2026 Best Graduate Degrees Schools in Colorado
Looking for the best Graduate Degrees degree programs in Colorado? Our ranking highlights 86 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree analyzed 69 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Colorado
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Colorado School Of Mines this year in Colorado. Based in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. Colorado School Of Mines graduates 82% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,521 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read the full report on Colorado School Of Mines
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #2 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in Colorado. This public school is set in Fort Collins, CO. Colorado State University Fort Collins posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $22,843. Read more about Colorado State University Fort Collins
Out of the 69 schools in Colorado in this year's ranking, University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #3 spot. Located in Boulder, CO, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. University Of Colorado Boulder posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. University Of Colorado Boulder Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $20,373 in debt. More on University Of Colorado Boulder
Colorado State University Global Campus came in at #4 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in Colorado. Set in Denver, CO, Colorado State University Global Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,000 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $31,361 in student loans. See the full Colorado State University Global Campus profile
You'll be in good company at University Of Colorado Denver, which ranked #5 this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a public school based in Denver, CO. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $26,582. Read the full report on University Of Colorado Denver
University Of Denver landed the #6 spot in Colorado this year. Located in Denver, CO, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. In-state tuition and fees run about $61,398. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $22,534. More on University Of Denver
Regis University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Regis University is a private not-for-profit school based in Denver, CO. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,140. Regis University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $31,773 in debt. Read the full report on Regis University
University Of Northern Colorado did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Greeley, CO, University Of Northern Colorado is a public institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,901 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $23,974. Read more about University Of Northern Colorado
Adams State College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Adams State College is a public school based in Alamosa, CO. The six-year graduation rate is 32%. Students from in state pay about $9,824 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,944. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $25,523. Read more about Adams State College
Colorado Christian University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Set in Lakewood, CO, Colorado Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Colorado Christian University graduates 63% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,846. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $36,092. See the full Colorado Christian University profile
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs placed #11 among Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Set in Colorado Springs, CO, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a public institution. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs posts a six-year graduation rate of 47%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,906, with out-of-state students paying around $25,039. Students borrow a median of $23,559 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read the full report on University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs
Metropolitan State College Of Denver did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Denver, CO, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public institution. Metropolitan State College Of Denver graduates 31% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,124 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $27,484. Get the full Metropolitan State College Of Denver report
Colorado State University Pueblo did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Pueblo, CO, Colorado State University Pueblo is a public institution. Colorado State University Pueblo posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,720, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Colorado State University Pueblo Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $25,325 in debt. Read the full report on Colorado State University Pueblo
Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs landed the #14 spot in Colorado this year. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 14% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $39,095 in debt. Read more about Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs
Mesa State College landed the #15 spot in Colorado this year. Based in Grand Junction, CO, Mesa State College is a public institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $22,310. Read more about Mesa State College
Community College Of Denver ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Community College Of Denver profile
Pickens Technical College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Get the full Pickens Technical College report
Colorado State University System Office came in at #18 in this year's ranking. More on Colorado State University System Office
Delta Montrose Technical College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Get the full Delta Montrose Technical College report
Emily Griffith Technical College did well this year, earning the #20 position. See the full Emily Griffith Technical College profile
United States Air Force Academy did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on United States Air Force Academy
Western State College Of Colorado came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Get the full Western State College Of Colorado report
Colorado School Of Healing Arts placed #23 among Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Read more about Colorado School Of Healing Arts
Northeastern Junior College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read more about Northeastern Junior College
Lincoln College Of Technology Denver landed the #25 spot in Colorado this year. More on Lincoln College Of Technology Denver
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Colorado
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs placed #26 among Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. See the full The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs profile
Pima Medical Institute Aurora placed #27 among Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. More on Pima Medical Institute Aurora
Academy Of Natural Therapy Inc placed #28 among Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. More on Academy Of Natural Therapy Inc
Aims Community College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Read more about Aims Community College
Empire Beauty School Littleton came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Get the full Empire Beauty School Littleton report
Pima Medical Institute Colorado Springs did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about Pima Medical Institute Colorado Springs
Montessori Education Center Of The Rockies did well this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Montessori Education Center Of The Rockies
Red Rocks Community College landed the #33 spot in Colorado this year. Read the full report on Red Rocks Community College
Rocky Vista University placed #34 among Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Read the full report on Rocky Vista University
Paul Mitchell The School Denver ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Paul Mitchell The School Denver
Pima Medical Institute Denver placed #36 among Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. More on Pima Medical Institute Denver
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Colorado Springs did well this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Colorado Springs profile
Front Range Community College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Front Range Community College profile
International Salon And Spa Academy did well this year, earning the #39 position. Read the full report on International Salon And Spa Academy
Colorado Mountain College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Read more about Colorado Mountain College
Colorado School Of Trades placed #41 among Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Read the full report on Colorado School Of Trades
Otero Junior College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Otero Junior College
Casa Loma College Aurora did well this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Casa Loma College Aurora report
Lamar Community College did well this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full Lamar Community College report
Aveda Institute Denver came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Get the full Aveda Institute Denver report
National Institute For Medical Assistant Advancement Nimaa landed the #46 spot in Colorado this year. See the full National Institute For Medical Assistant Advancement Nimaa profile
Pueblo Community College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Pueblo Community College
Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology placed #48 among Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Read more about Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design did well this year, earning the #49 position. Read more about Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design
Colorado Northwestern Community College placed #50 among Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Get the full Colorado Northwestern Community College report
More Graduate Degrees Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 69 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 86 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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