by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Colorado, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights 74 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 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 best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
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Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Colorado School Of Mines tops our 2026 ranking of the best graduate schools in Colorado. Based in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $76,298. The median student debt is $24,521.
University Of Denver came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Colorado. University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit school based in Denver, CO. University Of Denver posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. University Of Denver graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,999. Typical student debt is $22,534.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Colorado Boulder one of the top graduate schools in Colorado. University Of Colorado Boulder is a public school based in Boulder, CO. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates 74% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,861. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. 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. Graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans.
Colorado College came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Colorado. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. In-state tuition and fees average $70,734. Colorado College graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,342. Typical student debt is $17,921.
University Of Colorado Denver placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Colorado. Set in Denver, CO, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,022. Typical student debt is $26,582.
Regis University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Denver, CO. About 62% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $28,140. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $72,028. Graduates carry a median of $31,773 in student loans.
Denver School Of Nursing placed #8 among the best graduate schools in Colorado. Located in Denver, CO, Denver School Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,458. Early-career graduates earn a median of $80,304. The median student debt is $32,832.
Rocky Vista University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Parker, CO, Rocky Vista University is a private for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,332 early in their careers.
University Of Northern Colorado placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Colorado. University Of Northern Colorado is a public school based in Greeley, CO. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,705. University Of Northern Colorado students take on a median of $23,974 in debt.
Colorado State University Global Campus placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Colorado. This public school is set in Denver, CO. Students from in state pay about $9,000 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,936 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $31,361 in student loans.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Colorado Springs, CO, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,906, with out-of-state students paying around $25,039. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,626. Students borrow a median of $23,559 to complete a degree here.
Aims Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Aims Community College is a public school based in Greeley, CO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,258, with out-of-state students paying around $11,786. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,909. Aims Community College students take on a median of $11,199 in debt.
Colorado Mountain College landed the #14 spot in Colorado this year. This public school is set in Glenwood Springs, CO. Roughly 14% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,616, while out-of-state students pay about $12,840. Colorado Mountain College graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,694. Students borrow a median of $12,953 to complete a degree here.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver did well this year, earning the #15 position. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public school based in Denver, CO. About 31% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,861. Typical student debt is $27,484.
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. Students from in state pay about $9,927 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Mesa State College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,617. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete a degree here.
Colorado Northwestern Community College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Rangely, CO, Colorado Northwestern Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,594, while out-of-state students pay about $7,304. 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.
Red Rocks Community College placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Colorado. Red Rocks Community College is a public school based in Lakewood, CO. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,859, with out-of-state students paying around $17,459. Median early-career earnings reach $76,340. Graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans.
Trinidad State Junior College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Trinidad, CO. In-state tuition and fees average $4,608, compared with $7,318 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,086. Trinidad State Junior College students take on a median of $10,502 in debt.
Arapahoe Community College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in Littleton, CO, Arapahoe Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,434, compared with $17,034 for out-of-state students. Arapahoe Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,579. Graduates carry a median of $20,448 in student loans.
Fort Lewis College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Durango, CO. Fort Lewis College graduates 36% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,958, with out-of-state students paying around $21,526. Fort Lewis College graduates report median early-career earnings of $30,676. Students borrow a median of $18,888 to complete a degree here.
Western State College Of Colorado ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Gunnison, CO, Western State College Of Colorado is a public institution. Western State College Of Colorado graduates 50% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,318, with out-of-state students paying around $24,434. Median early-career earnings reach $36,712. Students borrow a median of $23,455 to complete a degree here.
Front Range Community College did well this year, earning the #23 position. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,414. Students borrow a median of $17,384 to complete a degree here.
Adams State College did well this year, earning the #24 position. This public school is set in Alamosa, CO. Roughly 32% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,824, with out-of-state students paying around $21,944. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,101. Graduates carry a median of $25,523 in student loans.
Colorado State University Pueblo came in at #25 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Pueblo, CO. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,098. The median student debt is $25,325.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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
See our data sources and methodologies.