Students around the US are currently looking up colleges to apply for the 2022 academic year. Colorado is one of the finest locations in the US to school because of its top-notch colleges and an excellent education system. Students from other states and international students are welcomed as these colleges have non-discriminatory policies and provide a safe space for all students.
We have done all the research to find the ten best colleges in the state of Colorado.
2024’s Best Colleges in Colorado
- Colorado College
- Colorado School of Mines
- CSU Global
- University of Colorado Boulder
- Colorado State University-Fort Collins
- University of Denver
- University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Regis University
- University of Northern Colorado
Colorado College
Colorado College is a private institution established in 1854 and is located in Colorado Springs. It uses an academic calendar based on a block plan instead of semesters. It has 2099 students who learn in small class settings. Volunteerism is a huge part of Colorado College’s program, and it is compulsory for all first-year students. Colorado College has an impressive Division l men’s hockey and women’s soccer teams. Additionally, students can participate in annual events such as the CC Llamapalooza, a music festival, and the Winter Ball, a formal dance.
It is among the best colleges in Colorado and ranks 5th in Best Undergraduate Teaching, 25th in National Liberal Arts Colleges, and 61st in Best Value Schools in the U.S.
Colorado College has a 13.5% acceptance rate and an 86% graduation rate. Students can choose not to send in standardized test scores or SAT or ACT alike, and it will not affect their admission process in any way.
Students have to pay $60,864 for tuition and fees for an entire year. They can apply for financial aid to cover the cost of tuition at Colorado College. Eligible students can get scholarships, loans, and grants to help them get an education. Additionally, Colorado College offers funded internships, and students can take them in Denver and Colorado.
Colorado College offers the following courses.
- Art
- Business, Economics, and Society
- Comparative Literature
- Education
- Feminist and Gender Studies
- Geology
- History
- International Political Economy
- Mathematics
- Neuroscience
- Organismal Biology and Ecology
- Physics
- Race, Ethnicity, and Migration Studies
- Sociology
- Theatre and Dance
Colorado School of Mines
It is a public institution located in Golden, Colorado, and it was founded in 1874. It is a research university that takes engineering science seriously. There are over 140 organizations and student clubs. Students can participate in sports activities such as snowboarding and skiing at the annual Winter Carnival. Additionally, students have access there is a science-based newspaper called the Oredigger.
In 2019, it ranked 4th in Brainiest College Lumosity, and it was the 1st institution to offer a graduate program for space resources. It ranks 61st in Undergraduate Teaching, 34th in Top Public Schools, and 88th in National Universities.
Colorado School of Mines is a top college in Colorado with a 53% acceptance rate and a 78% graduation rate.
In-state students pay $19,100 while out-of-state student pay $39,800 for fees and tuition annually. Students can apply for scholarships and loans. Eligible students can also get grants to help them afford their school needs.
Colorado School of Mines has openings for students who will like to work in the sciences. Its graduates are among the highest-paid workers in the U.S.
Here are some available courses
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Biology
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Data Science
- Economics and Business
- Foreign Language
- Geochemical Exploration
- Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
- Military Science
- Nuclear Engineering
- Oceanography
- Petroleum Engineering
- Space Resources
CSU Global
Colorado State University-Global is one of the fastest-growing online universities in the US. It is a state-owned not-for-profit university that was founded in 2007. CSU Global offers students 100% online Certificates and Degrees. It has a flexible program that allows students to have balanced lives. The courses are modern and are tailored to train professionals to fit into today’s market.
It ranks 10th in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, and it is one of the finest colleges in CO. CSU Global ranks 11th in Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs.
CSU Global has a 98.6% acceptance rate. Students seeking admission into programs for first-year students need to have a minimum SAT score of 980 or an ACT score of 18.
The annual undergraduate tuition costs $8,400, and it is calculated based on 24 credits each year. At the same time, the yearly graduate tuition costs $9,000 and is calculated based on 18 credits each year. CSU Global has no student fees, offers tuition planning, employer partner discounts, and military tuition assistance to reduce the price of degrees.
Undergraduate students earn an average salary of $54,145, while graduate students earn an average salary of $63,407 one year after graduation.
These are the courses at CSU Global
- Accounting and Finance
- Analytics
- Business
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- Healthcare
- Human Resources
- Management and Leadership
- Marketing and Communication
- Technology
University of Colorado Boulder
Colorado’s first university offers high academic standards that put it at the top of the Colorado state university ranking. It is a public research university that was integrated established in 1876. It has expert professors in various domains to teach students hard and soft skills. Students can participate in hundreds of non-academic programs, and they have access to a supportive community.
