Best colleges for art and design in Colorado
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in art or design, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for art and design in Colorado15 schools
15 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Colorado.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in art or design, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 2
University of Denver
Denver, CO · Private nonprofit#4 in Colorado
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 3
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 4
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO · Public#7 in Colorado
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 5
Regis University
Denver, CO · Private nonprofitTop 13% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A- · Top 20%
- 6
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO · Public#13 in Colorado
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 7
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO · Public#15 in Colorado
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 8
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO · PublicTop 20% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 9
Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO · Public#19 in Colorado
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 10
Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO · Public#20 in Colorado
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 11
Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo, CO · PublicTop 15% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- 12
Adams State University
Alamosa, CO · PublicTop 25% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 13
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO · Public#23 in Colorado
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- 14
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
Lakewood, CO · Private for-profit#24 in Colorado
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 15
Naropa University
Boulder, CO · Private nonprofit#25 in Colorado
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado College | About $33,000 | $18,257 | $65,222 | 88% |
| University of Denver | About $36,000 | $21,844 | $71,155 | 76% |
| University of Colorado Boulder | About $25,000 | $19,500 | $69,738 | 74% |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | About $21,000 | $20,000 | $60,543 | 67% |
| Regis University | About $18,000 | $25,000 | $72,105 | 61% |
| Western Colorado University | About $16,000 | $20,250 | $46,833 | 51% |
| University of Northern Colorado | About $18,000 | $20,470 | $52,231 | 51% |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | About $12,000 | $20,500 | $64,270 | 46% |
| Fort Lewis College | About $17,000 | $18,389 | $46,349 | 36% |
| Colorado Mesa University | About $15,000 | $22,000 | $45,823 | 41% |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | About $10,000 | $21,500 | $55,563 | 40% |
| Adams State University | About $13,000 | $19,500 | $44,372 | 39% |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | About $15,000 | $21,500 | $52,093 | 32% |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | About $32,000 | $31,000 | $42,958 | 32% |
| Naropa University | About $29,000 | $24,712 | $28,720 | 37% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 19
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 17
- California 75
- Connecticut 21
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 29
- Georgia 32
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 47
- Indiana 36
- Iowa 24
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 22
- Louisiana 16
- Maine 13
- Maryland 20
- Massachusetts 44
- Michigan 30
- Minnesota 30
- Mississippi 7
- Missouri 32
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 15
- Nevada 4
- New Hampshire 8
- New Jersey 26
- New Mexico 6
- New York 85
- North Carolina 39
- North Dakota 5
- Ohio 59
- Oklahoma 15
- Oregon 14
- Pennsylvania 74
- Puerto Rico 17
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 25
- South Dakota 9
- Tennessee 27
- Texas 54
- Utah 8
- Vermont 8
- Virginia 33
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 11
- Wisconsin 29