Best Colleges in Colorado 2026

Colorado's higher education landscape offers strong options across 20 qualifying institutions, with a balanced mix of public and private schools claiming the top spots. Three public institutions and two private colleges lead our rankings, demonstrating the state's commitment to accessible, quality education. The top performers excel in specialized programs, from engineering at Colorado School of Mines to liberal arts at Colorado College, while maintaining strong graduation rates and career outcomes. When evaluating Colorado schools, students should prioritize program strength in their field of interest, campus location preferences between urban and mountain settings, and total cost of attendance. Consider both large research universities and smaller specialized colleges to find the best academic and cultural fit for your goals.

Schools Ranked

$52,800

Avg. Earnings

50.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Graduation Rate	Median Earnings	Acceptance Rate	In-State Tuition
1	Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado	79.4%	$97,335	58.0%	$21,186
2	Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology Broomfield, Colorado	68.8%	$59,093		$17,406
3	Colorado College Colorado Springs, Colorado	86.0%	$65,222	16.3%	$67,932
4	University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado	75.0%	$69,738	80.7%	$16,430
5	Northeastern Junior College Sterling, Colorado	53.6%	$39,893		$5,582
6	Trinidad State College Trinidad, Colorado	55.7%	$36,475		$4,468
7	Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, Colorado	66.9%	$60,543	90.8%	$12,896
8	IBMC College Fort Collins, Colorado	68.5%	$34,432		$15,320
9	Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology Denver, Colorado	60.8%	$39,506	49.6%	$13,819
10	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, Colorado	47.4%	$64,270	74.6%	$10,017
11	Morgan Community College Fort Morgan, Colorado	46.1%	$39,429		$4,127
12	Red Rocks Community College Lakewood, Colorado	37.4%	$46,288		$4,707
13	Lamar Community College Lamar, Colorado	41.4%	$38,719		$4,422
14	Aims Community College Greeley, Colorado	35.1%	$41,887		$2,090
15	University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado	51.3%	$52,231	78.5%	$12,010
16	Otero College La Junta, Colorado	36.7%	$39,018		$4,418
17	Front Range Community College Westminster, Colorado	30.1%	$45,910		$4,740
18	Arapahoe Community College Littleton, Colorado	26.8%	$48,341		$4,308
19	Pueblo Community College Pueblo, Colorado	37.5%	$37,434		$4,883
20	Community College of Aurora Aurora, Colorado	28.6%	$44,592		$4,030
21	Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs, Colorado	25.9%	$44,127		$2,700
22	Regis University Denver, Colorado	61.1%	$72,105	76.1%	$43,980
23	University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, Colorado	45.3%	$54,659	84.8%	$9,712
24	Platt College-Aurora Greenwood Village, Colorado	20.0%	$77,602	64.7%	$20,590
25	University of Denver Denver, Colorado	78.0%	$71,155	77.7%	$59,340