Rankings / By State
Best Business Colleges in Colorado
- 19
- Schools
- $53,820
- Avg. Earnings
- 51%
- Avg. Graduation
- $17,491
- Avg. Net Price
- $18,654
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $38,719 at the low end to $72,105 at the top. That 1.9× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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Pikes Peak State College offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $40,796 against $6,007 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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The most budget-friendly option on this list is Pikes Peak State College, at $6,007 annually in net price.
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Completion rates separate this field: United States Air Force Academy graduates 88% of its students, well above the 51% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Pikes Peak State College: graduates owe only 0.22× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to University of Denver ($71,155 earnings), not the highest earner, Regis University ($72,105). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. Pikes Peak State College ($6,007/yr) and University of Denver ($36,131/yr) produce graduates earning $40,796 and $71,155 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $30,124 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, Pikes Peak State College outperforms Regis University: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Pikes Peak State College and United States Air Force Academy. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
Business is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $52K within a decade, and management analyst roles are projected to grow 10%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
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 University of Denver #1 overall | $71,155 ▲ +32% vs avg | $36,131 | 77% | 84 |
| 2 Regis University #2 overall | $72,105 ▲ +34% vs avg | $18,397 | 61% | 77 |
| 3 Metropolitan State University of Denver #3 overall | $52,093 ▼ -3% vs avg | $15,327 | 31% | 77 |
| $46,833 ▼ -13% vs avg | $16,425 | 51% | 76 | |
| $65,222 ▲ +21% vs avg | $33,375 | 87% | 75 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Business Colleges in Colorado
This analysis ranks 19 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $53,820 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 51% and an average net price of $17,491.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Pikes Peak State College — Net Price: $6,007 | Graduation Rate: 22%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: United States Air Force Academy — 88% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Regis University — Median alumni earnings: $72,105
Data Insight
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Management Education Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about leadership and management education?
$52,162
Median earnings (10yr)
48%
Median graduation rate
$16,107
Median net price
1.2%
Avg. mobility rate
Management education makes a blunt promise: pay now, earn more later. Top-tier programs keep that promise through network effects and placement outcomes. Many others raise earnings barely enough to cover their cost. The spread in outcomes across programs is wider here than in almost any other discipline.
Across the 19 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $52,162 ten years after they first enrolled, about $4,162 more than the roughly $48,000 a typical American worker takes home. The median graduation rate is 48%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $16,107 a year, with about $20,000 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 26% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 1.2%.
In management education, network effects amplify everything. Graduates earn a median of $52,162 ten years after enrollment, and University of Denver leads the field. The gap between the top and the middle is wide enough that school selection may be the most consequential financial decision in this category.
The podium
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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
University of Denver lands at #1 with a 84/100 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, 32% 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 #2
Regis University lands at #2 with a 77/100 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, 34% 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
Metropolitan State University of Denver lands at #3 with a 77/100 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, 3% 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 #4
Western Colorado University lands at #4 with a 76/100 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, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,425 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 #5
Colorado College lands at #5 with a 75/100 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, 21% 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 #6
Adams State University lands at #6 with a 75/100 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, 18% 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 puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
University of Northern Colorado lands at #7 with a 75/100 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, 3% 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 #8
Fort Lewis College lands at #8 with a 74/100 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, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,296 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
Denver, CO · 75% accepted · $11,900 net
Why it ranks #9
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus lands at #9 with a 71/100 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, 19% 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 #10
University of Colorado Boulder lands at #10 with a 71/100 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, 30% 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
Why it ranks #11
Colorado Christian University lands at #11 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (38/100). Graduates earn a median $50,416 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $29,500 a year, above 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
Why it ranks #12
Lamar Community College lands at #12 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (64/100). Graduates earn a median $38,719 a decade after enrolling, 28% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,161 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
Fort Collins, CO · 89% accepted · $21,279 net
Why it ranks #13
Colorado State University-Fort Collins lands at #13 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, 12% 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 #14
Colorado State University Pueblo lands at #14 with a 67/100 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, 3% above 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.
Pillar breakdown
Colorado Springs, CO · 97% accepted · $15,788 net
Why it ranks #15
University of Colorado Colorado Springs lands at #15 with a 66/100 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, 2% above 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 #16
Pikes Peak State College lands at #16 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $40,796 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,007 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 #17
Community College of Aurora lands at #17 with a 59/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Graduates earn a median $44,592 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,656 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 #18
United States Air Force Academy lands at #18 with a 57/100 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
Why it ranks #19
Community College of Denver lands at #19 with a 51/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (37/100). Graduates earn a median $39,095 a decade after enrolling, 27% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,450 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
Cut it by what you care about
The same 18 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Management Analysts and related roles — a field with $99,410 median pay and 10% projected growth.
See the Management Analyst career guide →When considering a business degree in Colorado, students have a range of schools to choose from, each with unique strengths and outcomes. For instance, the average earnings for graduates from these programs is $54,341, highlighting the potential for a solid return on investment.
What sets these institutions apart are the key metrics that matter most: graduation rates, average earnings, debt levels, and overall program concentration. The schools listed below demonstrate varying success in these areas, and potential students should consider how these factors align with their personal goals and financial situations.
Take the University of Denver and Colorado State University-Fort Collins, for example. The University of Denver boasts significantly higher earnings at $71,155 compared to Colorado State's $60,543, but it also comes with a higher average debt of $21,844 versus $20,000. This contrast highlights the trade-offs students must weigh between potential earnings and financial obligations.
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 10 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.2%. Lamar Community College leads the group at 2.2%, with Adams State University (1.9%) and Regis University (1.6%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 7.3% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Lamar Community College leads at 21.7%, 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 22.1% 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 1.64 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
One notable pattern in the data is that higher earnings often correlate with higher graduation rates. For instance, the University of Denver leads with a graduation rate of 77% and earnings of $71,155. In contrast, the University of Colorado Denver has a lower graduation rate of 47% but still offers reasonable earnings at $64,270. This shows how completion rates play a critical role in financial outcomes.
As you sift through this information, consider what aspects are most important for you. If you're drawn to a higher-earning program, a school like the University of Denver might be appealing, but weigh that against the potential debt you'll incur. Prioritize your location preferences and program fit, as these can significantly impact your college experience and future success.
Looking at the broader picture, these data points illustrate the importance of choosing a college that not only aligns with your career aspirations but also supports long-term financial stability. For many families, this decision can pave the way for a more secure future, underscoring the significance of making an informed choice.
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 Business Colleges in Colorado: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Business Colleges in Colorado ranking? +
University of Denver in Denver, CO ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Business Colleges in Colorado ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $71,155 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 77% 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 $53,820 average across the 18 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, Pikes Peak State College leads: graduates earn a median $40,796 against net price of about $6,007 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 51% 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 $17,491 a year across the 18 ranked schools with cost data. Pikes Peak State College is among the most affordable at roughly $6,007. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Business 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 19 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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