springs, CO, Pikes Peak Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,510, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Pikes Peak Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,037. Typical student debt is $16,066.
Colorado Christian University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lakewood, CO. Colorado Christian University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,846. Colorado Christian University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,333. Colorado Christian University students take on a median of $36,092 in debt.
Pueblo Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Pueblo, CO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,049, compared with $17,649 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,377. The median student debt is $14,106.
Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private for-profit school is set in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs graduates 14% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $62,222. The median student debt is $39,095.
Lamar Community College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Lamar, CO, Lamar Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,550, while out-of-state students pay about $7,260. Early-career graduates earn a median of $25,669. Graduates carry a median of $9,300 in student loans.
Otero Junior College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in La Junta, CO, Otero Junior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $7,270. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,338 early in their careers. Otero Junior College students take on a median of $21,759 in debt.
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.