It ranks 103rd in National Universities and 161st in Best Value Schools in the U.S. CU Boulder also ranks 46th in Top Public Schools and 68th in Best Colleges for Veterans.
It has a 78% acceptance rate and a 70% graduation rate. First-year students may choose to submit their SAT scores if they want CU Boulder to consider them during the admission process.
Colorado residents pay $28,478, non-Colorado residents pay $54,296, while international students pay $60,156 annually. The Be Boulder Pact helps students save a total of $8.4 million for fees annually.
Payscale statistics showed that the median mid-career salary of CU Boulder graduates is $111,000. 87% of graduates have jobs or are enrolled in the military or grad school within six months of graduation.
Here are some of the available courses at CU Boulder
- Anthropology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Classics
- Elementary Education
- Geography
- Information Science
- Media Production
- Neuroscience
- Physics
- Religious Studies
- Spanish
- Theatre
- Women and Gender Studies
Colorado State University – Fort Collins
It is a public research university that was established in 1870. It is one of the most reputable Colorado colleges and is an R1: Doctoral university. These are universities with high research capacity. CSU has a vibrant community that promotes innovation, recreation, and innovation. Students can participate in sports and research activities to keep their brains and bodies active.
CSU ranks 153rd in National Universities, 71st in Top Public Schools, and 168th in Best Value Schools.
CSU has an 81% acceptance rate and a 67% graduation rate. There is no requirement to submit standardized test scores, and the admissions decision will not be affected whether or not students submit standardized test scores.
Undergraduate Colorado residents pay $12,260, and undergraduate non-Colorado residents pay $31,540 for fees and tuition annually.
86% of graduates from CSU get jobs related to their career plans, and they have an average starting salary of $53,867.
CSU offers 80 minors, 140 concentrations, and 70 majors. Here is a list of some of those majors
- Agricultural Biology
- Business Administration
- Construction Management
- Early Childhood Education
- Fermentation Science and Technology
- Health and Excercise Science
- Interior Architecture and Design
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Landscape Architecture
- Music
- Natural Science and Tourism
- Political Science
- Statistics
University of Denver
It is a private, coeducational research institution that was founded in 1864. However, female students can enrol for courses in DU’s women’s college. Students have to live on campus within the first two years. It has 100+ student clubs, organizations, sororities, and fraternities. DU is home to the respectable Sturm College of Law, one of the finest in the US. DU reduced its carbon footprint by 27% between 2006 to 2015.
DU ranks among the best colleges in Denver, and it is the 80th in National Universities. DU is the 61st in Best Undergraduate Teaching, 58th in Best Value Schools, and 50th in Best Colleges for Veterans.
It has a 59% acceptance rate and a 79% graduation rate. DU takes test scores into account for students who submit them. Those who take the optional path will not be penalized.
All students pay $53,640 for tuition and $1,176 for fees every year. Financial aid for graduates and undergraduates costs the University of Denver more than $372 million every year.
83% of undergraduates take part in internships that give them practical knowledge. The University of Denver spends $350,000 for undergraduate research funding. Within six months of graduating, 91% of former undergraduates are thriving in different areas.
Here are some of the available undergraduate courses
- Applied Computing
- Biochemistry
- Communication Arts
- Environmental Chemistry
- Finance
- Game Development
- Healthcare Administration
- Integrated Sciences
- Leadership and Organization
- Media Studies
- Physics
- Recording and Production
- Strategic Communication
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
It is a renowned R1 research university with high academic standards and a thing for excellence. It offers world-class medical education and has an ESL academy. Health and Wellness are a priority, and there are numerous student-run clubs and organizations.
The University of Colorado Denver ranks in the top 5% of colleges and universities in the US. It ranks 198th in US college rankings, 398th in World university rankings, 227th in National Universities. It ranks 113th in Public Universities and is one of the best public universities in Colorado.
The admission requirements for the Anschutz Medical Campus differ from that of the entire university. It has a 65% acceptance rate and a 52% graduation rate. Only students who graduated from a high school in the US are required to submit test scores. The ACT code is 0533, while the SAT code is 4975.
Tuition and fees cost $9,401 for in-state students and $25,889 for out-of-state students yearly. Undergraduate students automatically receive a merit-based scholarship between $2,500 to $10,000 annually.
