Ranking
Best Colleges in Colorado by ROI 2026
Pikes Peak State College leads this ROI ranking with a A+ value grade and a 16.98 ROI score. EduGradify ranks 25 colleges here by earnings against net price.
The top-value Colorado colleges — graduate earnings against net price, from federal data.
- Schools ranked
- 25
- Cheapest net price
- $6,007
- Top earnings 10y
- $97,335
- Public / Private
- 16 / 4
Pikes Peak State College
A+- ROI score
- 16.98
- Net price
- $6,007
- Earnings 10y
- $40,796
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Colorado State University Pueblo
A- ROI score
- 13.82
- Net price
- $10,051
- Earnings 10y
- $55,563
- Acceptance
- 94.9%
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
A- ROI score
- 13.50
- Net price
- $11,900
- Earnings 10y
- $64,270
- Acceptance
- 74.7%
Community College of Aurora
A- ROI score
- 12.88
- Net price
- $8,656
- Earnings 10y
- $44,592
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Colorado State University Global
A- ROI score
- 11.63
- Net price
- $16,510
- Earnings 10y
- $76,813
- Acceptance
- 98.4%
Lamar Community College
B- ROI score
- 10.57
- Net price
- $9,161
- Earnings 10y
- $38,719
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Community College of Denver
B- ROI score
- 10.34
- Net price
- $9,450
- Earnings 10y
- $39,095
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Regis University
B- ROI score
- 9.80
- Net price
- $18,397
- Earnings 10y
- $72,105
- Acceptance
- 86.5%
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
B- ROI score
- 8.66
- Net price
- $15,788
- Earnings 10y
- $54,659
- Acceptance
- 97.4%
Adams State University
B- ROI score
- 8.55
- Net price
- $12,980
- Earnings 10y
- $44,372
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Metropolitan State University of Denver
B- ROI score
- 8.50
- Net price
- $15,327
- Earnings 10y
- $52,093
- Acceptance
- 98.8%
Colorado School of Mines
B- ROI score
- 8.48
- Net price
- $28,690
- Earnings 10y
- $97,335
- Acceptance
- 60.7%
University of Northern Colorado
C- ROI score
- 7.35
- Net price
- $17,760
- Earnings 10y
- $52,231
- Acceptance
- 85.9%
Western Colorado University
C- ROI score
- 7.13
- Net price
- $16,425
- Earnings 10y
- $46,833
- Acceptance
- 99.7%
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
C- ROI score
- 7.11
- Net price
- $21,279
- Earnings 10y
- $60,543
- Acceptance
- 88.5%
University of Colorado Boulder
C- ROI score
- 6.88
- Net price
- $25,346
- Earnings 10y
- $69,738
- Acceptance
- 78.1%
Fort Lewis College
C- ROI score
- 6.70
- Net price
- $17,296
- Earnings 10y
- $46,349
- Acceptance
- 77.3%
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
C- ROI score
- 5.55
- Net price
- $16,745
- Earnings 10y
- $37,180
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Colorado School of Trades
D- ROI score
- 4.94
- Net price
- $26,083
- Earnings 10y
- $51,591
- Acceptance
- 90.9%
University of Denver
D- ROI score
- 4.92
- Net price
- $36,131
- Earnings 10y
- $71,155
- Acceptance
- 77.8%
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
D- ROI score
- 4.91
- Net price
- $30,065
- Earnings 10y
- $59,093
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Colorado College
D- ROI score
- 4.89
- Net price
- $33,375
- Earnings 10y
- $65,222
- Acceptance
- 18.5%
Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology
D- ROI score
- 4.31
- Net price
- $22,905
- Earnings 10y
- $39,506
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Colorado Christian University
D- ROI score
- 4.27
- Net price
- $29,500
- Earnings 10y
- $50,416
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
D- ROI score
- 3.32
- Net price
- $32,363
- Earnings 10y
- $42,958
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
How we picked this list
This list starts with Colorado colleges, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 8.24 (16 public, 4 private).
Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.
FAQ
Who leads this ranking?
Pikes Peak State College in Colorado Springs, CO tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.
How does EduGradify pick this list?
We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.
How many Colorado colleges are in this list?
27 Colorado colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.
What does net price mean here?
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.
Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?
Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.