Rankings / By State
Best Biology Colleges in Colorado
- 14
- Schools
- $58,087
- Avg. Earnings
- 57%
- Avg. Graduation
- $19,389
- Avg. Net Price
- $20,516
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 14 schools run from $44,372 to $72,105, a 1.6× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Colorado State University Pueblo delivers the most for the money: roughly $55,563 in median earnings against $10,051 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, Colorado State University Pueblo ($10,051 net price), still posts $55,563 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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United States Air Force Academy graduates 88% of its students, versus a 57% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Colorado College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.28× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Colorado College ($65,222 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Regis University ($72,105), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Colorado State University Pueblo costs $10,051 a year and University of Denver costs $36,131. Yet their graduates earn $55,563 and $71,155, nowhere near the $26,080 price gap.
- On value, Colorado State University Pueblo beats Regis University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with Colorado State University Pueblo and United States Air Force Academy. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $56K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Colorado College #1 overall | $65,222 ▲ +12% vs avg | $33,375 | 87% | 80 |
| 2 Regis University #2 overall | $72,105 ▲ +24% vs avg | $18,397 | 61% | 74 |
| 3 University of Denver #3 overall | $71,155 ▲ +22% vs avg | $36,131 | 77% | 73 |
| $46,833 ▼ -19% vs avg | $16,425 | 51% | 72 | |
| $52,093 ▼ -10% vs avg | $15,327 | 31% | 71 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Biology Colleges in Colorado
This analysis ranks 14 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $58,087 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 57% and an average net price of $19,389.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Colorado State University Pueblo — Net Price: $10,051 | Graduation Rate: 39%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: United States Air Force Academy — 88% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Regis University — Median alumni earnings: $72,105
Research Note
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Colorado Opportunity Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about higher education and opportunity in Colorado?
$55,563
Median earnings (10yr)
51%
Median graduation rate
$17,296
Median net price
1.2%
Avg. mobility rate
Higher education is intensely local: most students enroll close to home and stay to work nearby, so a state's colleges are also its talent pipeline. This ranking looks at the mix of public and private institutions across Colorado, asking who keeps graduates in-state, who delivers earnings against the local cost of living, and who moves residents up the income ladder.
Start with the medians across these 14 schools. Graduates earn a median of $55,563 ten years after enrollment, or about $7,563 above the $48,000 a typical American worker earns. The median graduation rate is 51%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $17,296 a year with about $20,250 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 25% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 1.2%.
What we’re seeing: the schools that matter most for Colorado pair affordability with outcomes that keep talent local. A median net price of $17,296 and median earnings of $55,563 show which institutions strengthen the regional economy rather than simply enrolling students.
The podium
Build your ranking
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Colorado College lands at #1 with a 80/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $65,222 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $33,375 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Regis University lands at #2 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $72,105 a decade after enrolling, 24% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,397 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
University of Denver lands at #3 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $71,155 a decade after enrolling, 22% above this list's average, and net price runs $36,131 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Western Colorado University lands at #4 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $46,833 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,425 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Metropolitan State University of Denver lands at #5 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $52,093 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,327 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
University of Northern Colorado lands at #6 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (62/100). Graduates earn a median $52,231 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,760 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Fort Lewis College lands at #7 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $46,349 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,296 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Denver, CO · 75% accepted · $11,900 net
Why it ranks #8
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus lands at #8 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (73/100) and pulled down by social mobility (60/100). Graduates earn a median $64,270 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,900 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
University of Colorado Boulder lands at #9 with a 68/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (73/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $69,738 a decade after enrolling, 20% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,346 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Fort Collins, CO · 89% accepted · $21,279 net
Why it ranks #10
Colorado State University-Fort Collins lands at #10 with a 68/100 composite, led by academic quality (73/100) and pulled down by social mobility (60/100). Graduates earn a median $60,543 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,279 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Adams State University lands at #11 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $44,372 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,980 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Colorado Springs, CO · 97% accepted · $15,788 net
Why it ranks #12
University of Colorado Colorado Springs lands at #12 with a 64/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (67/100) and pulled down by social mobility (58/100). Graduates earn a median $54,659 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,788 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Colorado State University Pueblo lands at #13 with a 60/100 composite, led by value per dollar (71/100) and pulled down by social mobility (54/100). Graduates earn a median $55,563 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,051 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
United States Air Force Academy lands at #14 with a 55/100 composite, led by academic quality (91/100) and pulled down by social mobility (68/100). Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 13 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Choosing a college for a biology program involves more than just picking a campus. Students and families are weighing factors like graduation rates, earning potential, and the overall value of their investment. In Colorado, the options vary significantly, with 13 institutions offering biology programs.
What sets these schools apart are the outcomes that really matter for biology students: earnings after graduation, graduation rates, debt levels, and mobility. The list below shows how these colleges stack up, highlighting not just their academic rigor, but also their real-world results. For instance, while some schools might offer lower net prices, they may not provide the same return on investment.
Take Colorado College and the University of Colorado Boulder, for example. Colorado College has a graduation rate of 87% and average earnings of $65,222, while Boulder graduates 75% of its students but has a slightly higher earning potential at $69,738. These differences illustrate the trade-offs students must consider when evaluating their options, encouraging a deeper look into how each school aligns with their personal and financial goals.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 8 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.2%. Adams State University leads the group at 1.9%, with Regis University (1.6%) and University of Denver (1.4%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 5.9% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Adams State University leads at 12.9%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 25.3% across this list. University of Denver posts the highest success rate at 47.3%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.69 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Colorado College reaches 1.88, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
When comparing the data, a notable pattern emerges between Colorado College and Western Colorado University. Colorado College leads with an impressive 87% graduation rate and average earnings of $65,222. In contrast, Western Colorado University’s graduation rate is only 51%, and its graduates earn significantly less, at $46,833. This stark difference underscores the importance of not just attending college, but attending a college that supports student success.
As you sift through these 13 schools, consider what factors matter most to you. Are you prioritizing a strong graduation rate over a lower net price? Or is earning potential more important than campus culture? Identify your own priorities, and use the data here to match them against what each institution offers. This approach will help you make a decision that aligns with your personal and financial goals.
Ultimately, this data reflects a broader trend in higher education: the path from college to stable employment is not guaranteed. For families, the decision about which school to choose can impact not just finances, but long-term quality of life. One family’s choice to invest in a higher-earning program could lead to a different future than another's decision to prioritize cost. The stakes are significant, and informed choices today can set the foundation for a successful tomorrow.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Biology Colleges in Colorado: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Biology Colleges in Colorado ranking? +
Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Biology Colleges in Colorado ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $65,222 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 87% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Regis University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $72,105 ten years after enrollment, well above the $58,087 average across the 13 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Colorado State University Pueblo leads: graduates earn a median $55,563 against net price of about $10,051 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
United States Air Force Academy has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 88%, compared with a 57% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $19,389 a year across the 13 ranked schools with cost data. Colorado State University Pueblo is among the most affordable at roughly $10,051. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Biology Colleges in Colorado ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 14 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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