2023 Best Schools in Colorado
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Schools in Colorado ranking. This report analyzed 31 schools in Colorado to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Schools in Colorado
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Colorado School of Mines to be the best school for students in Colorado.
Degree recipients from Mines accumulate an average of $26,133 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $549 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Mines graduates make an average of $72,191 annually.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Colorado State University - Global Campus is a great place for students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,798 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Colorado State University - Global Campus graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $59,059 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Schools in Colorado list.
Degree recipients from Colorado State accumulate an average of $23,304 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $397 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Colorado State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,865 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Colorado State University - Fort Collins
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Colorado College is a great place for students.
Degree recipients from Colorado College accumulate an average of $16,653 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Colorado College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $29,468 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Colorado Boulder. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Schools in Colorado list.
Degree recipients from CU - Boulder accumulate an average of $20,697 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $566 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, CU - Boulder graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,893 during the early year of their career.
Red Rocks Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Colorado ranking.
On average, students take out $17,601 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Red Rocks Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,516 during the early years of their career.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #7 on the list.
Degree recipients from CU Anschutz accumulate an average of $28,012 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $251.After graduating from CU Anschutz, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $56,691 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Report
Arapahoe Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
On average, students take out $19,702 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Arapahoe Community College graduates make an average of $38,257 annually.
With a ranking of #9, Front Range Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from FRCC accumulate an average of $20,922 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, FRCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,174 during the early year of their career.
University of Denver ranked #10 on this year’s Best Schools in Colorado list.
Degree recipients from DU accumulate an average of $25,437 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $579 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from DU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,736 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #11, University of Northern Colorado did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,336 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $281, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, University of Northern Colorado graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,180 during the early year of their career.
Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #12 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,481 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $170. During the early years of their career, Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs graduates make an average of $49,482 annually.
With a ranking of #13, Regis University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from Regis U accumulate an average of $32,679 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $373, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Regis U, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,795 during the early years of their career.
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Colorado ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,776 in student loans. During the early years of their career, PPCC graduates make an average of $31,856 annually.
Colorado Christian University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Colorado ranking.
On average, students take out $38,001 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $366.After graduating from CCU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,552 during the early years of their career.
Community College of Aurora came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Colorado ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,207 in student loans. During the early years of their career, CCA graduates make an average of $39,128 annually.
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #17 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,627 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $289 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UCCS graduates make an average of $44,256 annually.
Adams State University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,227 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Adams State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,945 during the early year of their career.
Aims Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Colorado ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,026 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Aims Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,230 during the early year of their career.
Metropolitan State University of Denver did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #20 on the list.
On average, students take out $28,409 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from MSU Denver, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,544 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #21, Colorado Mountain College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
On average, students take out $16,264 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Colorado Mountain College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,074 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #22, Colorado State University - Pueblo did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
On average, students take out $24,825 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $194 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Colorado State University - Pueblo graduates make an average of $42,728 annually.
Western Colorado University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Schools in Colorado list.
Degree recipients from Western accumulate an average of $24,772 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $272. During the early years of their career, Western graduates make an average of $29,639 annually.
Colorado Mesa University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #24 on the list.
On average, students take out $23,997 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $176. Once they receive their degree, Colorado Mesa graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,493 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #25, Morgan Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,537 in student loans.After graduating from Morgan Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,671 during the early years of their career.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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