by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Colorado, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **25** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 25 graduate schools 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Our analysis found University Of Denver to be the best graduate school in Colorado. University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit school based in Denver, CO. University Of Denver graduates 76% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $56,999. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #2 makes Colorado School Of Mines one of the top graduate schools in Colorado. Based in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,521.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Colorado Boulder one of the top graduate schools in Colorado. Based in Boulder, CO, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,861. The median student debt is $20,373.
A rank of #4 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the top graduate schools in Colorado. Based in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,693. Graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Rocky Vista University, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Parker, CO, Rocky Vista University is a private for-profit institution. Rocky Vista University graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,332.
Iliff School Of Theology ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Denver, CO, Iliff School Of Theology is a private not-for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,074.
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Denver, CO, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. University Of Colorado Denver posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,288. University Of Colorado Denver students take on a median of $26,582 in debt.
Colorado College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Colorado College is a private not-for-profit school based in Colorado Springs, CO. About 88% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $70,734. Median early-career earnings reach $37,342. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete a degree here.
Regis University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Denver, CO. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,140. Regis University graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,028. Regis University students take on a median of $31,773 in debt.
University Of Northern Colorado did well this year, earning the #10 position. University Of Northern Colorado is a public school based in Greeley, CO. About 51% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,901, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,705. Students borrow a median of $23,974 to complete a degree here.
Colorado State University Global Campus came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Denver, CO, Colorado State University Global Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,000. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,936. Typical student debt is $31,361.
Denver School Of Nursing did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Denver, CO, Denver School Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,458. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $80,304. Graduates carry a median of $32,832 in student loans.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs landed the #13 spot in Colorado this year. This public school is set in Colorado Springs, CO. About 47% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,906, with out-of-state students paying around $25,039. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,626. Typical student debt is $23,559.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Colorado. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public school based in Denver, CO. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,861. Metropolitan State College Of Denver students take on a median of $27,484 in debt.
Western State College Of Colorado placed #15 among the best graduate schools in Colorado. Based in Gunnison, CO, Western State College Of Colorado is a public institution. Western State College Of Colorado posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,318, compared with $24,434 for out-of-state students. Western State College Of Colorado graduates report median early-career earnings of $36,712. Western State College Of Colorado students take on a median of $23,455 in debt.
Mesa State College placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Colorado. Based in Grand Junction, CO, Mesa State College is a public institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,617. Graduates carry a median of $22,310 in student loans.
Colorado Christian University did well this year, earning the #17 position. 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. Typical student debt is $36,092.
Adams State College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Alamosa, CO, Adams State College is a public institution. Adams State College graduates 32% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,824, with out-of-state students paying around $21,944. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,101. Adams State College students take on a median of $25,523 in debt.
Fort Lewis College placed #19 among the best graduate schools in Colorado. Based in Durango, CO, Fort Lewis College is a public institution. About 36% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,958, compared with $21,526 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $30,676. Typical student debt is $18,888.
Colorado State University Pueblo placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Colorado. Colorado State University Pueblo is a public school based in Pueblo, CO. Colorado State University Pueblo posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,720, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Colorado State University Pueblo graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,098. Typical student debt is $25,325.
Red Rocks Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Lakewood, CO, Red Rocks Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,859, with out-of-state students paying around $17,459. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,340. The median student debt is $14,471.
Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private for-profit school is set in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs posts a six-year graduation rate of 14%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750. Median early-career earnings reach $62,222. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs students take on a median of $39,095 in debt.
Naropa University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Naropa University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boulder, CO. Naropa University posts a six-year graduation rate of 37%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,620. Early-career graduates earn a median of $27,750. Students borrow a median of $33,250 to complete a degree here.
Denver Seminary ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Littleton, CO, Denver Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $46,243.
Taft University System came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Denver, CO, Taft University System is a private for-profit institution. Taft University System graduates report median early-career earnings of $78,953.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.