# Best Colleges in Colorado

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 21 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-colorado

## Methodology

Composite score for institutions in Colorado

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

When exploring colleges in Colorado, families are often looking for a blend of strong academic programs and promising post-graduation outcomes. With the average earnings of graduates from these institutions standing at $55,213, many students are weighing their options based on both financial and educational metrics. This list highlights 20 colleges that excel in these areas, providing a solid foundation for future success.

The schools highlighted here differ significantly in key areas like graduation rates, average earnings, debt levels, and overall completion rates. For example, Colorado School of Mines leads with impressive earnings of $97,335 and a graduation rate of 81%. In contrast, the University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus has lower earnings at $64,270 and a graduation rate of just 47%. These figures illustrate that while many schools can provide a degree, not all are equally effective at preparing students for successful careers.

Take Colorado College and Colorado State University-Fort Collins as an example. Colorado College has a higher graduation rate of 87% compared to CSU's 67%, but it comes with a higher net price of $33,375 versus CSU's $21,279. This contrast highlights the importance of balancing financial investment with potential return, giving families specific metrics to consider in their decision-making process.

## Key Findings

- Colorado School of Mines graduates earn an impressive $97,335 on average.
- Graduation rates among these schools average just 52%, indicating variability in student success.
- University of Colorado Denver has a graduation rate of only 47%, which is notably lower than some peers.
- The average student debt across these institutions is $20,000, a critical factor for future financial planning.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Colorado School of Mines](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-school-of-mines) | Golden, CO | 81% | $97,335 | $28,690 | $23,000 | 0.24x |
| 2 | [Colorado College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-college) | Colorado Springs, CO | 87% | $65,222 | $33,375 | $18,257 | 0.28x |
| 3 | [Regis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/regis-university) | Denver, CO | 61% | $72,105 | $18,397 | $25,000 | 0.35x |
| 4 | [University of Denver](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-denver) | Denver, CO | 77% | $71,155 | $36,131 | $21,844 | 0.31x |
| 5 | [University of Northern Colorado](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-northern-colorado) | Greeley, CO | 51% | $52,231 | $17,760 | $20,470 | 0.39x |
| 6 | [Metropolitan State University of Denver](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver) | Denver, CO | 31% | $52,093 | $15,327 | $21,500 | 0.41x |
| 7 | [Western Colorado University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-colorado-university) | Gunnison, CO | 51% | $46,833 | $16,425 | $20,250 | 0.43x |
| 8 | [Fort Lewis College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fort-lewis-college) | Durango, CO | 39% | $46,349 | $17,296 | $18,389 | 0.4x |
| 9 | [Lamar Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lamar-community-college) | Lamar, CO | 48% | $38,719 | $9,161 | $8,750 | 0.23x |
| 10 | [Colorado Mesa University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-mesa-university) | Grand Junction, CO | 41% | $45,823 | $15,103 | $22,000 | 0.48x |
| 11 | [Adams State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/adams-state-university) | Alamosa, CO | 36% | $44,372 | $12,980 | $19,500 | 0.44x |
| 12 | [University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-denveranschutz-medical-campus) | Denver, CO | 47% | $64,270 | $11,900 | $20,500 | 0.32x |
| 13 | [Colorado Northwestern Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-northwestern-community-college) | Rangely, CO | 34% | $43,526 | $12,131 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 14 | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder) | Boulder, CO | 75% | $69,738 | $25,346 | $19,500 | 0.28x |
| 15 | [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-state-university-fort-collins) | Fort Collins, CO | 67% | $60,543 | $21,279 | $20,000 | 0.33x |
| 16 | [Colorado Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-christian-university) | Lakewood, CO | 60% | $50,416 | $29,500 | $28,312 | 0.56x |
| 17 | [University of Colorado Colorado Springs](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-colorado-springs) | Colorado Springs, CO | 46% | $54,659 | $15,788 | $20,000 | 0.37x |
| 18 | [Colorado State University Pueblo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-state-university-pueblo) | Pueblo, CO | 39% | $55,563 | $10,051 | $21,500 | 0.39x |
| 19 | [Community College of Aurora](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/community-college-of-aurora) | Aurora, CO | 31% | $44,592 | $8,656 | $10,500 | 0.24x |
| 20 | [United States Air Force Academy](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/united-states-air-force-academy) | USAF Academy, CO | 88% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 21 | [Naropa University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/naropa-university) | Boulder, CO | 42% | $28,720 | $29,179 | $24,712 | 0.86x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Colleges in Colorado." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-colorado

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.