The Anschutz Medical Campus has six professional schools, and they offer 40+ degrees. They include:
- College of Nursing
- Colorado School of Public Health
- Graduate school
- School Dental Medicine
- School of Medicine
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy
Metropolitan State University of Denver
It is a public university that was founded in 1965. Students have access to offer activities and career development programs through the Classroom Career Hub. MSU Denver has more than 12 student organizations, clubs, sororities, and fraternities. Its core values are community, access, diversity, respect, and excellence for all individuals at every level.
It is in the top 10 in Colorado colleges rankings and 5th in Most Innovative Schools. It is 93rd in Top Performers on Social Mobility.
MSU Denver has a 61% acceptance rate and a 45% graduation rate. First-year students either submit standardized test scores or take a placement test at the Office of Testing Services.
In-state students with College Opportunity Fund pay $4,082.09, out-of-state students pay $11,074.49, while Western Undergraduate Exchange students pay $7,430.09 for tuition. 46% of students receive grants and or scholarships. Almost 80% of students work part-time or full-time jobs throughout the year.
MSU Denver graduates have an average starting salary of $64,000 annually.
Here are some majors for undergraduate students;
- Advanced Manufacturing Sciences
- Business Intelligence
- Communication Design
- Dance
- Entrepreneurship
- Fire and Emergency Response Administration
- Health Care Information Systems
- Integrative Health Care
- Linguistics
- Music
- Physics
- Sport Management
- Technical Writing
- Video Production
Regis University
Regis University is a private Jesuit Catholic University that was founded in 1877. It is among the top Jesuit universities in the US and a member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Students can participate in club sports or intramural sports to improve their athletic skills. Regis University has a fitness center and a futuristic student center.
It ranks as the top best private college in Colorado that offers the most reward for your money. Regis University is the 217th in National University rankings and 76th in Top Performers on Social Mobility.
It has a 71% acceptance rate and a 44% graduation rate. First-year students are not required to submit standardized test scores because their admissions will not be affected whether or not they submit those scores.
Undergraduate tuition for full-time students costs $39,620 for the fall and spring semesters, lower education costs, while full-time nursing students pay $40,465 for tuition. 100% of Regis University students receive some form of financial aid.
95% of Regis University graduates are continuing their education or are employed.
The list of some of the courses
- Applied Psychology
- Biology
- Criminal Justice
- Education: Elementary
- Finance
- Human Resource Management
- Information Technology
- Liberal Arts
- Music Performance
- Neuroscience
- Public Relations
- Sociology
- Visual Arts
- Women’s and Gender Studies
University of Northern Colorado
It is a public university in Colorado that was founded in 1889 and had a rich history of providing an excellent education for future teachers. It has cultural centers to instil the spirit of multiculturalism in the students. Students are encouraged to be creative and form profitable bonds with other students and teachers.
UNC is 174th in Top Performers on Social Mobility and is 534th according to Forbes ranking.
It has a 91% acceptance rate and a 59% graduation rate. UNC is a test-optional institution but the admissions committee will consider submitted test scores in the application review process.
Colorado residents pay $10,947 while those benefiting from College Opportunity Fund pay $8,127 for tuition Western Undergraduate Exchange students pay $15,756 while non-residents pay $21,246 for tuition. All students pay $2,539 for fees. Students received more than $30.8 million in institutional aid and scholarships in 2019. 82% of all first-year students receive scholarships or grants.
Graduates have an average salary of $44,600 10 years after graduating.
Here is a list of some courses undergraduate courses at UNC
- Anthropology
- Business Administration – Accounting Emphasis
- Communication Studies
- Economic – Liberal Arts Emphasis
- Geography – Global and Area Studies
- History Liberal Arts Emphasis
- International Affairs – Area Studies Emphasis
- Journalism – Public Relations Emphasis
- Mathematics – Applied Mathematical Sciences Emphasis
- Nursing
- Philosophy
- Theatre Arts – Acting Concentration
Why Study in Colorado?
Colorado is one of the most beautiful states in the US and Denver is ranked the 2nd best city to live in the United States. It is home to world-class colleges that are well equipped with modern equipment and offer rare programs. Colorado colleges have the best professional staff in the U.S and lower education costs than some other states. Colorado has a friendly and diverse community, and mountains provide a perfect backdrop for jaw-dropping photos, skiing, and mountain biking. Students visit the wild animal sanctuary and take a dip in Colorado’s historic hot springs at any time of the year.
Conclusion
The significant colleges in Colorado and Denver offer a wide range of study programs, internship opportunities and have tight-knit alumni. Their research programs are reputable, and students work with some of the best instructors in every area to guide them. The best college in Colorado offers high academic standards, promotes diversity, equity & inclusion, takes health and wellness seriously, and has multiple recreation opportunities.
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