by our College Data Analytics TeamColorado School Of Mines ranks #1 of 33 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Colorado ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 51% six-year graduation rate and $63,488 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Colorado, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **33** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 33 colleges on more than 20 objective measures 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.
Colorado School Of Mines leads the 33 ranked colleges in Colorado, followed by University Of Denver (#2) and University Of Colorado Boulder (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Our analysis found Colorado School Of Mines to be the best college in Colorado. Located in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. Colorado School Of Mines graduates 82% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. Colorado School Of Mines students take on a median of $24,521 in debt.
Out of the 33 colleges in Colorado in this year's ranking, University Of Denver landed the #2 spot. Located in Denver, CO, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Denver posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,398. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,999. Graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Colorado Boulder one of the top colleges in Colorado. University Of Colorado Boulder is a public school based in Boulder, CO. About 74% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,861. Graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in Fort Collins, CO. Colorado State University Fort Collins posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,693. The median student debt is $22,843.
Colorado College came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Colorado. This private not-for-profit school is set in Colorado Springs, CO. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Students from in state pay about $70,734 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,342. Typical student debt is $17,921.
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #6 spot in Colorado this year. Located in Denver, CO, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. University Of Colorado Denver posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. University Of Colorado Denver graduates report median early-career earnings of $66,288. The median student debt is $26,582.
Denver School Of Nursing came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Denver, CO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,458. Denver School Of Nursing graduates report median early-career earnings of $80,304. Graduates carry a median of $32,832 in student loans.
Regis University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Denver, CO, Regis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Regis University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees run about $28,140. Regis University graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,028. The median student debt is $31,773.
University Of Northern Colorado ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Greeley, CO, University Of Northern Colorado is a public institution. University Of Northern Colorado graduates 51% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. University Of Northern Colorado graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,705. University Of Northern Colorado students take on a median of $23,974 in debt.
Colorado State University Global Campus came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set in Denver, CO, Colorado State University Global Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $68,936. Colorado State University Global Campus students take on a median of $31,361 in debt.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs landed the #11 spot in Colorado this year. This public school is set in Colorado Springs, CO. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs graduates 47% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,906, with out-of-state students paying around $25,039. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,626 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,559.
Mesa State College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Grand Junction, CO, Mesa State College is a public institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,617. The median student debt is $22,310.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Set in Denver, CO, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Metropolitan State College Of Denver graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,861. The median student debt is $27,484.
Colorado Mountain College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Based in Glenwood Springs, CO, Colorado Mountain College is a public institution. Roughly 14% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $2,616, with out-of-state students paying around $12,840. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,694. Students borrow a median of $12,953 to complete a degree here.
Western State College Of Colorado placed #15 among the best colleges in Colorado. Located in Gunnison, CO, Western State College Of Colorado is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,318, while out-of-state students pay about $24,434. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $36,712. Students borrow a median of $23,455 to complete a degree here.
Fort Lewis College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Durango, CO, Fort Lewis College is a public institution. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,958, compared with $21,526 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $30,676 early in their careers. Fort Lewis College students take on a median of $18,888 in debt.
Colorado State University Pueblo came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Pueblo, CO, Colorado State University Pueblo is a public institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,720, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,098. Colorado State University Pueblo students take on a median of $25,325 in debt.
Adams State College landed the #18 spot in Colorado this year. Based in Alamosa, CO, Adams State College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 32%. Students from in state pay about $9,824 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,944. Median early-career earnings reach $48,101. Students borrow a median of $25,523 to complete a degree here.
Colorado Christian University landed the #19 spot in Colorado this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lakewood, CO. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $28,846. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,333 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $36,092 in student loans.
Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs placed #20 among the best colleges in Colorado. Set in Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 14%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs graduates report median early-career earnings of $62,222. Graduates carry a median of $39,095 in student loans.
Red Rocks Community College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Based in Lakewood, CO, Red Rocks Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $76,340. Students borrow a median of $14,471 to complete a degree here.
Morgan Community College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Fort Morgan, CO, Morgan Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,252, with out-of-state students paying around $16,852. Morgan Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $70,412. Typical student debt is $11,746.
Arapahoe Community College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Set in Littleton, CO, Arapahoe Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, with out-of-state students paying around $17,034. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,579. Arapahoe Community College students take on a median of $20,448 in debt.
Pueblo Community College placed #24 among the best colleges in Colorado. Based in Pueblo, CO, Pueblo Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,049, with out-of-state students paying around $17,649. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,377. Graduates carry a median of $14,106 in student loans.
Trinidad State Junior College landed the #25 spot in Colorado this year. Trinidad State Junior College is a public school based in Trinidad, CO. Students from in state pay about $4,608 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,318 for out-of-state students. Trinidad State Junior College graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,086. Typical student debt is $10,502.
These 8 colleges rank #26 through #33 of 33 in Colorado. These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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.