Best colleges in Colorado

Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.

Best colleges in Colorado26 schools

26 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Schools in Colorado.
Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
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
United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy, CO · PublicHonor Roll
#1 in Colorado
- 88% graduate
2
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B-
- 88% graduate
3
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO · PublicHonor Roll
Top 3% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- 82% graduate
4
University of Denver
Denver, CO · Private nonprofit
#4 in Colorado
- Value grade B-
- 76% graduate
5
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · Public
Excellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 74% graduate
6
Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, CO · Private nonprofit
#6 in Colorado
- Value grade C+
- 64% graduate
7
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO · Public
#7 in Colorado
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 67% graduate
8
Trinidad State College
Trinidad, CO · Public
Top 5% for low debt
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
- 55% graduate
9
Front Range Community College
Westminster, CO · Public
Top 13% for low debt
- Value grade A- · Top 15%
- 35% graduate
10
Regis University
Denver, CO · Private nonprofit
Top 13% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 20%
- 61% graduate
11
Concorde Career College-Aurora
Aurora, CO · Private for-profit
Top 6% for low debt
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 64% graduate
12
Aims Community College
Greeley, CO · Public
Top 3% for low debt
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- 40% graduate
13
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO · Public
#13 in Colorado
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 51% graduate
14
Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs, CO · Public
Top 5% for low debt
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 27% graduate
15
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO · Public
#15 in Colorado
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 51% graduate
16
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO · Public
Top 20% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 46% graduate
17
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO · Public
#17 in Colorado
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 47% graduate
18
Pueblo Community College
Pueblo, CO · Public
Top 8% for low debt
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 31% graduate
19
Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO · Public
#19 in Colorado
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 36% graduate
20
Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO · Public
#20 in Colorado
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 41% graduate
21
Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo, CO · Public
Top 15% for low net price
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- 40% graduate
22
Adams State University
Alamosa, CO · Public
Top 25% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 39% graduate
23
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO · Public
#23 in Colorado
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- 32% graduate
24
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
Lakewood, CO · Private for-profit
#24 in Colorado
- Value grade C+
- 32% graduate
25
Naropa University
Boulder, CO · Private nonprofit
#25 in Colorado
- Value grade C+
- 37% graduate

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
United States Air Force Academy	—	—	—	88%
Colorado College	$33,375	$18,257	$65,222	88%
Colorado School of Mines	$28,690	$23,000	$97,335	82%
University of Denver	$36,131	$21,844	$71,155	76%
University of Colorado Boulder	$25,346	$19,500	$69,738	74%
Colorado Christian University	$29,500	$28,312	$50,416	64%
Colorado State University-Fort Collins	$21,279	$20,000	$60,543	67%
Trinidad State College	$10,772	$8,908	$36,475	55%
Front Range Community College	$13,031	$12,251	$45,910	35%
Regis University	$18,397	$25,000	$72,105	61%
Concorde Career College-Aurora	$16,666	$9,500	$42,456	64%
Aims Community College	$11,463	$6,844	$41,887	40%
Western Colorado University	$16,425	$20,250	$46,833	51%
Colorado Mountain College	$7,813	$9,000	$44,127	27%
University of Northern Colorado	$17,760	$20,470	$52,231	51%
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus	$11,900	$20,500	$64,270	46%
University of Colorado Colorado Springs	$15,788	$20,000	$54,659	47%
Pueblo Community College	$12,045	$10,000	$37,434	31%
Fort Lewis College	$17,296	$18,389	$46,349	36%
Colorado Mesa University	$15,103	$22,000	$45,823	41%
Colorado State University Pueblo	$10,051	$21,500	$55,563	40%
Adams State University	$12,980	$19,500	$44,372	39%
Metropolitan State University of Denver	$15,327	$21,500	$52,093	32%
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design	$32,363	$31,000	$42,958	32%
Naropa University	$29,179	$24,712	$28,720	37%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

The national list → · All top school lists →

Best colleges in Colorado

How this list is made

United States Air Force Academy

Colorado College

Colorado School of Mines

University of Denver

University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado Christian University

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Trinidad State College

Front Range Community College

Regis University

Concorde Career College-Aurora

Aims Community College

Western Colorado University

Colorado Mountain College

University of Northern Colorado

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Pueblo Community College

Fort Lewis College

Colorado Mesa University

Colorado State University Pueblo

Adams State University

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

Naropa University

Compare cost and outcomes

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