2026 Best Value Graduate Degrees Schools in Colorado
Looking for the best-value Graduate Degrees degree programs in Colorado? Our ranking highlights 86 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree analyzed 15 schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Colorado
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found University Of Colorado Denver to be the best-value Graduate Degrees school in Colorado. University Of Colorado Denver is a public school based in Denver, CO. 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. Median earnings reach $64,270 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 75% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Colorado Denver
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado State University Global Campus earned it the #2 place 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $76,813. That is a strong return on a $31,361 median debt. Colorado State University Global Campus admits about 98% of applicants. See the full Colorado State University Global Campus profile
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #3 on this year's best-value Graduate Degrees ranking in Colorado. This public school is set in Fort Collins, CO. 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. Colorado State University Fort Collins alumni report median earnings of $60,543 a decade after entry. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Colorado State University Fort Collins
You'll get strong value at Adams State College, which ranked #4 this year. Adams State College is a public school based in Alamosa, CO. 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. Median earnings reach $44,372 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Adams State College
You'll get strong value at Colorado State University Pueblo, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Pueblo, CO, Colorado State University Pueblo is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $55,563. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants. Read the full report on Colorado State University Pueblo
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Located in Boulder, CO, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. 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. University Of Colorado Boulder alumni report median earnings of $69,738 a decade after entry. Set against $20,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%. More on University Of Colorado Boulder
Colorado School Of Mines offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $97,335 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%. Read the full report on Colorado School Of Mines
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Based in Denver, CO, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public institution. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,093 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants. Get the full Metropolitan State College Of Denver report
University Of Northern Colorado landed the #9 spot for value in Colorado this year. Based in Greeley, CO, University Of Northern Colorado is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $52,231. That is a strong return on a $23,974 median debt. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants. Read more about University Of Northern Colorado
Regis University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Regis University is a private not-for-profit school based in Denver, CO. 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. Regis University alumni report median earnings of $72,105 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $31,773 median debt. Regis University has an acceptance rate of 86%. Read the full report on Regis University
Mesa State College offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Grand Junction, CO, Mesa State College is a public institution. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,823 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 82% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Mesa State College
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs placed #12 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Set in Colorado Springs, CO, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a public institution. 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. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs alumni report median earnings of $54,659 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,559 median debt. About 97% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs
Colorado Christian University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Set in Lakewood, CO, Colorado Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,846. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $36,092. Colorado Christian University alumni report median earnings of $50,416 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Colorado Christian University profile
Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a private for-profit institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $37,180. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs
University Of Denver ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Located in Denver, CO, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $61,398. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $22,534. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,155 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $22,534 median debt. University Of Denver admits about 78% of applicants. More on University Of Denver
Delta Montrose Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Get the full Delta Montrose Technical College report
Colorado School Of Traditional Chinese Medicine came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Colorado School Of Traditional Chinese Medicine report
Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology
Empire Beauty School Littleton ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Empire Beauty School Littleton report
Northeastern Junior College placed #20 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Read more about Northeastern Junior College
Apex College Of Veterinary Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on Apex College Of Veterinary Technology
Concorde Career College Aurora offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Concorde Career College Aurora report
Colorado State University System Office came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. More on Colorado State University System Office
Pima Medical Institute Aurora offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. More on Pima Medical Institute Aurora
Otero Junior College offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about Otero Junior College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Colorado
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
United States Air Force Academy landed the #26 spot for value in Colorado this year. Read the full report on United States Air Force Academy
Front Range Community College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. See the full Front Range Community College profile
Rocky Vista University came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Rocky Vista University
Intellitec College Colorado Springs placed #29 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Get the full Intellitec College Colorado Springs report
Aims Community College placed #30 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Read more about Aims Community College
Empire Beauty School Aurora offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. More on Empire Beauty School Aurora
Montessori Education Center Of The Rockies placed #32 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Read more about Montessori Education Center Of The Rockies
Colorado Northwestern Community College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Colorado Northwestern Community College report
Intellitec College Grand Junction came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. See the full Intellitec College Grand Junction profile
Redstone College
Redstone College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. More on Redstone College
Xenon International Academy Denver placed #36 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Read the full report on Xenon International Academy Denver
Community College Of Denver placed #37 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. See the full Community College Of Denver profile
Denver School Of Nursing placed #38 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Get the full Denver School Of Nursing report
Colorado College
Colorado College placed #39 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Read more about Colorado College
Lincoln College Of Technology Denver came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. More on Lincoln College Of Technology Denver
The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. See the full The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs profile
Colorado Media School came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. More on Colorado Media School
Colorado School Of Healing Arts landed the #43 spot for value in Colorado this year. Read more about Colorado School Of Healing Arts
Colorado School Of Trades landed the #44 spot for value in Colorado this year. Read the full report on Colorado School Of Trades
Fort Lewis College came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. More on Fort Lewis College
Institute Of Taoist Education And Acupuncture placed #46 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. Get the full Institute Of Taoist Education And Acupuncture report
Western State College Of Colorado offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Get the full Western State College Of Colorado report
Pikes Peak Community College placed #48 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. More on Pikes Peak Community College
Pima Medical Institute Denver placed #49 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Colorado. More on Pima Medical Institute Denver
Emily Griffith Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. See the full Emily Griffith Technical College profile
More Graduate Degrees Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 15 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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