Best Colleges in Colorado

With high-quality undergraduate programs in more than 40 fields of study, Colorado College tops our ranking of the best colleges in Colorado. In addition to bachelor's degree in areas like economics, history, and molecular biology, students at CC can also pursue a master's degree in teaching or literacy development. The college's block schedule allows students to engage with a single subject for 3.5 weeks, meaning they do not need to juggle the demands of multiple classes and assignments at the same time. Undergraduate students complete 32 blocks over the course of four years; this unique schedule gives them more flexibility to participate in service and experiential learning opportunities offered by the college. While all applicants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate, CC does not require prospective students to submit results from a standardized entrance exam. During the admissions process, students can also apply for a variety of forms of financial aid. For example, the college's Leadership Scholarship provides $5,000 in support each semester to students who excel academically and demonstrate a strong commitment to community service.

Set between the Rocky Mountains and high plains in Greely, the University of Northern Colorado provides public education to 13,000 students. UNC’s five colleges offer more than 100 undergraduate programs and 120 graduate programs. UNC offers online and mostly online degrees through its extended campus program. Online bachelor’s programs include American Sign Language (ASL), counseling, dietetics, and nursing. Some programs, such as those in ASL or nursing, combine online learning with hybrid summer courses or practicums. UNC also offers a variety of certificates, endorsements, and master’s degrees online, including licensure and degree programs in education leadership, an online MBA, and a Chinese teaching endorsement program. UNC charges a flat per-credit tuition rate for all online students, regardless of residency. Online courses typically follow an asynchronous format with weekly assignments and deadlines. Freshmen may complete the school’s Bear Application or the Common Application. UNC holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Founded in 1925, Colorado Mesa University began as a small junior college. Today, CMU serves more than 11,000 students and offers over 70 undergraduate programs, including open-enrollment associate degrees and technical certificates through its Western Colorado Community College division. From its main campus in Grand Junction, CMU offers six undergraduate degrees and four graduate degrees. In addition to an associate degree with a social science emphasis, CMU offers fully online bachelor’s degrees in elementary education, nursing, radiology, sports management, and business. Nurses may continue their education online through master’s and doctoral degree options. CMU also offers online master’s degrees in sport management and business. CMU operates a rolling admissions process with no application deadline. The school considers first-time students with a higher education index of 92 for bachelor’s programs. First-time applicants must submit ACT or SAT scores and high school transcripts. CMU holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs creates high-quality educational opportunities for many financially disadvantaged students and members of the armed forces. For example, roughly one-third of the student population at the university comes from low-income families, and another 20% of students have either served in the military or are in a military family. The university offers more than 70 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in fields of study like communication, economics, mechanical engineering, and the performing arts. Students also have the option to pursue fully online degrees in areas such as criminal justice, education, and healthcare sciences. The undergraduate application process requires a high school diploma or the equivalent and ACT or SAT scores. While UCCS does not set strict requirements for admission, most successful applicants have a high school GPA of at least 3.0 and an ACT score of 20 or higher. Consideration is given to special circumstances, as explained in the candidate's admission essay and letters of recommendation.

Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Western State Colorado University serves just over 3,000 learners. Its comparatively small size allows the university to provide more personalized attention and more responsive services to its students. For example, through Western's peer academic leaders program, juniors and seniors help new students navigate the enrollment process, access a variety of institutional resources, and choose a major. Students at the university can choose from more than 100 majors in subjects like art history, data analytics, marketing, and photography. In addition, accelerated programs at Western allow students to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in areas such as environmental management and sport science in five years. Undergraduate applicants must submit official high school or GED transcripts and scores from the ACT or SAT. Most admitted students have a high school GPA of 2.95 or higher. All prospective students receive automatic consideration for the university's Merit Scholarship -- an annual award that provides up to $4,500 to in-state students and $10,000 to out-of-state students.

