Best Colleges in Colorado by ROI
Trying to find the best value in Colorado? We ranked all 19 colleges we track here on what graduates actually earn versus what families actually pay, using U.S. Department of Education data. Colorado School of Mines comes out on top at 94/100 - here's how every school compares.
We scored all 19 Colorado colleges in our dataset from 0 to 100 on one thing: financial return. The state averages 50/100, on an average net price of $21,244 a year after grants and scholarships. The school that does best by your money is Colorado School of Mines at 94/100.
Graduates of Colorado School of Mines earn the most ten years out of any school in the state, a median $97,335. The lightest price tag belongs to Colorado State University Pueblo at $10,051 a year. The list below ranks every Colorado college we scored by ROI, so you can weigh what you'd pay against what you'd likely earn.
Top 10 Colorado Colleges by ROI Score
- 1Colorado School of MinesGolden, CO · PublicNet price$28,690/yrMedian earnings$97,33594ROI
- 2Regis UniversityDenver, CO · Private NonprofitNet price$18,397/yrMedian earnings$72,10581ROI
- 3University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO · PublicNet price$25,346/yrMedian earnings$69,73880ROI
- 4University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenver, CO · PublicNet price$11,900/yrMedian earnings$64,27076ROI
- 5University of DenverDenver, CO · Private NonprofitNet price$36,131/yrMedian earnings$71,15571ROI
- 6Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, CO · Private NonprofitNet price$33,375/yrMedian earnings$65,22270ROI
- 7Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO · PublicNet price$21,279/yrMedian earnings$60,54369ROI
- 8Colorado State University PuebloPueblo, CO · PublicNet price$10,051/yrMedian earnings$55,56364ROI
- 9University of Colorado Colorado SpringsColorado Springs, CO · PublicNet price$15,788/yrMedian earnings$54,65959ROI
- 10University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO · PublicNet price$17,760/yrMedian earnings$52,23150ROI
Colorado College ROI: Common Questions
What is the best-value college in Colorado?
Colorado School of Mines has the highest ROI score in Colorado at 94/100, while the lowest net price among Colorado schools we track is $10,051/year at Colorado State University Pueblo. Rankings are based on net price and median graduate earnings from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
How much does college cost in Colorado?
The average net price across the 19 Colorado colleges in our dataset is $21,244 per year, after grants and scholarships are applied. Actual cost varies widely by family income and institution.
Which Colorado college has the highest graduate earnings?
Colorado School of Mines reports the highest median earnings among Colorado schools we scored, at $97,335 ten years after enrollment. Higher earnings do not always mean better ROI, since cost matters just as much.
How many colleges in Colorado did CampusROI analyze?
We scored 19 colleges in Colorado on return on investment. Of those, 8 earn an ROI score of 60 or higher. See our methodology for how each score is calculated.
All Colorado Schools by ROI Score
19 schools
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO
Regis University
Denver, CO
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO
University of Denver
Denver, CO
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo, CO
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO
Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, CO
Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO
Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO
Adams State University
Alamosa, CO
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
Lakewood, CO
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
Naropa University
Boulder, CO
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release