Best Value Biology Colleges in Colorado

Colorado State University Pueblo delivers the state's most affordable biology education at just $12,948 net cost while producing graduates earning $31,854 annually. This cost advantage becomes stark when compared to private options like University of Denver, where biology students pay $36,037 but earn only $24,532 after graduation. Colorado's aerospace and biotechnology sectors, anchored by companies like Ball Aerospace and emerging life sciences firms along the Front Range, create solid demand for biology graduates. The 14 programs span from mountain towns to urban research centers, with graduation rates varying dramatically from 29.90% at Metropolitan State to 86% at Colorado College.

Programs

$12,948 – $36,037

Net Price Range

$28,998

Avg. Program Earnings

51.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

14 Biology, General Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Colorado State University Pueblo Pueblo, Colorado	$12,948	$31,854	$9,401	38.0%	98.8%
2	Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, Colorado	$14,294	$34,755	$10,780	29.9%	97.9%
3	Adams State University Alamosa, Colorado	$14,173	$29,685	$9,776	31.6%	99.2%
4	University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, Colorado	$16,431	$30,460	$9,712	45.3%	84.8%
5	Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, Colorado	$15,331	$28,105	$9,712	41.5%	81.8%
6	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, Colorado	$19,133	$33,490	$10,017	47.4%	74.6%
7	University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado	$18,457	$31,614	$12,010	51.3%	78.5%
8	Western Colorado University Gunnison, Colorado	$16,773	$27,947	$11,083	50.7%	91.9%
9	Fort Lewis College Durango, Colorado	$17,339	$25,856	$9,670	43.1%	91.0%
10	Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, Colorado	$20,332	$29,935	$12,896	66.9%	90.8%
11	Regis University Denver, Colorado	$22,689	$28,598	$43,980	61.1%	76.1%
12	University of Denver Denver, Colorado	$36,037	$24,532	$59,340	78.0%	77.7%
13	Colorado College Colorado Springs, Colorado	$31,678	$20,140	$67,932	86.0%	16.3%
14	Colorado Christian University Lakewood, Colorado	$25,458		$39,266	55.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the huge earnings gap between Colorado biology programs?

Metropolitan State University graduates earn $34,755 annually while Colorado College graduates earn just $20,140, despite College's 86% graduation rate. Location and program focus drive these differences, with Denver-area schools often connecting students to higher-paying research and industry positions.

How do public university costs compare across Colorado's regions?

In-state tuition ranges from $9,401 at CSU Pueblo to $12,896 at CSU Fort Collins, a $3,495 difference. Rural campuses like Adams State ($9,776) and Fort Lewis College ($9,670) offer particularly affordable options with net costs under $18,000.

Is debt load manageable for Colorado biology graduates?

Most programs keep debt reasonable, with Western Colorado University averaging just $17,065 and Fort Lewis at $17,653. Even higher-cost options like University of Denver maintain debt at $20,500, well below the national average.

Which schools offer the best graduation rate value?

University of Colorado Denver combines a strong 47.40% graduation rate with $33,490 average earnings at a net cost of $19,133. CSU Fort Collins delivers the highest public graduation rate at 66.90% while keeping costs at $20,332.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.