An interdenominational Christian school founded in 1914, Colorado Christian University offers more than 50 undergraduate degrees and 80 graduate degrees taught from a Christian perspective. Located in Lakewood, CCU serves approximately 8,500 students, more than 5,600 of whom are adult undergraduates. CCU’s College of Adult and Graduate Studies offers degree programs specifically designed for adult learners. CCU makes most courses available online every five weeks and offers accelerated degree completion options. The school also freezes tuition rates for up to six years for adults completing at least one course per year. Areas of study include applied psychology, business, education, and management. Adult applicants must provide a copy of a state-issued driver’s license and submit documentation of high school completion. Out-of-state residents should check the school’s state exclusions to see if they can enroll in a CCU online program. CCU holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

While Red Rocks Community College does not offer bachelor's degrees, the college holds transfer agreements with all public colleges and universities in Colorado. Students who earn select associate degrees and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better receive guaranteed admission and junior status at any of these four-year schools. Transfer-eligible associate programs allow students to explore subjects like anthropology, elementary teacher education, political science, and geology. A fully online general education associate degree is also specifically designed for graduates who plan to transfer their credits into a bachelor's program. RRCC operates an open-door admission policy and admits anyone above the age of 17. Although you do not need a high school diploma or GED certificate to start taking classes, RRCC does require prospective students to take a placement exam in order to assess their readiness to study at the college level. Students who receive a low score on this exam may need to take developmental coursework before enrolling in an associate program.

In addition to the university's facilities in Charlotte, Miami, and Providence, JWU operates a campus in Denver that serves students throughout Colorado and other states in the West. The university's College of Online Education also enables students to pursue a bachelor's or master's degree from any location with an internet connection. On-campus programs in Denver provide instruction in subjects like addiction counseling, food and beverage industry management, hotel and resort management, and organizational psychology. JWU also offers a 3+3 law program that allows students to earn a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a juris doctorate while saving a full year's worth of tuition. JWU emphasizes the importance of work-placed learning and requires all of its undergraduate students to participate in an internship. While internship coordinators maintain relationships with businesses throughout the greater Denver area, online students may need to find a suitable partner in their own community. To apply to an undergraduate program, you must have a high school diploma or GED certificate. However, JWU does not require applicants to submit entrance exam scores.

Teaching and learning at Naropa University combines Eastern wisdom with traditional Western scholarship. In addition to programs in elementary education and environmental studies, the university offers bachelor's and master's degrees in fields such as contemplative art therapy, yoga studies, and clinical mental health counseling. Low-residency programs in ecopsychology and creative writing also allow students to complete the majority of their coursework online. Naropa prides itself on offering contemplative educational opportunities. The three core tenets of contemplative education are rigorous academics, meditation and mindfulness, and experiential learning. Online and on-campus students are strongly encouraged to gain insight and skills through volunteerism and internships. Undergraduate applicants with a high school GPA of 3.0 or better do not need to submit test scores. Prospective students with a lower GPA may still qualify for provisional admission based on a personal essay and a consultation with the admissions department. All graduate applicants must take the GRE.

Colorado Mountain College creates an affordable higher education experience for its students. Learners at the college take out $8,000 less in student loans than the average four-year student in Colorado, and CMC charges 76% less in fees than the average public school in the state. The college also offers special tuition rates to certain groups, like a 25% discount to veterans, military personnel, and their families. Students can pursue technical certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor's degrees in subjects like avalanche science, leadership and management, and sustainability studies. The college's virtual campus also allows learners to take dozens of courses online. Additionally, all students at CMC participate in an internship, applying their learning in a practical setting and growing their professional network. To apply, you must have a high school diploma or GED certificate. If you have not taken the ACT or SAT, you must schedule a time to sit for the ACCUPLACER placement exam.

Fort Lewis College provides more degrees to Native American students than any other four-year college or university in the nation, and the college provides a full tuition waiver to members of qualifying Native American and Alaskan Native tribes. FLC also offers steep tuition discounts to students from states that participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, along with a host of merit- and need-based scholarships. Academic programs at FLC cover subjects like adventure education, entrepreneurship and small business administration, journalism, and sociology. While the college does not currently administer any fully online programs, individual classes are available online and in a hybrid format. Students can also enroll in an accelerated post-baccalaureate program to quickly qualify for a Colorado state teaching license. Undergraduate applicants must have a high school diploma or the equivalent and submit results from the ACT or SAT. While the minimum high school GPA required for admission is 2.0, most admitted students have a GPA of 3.0 or above.

The Colorado School of Mines prepares graduates to work as engineers and scientists. The college offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in fields such as biochemistry, computer science, environmental engineering, and petroleum engineering. Fully online graduate programs in space resources are also available, with additional distance education programs currently pending accreditation. Mines emphasizes the importance of applied research and hands-on learning experiences. The college partners with government agencies like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to give students the opportunity to put their classroom learning into practice. To apply to Mines as an undergraduate student, you must have a high school diploma or GED certificate. Applicants must also submit results from the ACT or SAT. Admission requirements for graduate programs vary, though you generally need to have a bachelor's degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

CSU-Pueblo is one of the most diverse higher education institutions in the state, with a student body that contains nearly 50% minority students. Learners at the university also benefit from small class sizes, with 80% of classes made up of 30 or fewer learners. At the Pueblo campus, students can choose from nearly 40 undergraduate and graduate degrees in areas like automotive industry management, exercise science, industrial engineering, and nonprofit administration. The university also hosts fully online programs in construction management and sociology. Applicants must have at least a 2.0 high school GPA, though most admitted students have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. CSU-Pueblo also requires prospective students to submit ACT or SAT results and recommends that applicants score at least 14 on all subsections of the ACT or at least 380 on all subsections of the SAT. All applicants receive automatic consideration for merit-based scholarships. For example, the university's Presidential Scholarship provides $8,000 in annual aid to students who graduated in the top 2% of their high school class or scored higher than 30 on the ACT.

The largest of the four campuses in the University of Colorado system, the University of Colorado Boulder is a public institution with more than 34,000 students. Set in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, CU Boulder offers 236 degree programs in 119 areas of study. The university boasts an emphasis on research. Students at CU Boulder can pursue an online bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies designed to accommodate transfer credits and student interests. At the graduate level, the university features courses, certificates, and master’s degrees in online and hybrid formats. Areas of study include engineering, education, computer science, and telecommunications. In engineering, CU offers online master’s degrees in aerospace, electrical, and water engineering, as well as engineering management. Graduate school applicants must possess a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 -- or 3.0 for engineering. CU Boulder holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Founded in 1864 as a Methodist seminary, the University of Denver is a private liberal arts school with approximately 12,000 undergraduate, graduate, and online students. The university’s 10 colleges include University College, home to the school’s online programs designed for working adults. University College offers six online bachelor’s completion programs, including degrees in global commerce, healthcare administration, and leadership. These programs feature 10-week hybrid or asynchronous online courses on a quarter system. Learners can also choose master's degrees or graduate certificates in 13 graduate fields, including environmental policy and management, global community engagement, professional creative writing, and security management. The university does not require University College applicants to submit test scores. The school charges flat per-credit rates for undergraduate and graduate online classes. The University of Denver holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

The University of Colorado Denver serves nearly 20,000 students. The school also features an academic health center located in Aurora -- the ​University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus -- that boasts health professional schools, health science centers and institutes, and two nationally ranked hospitals. CU provides online programs for both CU Denver and the medical campus through CU Online. CU Online offers 12 online bachelor’s degrees in subjects such as ethnic studies, psychology, sociology, nursing, criminal justice, and accounting. Students can also choose from 22 online master’s degrees, including education, clinical pharmacy, nursing, and media forensics. Doctoral candidates may pursue online degrees in pharmacy, educational equity, and nursing. CU also offers a variety of graduate certificates online. Online tuition rates vary by program and remain higher for out-of-state residents, especially those not from Western states. CU Denver holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Metropolitan State University of Denver opened in 1965 as a public institution. MSU Denver’s four colleges offer more than 100 bachelor's programs in business, liberal arts and sciences, professional studies, and education, as well as eight graduate programs and 34 certificates. MSU Denver offers online bachelor’s degrees in anthropology, family studies, nursing, and technical communication taught by the same instructors as on-campus programs. Students can also pursue online minors in human development, psychology, and political science, and an online master’s degree in social work. MSU’s online courses never require students to visit campus, although they may require proctored exams taken locally. When evaluating first-time applicants, MSU considers academic records, courses taken, and ACT or SAT scores. Admissions staff may ask those on the low end of admissions criteria to submit additional items. MSU Denver holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

A Jesuit Catholic university founded in 1877, Regis University operates four campuses in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Thornton. The university’s five colleges serve more than 10,000 students and offer 184 degrees, including 22 online undergraduate programs and 36 online graduate degrees. Many Regis degrees feature accelerated options. Undergraduate degrees offered at Regis include bachelor’s programs in business, computer science, education, and nursing. Business students may select from nine online program options, including marketing and finance. Unique graduate programs include online master’s degrees in development practice, enterprising systems engineering, health informatics, and neonatal nurse practitioner. Regis offers online doctoral programs in nursing and occupational therapy. Regis applicants must submit official transcripts, a personal statement, and a resume. Online degree candidates may transfer up to 90 credits. Regis University holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.