DENVER (Stacker) — Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a person will make for their education, impacting everything from future earnings and employment to potential student loan debt and social circles.
While every student wants to get the best education they possibly can, there are myriad considerations to take into account: location, size, diversity, areas of focus, study abroad opportunities—the list goes on. While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students to consider.
Stacker compiled a list of the best four-year colleges in Colorado using rankings from Niche. Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, acceptance rate, and graduation rate are factors considered in deciding these rankings. Location is also often a key factor in a school’s appeal, whether it be a beachside location, one full of New England foliage, or proximity to tech hubs and companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Online and unspecified location schools were excluded from the rankings. Keep reading to see the best schools in your state.
#25. DeVry University – Colorado
– Acceptance rate: 50%
– Net price: $31,987
– Enrollment: 47 (11:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: not available
#24. Naropa University
– Acceptance rate: 100%
– Net price: $30,725
– Enrollment: 294 (3:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: C
— Diversity grade: B
— Campus grade: B
— Party grade: B
#23. Denver College of Nursing
– Net price: $30,530
– Enrollment: 1,022 (15:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Diversity grade: B
— Value grade: B-
— Party grade: B-
#22. Platt College – Colorado
– Acceptance rate: 45%
– Net price: $41,735
– Enrollment: 227 (11:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B+
— Value grade: B
— Campus grade: B-
— Diversity grade: C+
#21. Aspen University
– Acceptance rate: 100%
– Net price: $11,779
– Enrollment: 2,238 (24:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: A-
— Diversity grade: A
— Value grade: B
— Campus grade: B
#20. United States Air Force Academy
– Acceptance rate: 13%
– Enrollment: 4,307 (19:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Academics grade: A+
— Diversity grade: B+
— Campus grade: B-
#19. Adams State University
– Acceptance rate: 100%
– Net price: $13,193
– Enrollment: 1,264 (11:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: C
— Diversity grade: A
— Athletics grade: B
— Dorms grade: B
#18. Colorado Technical University
– Acceptance rate: 100%
– Net price: $17,048
– Enrollment: 15,135 (38:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: C
— Campus grade: A-
— Diversity grade: B+
— Party grade: B
#17. Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design
– Acceptance rate: 100%
– Net price: $18,511
– Enrollment: 961 (10:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: C+
— Diversity grade: B+
— Campus grade: B+
— Party grade: B-
#16. Colorado Mountain College
– Acceptance rate: 100%
– Net price: $4,784
– Enrollment: 1,422 (12:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: C+
— Diversity grade: A-
— Campus grade: B+
— Campus food grade: B-
#15. Western Colorado University
– Acceptance rate: 88%
– Net price: $16,951
– Enrollment: 1,616 (13:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Diversity grade: B+
— Location grade: B+
— Athletics grade: B
#14. Fort Lewis College
– Acceptance rate: 92%
– Net price: $15,723
– Enrollment: 2,904 (15:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Diversity grade: A
— Location grade: B+
— Athletics grade: B
#13. Colorado Mesa University
– Acceptance rate: 75%
– Net price: $15,327
– Enrollment: 6,857 (19:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Diversity grade: A-
— Dorms grade: A-
— Campus grade: B+
#12. Colorado State University Pueblo
– Acceptance rate: 94%
– Net price: $13,388
– Enrollment: 2,798 (14:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Diversity grade: A
— Athletics grade: A-
— Dorms grade: B+
#11. University of Northern Colorado
– Acceptance rate: 88%
– Net price: $16,510
– Enrollment: 6,726 (14:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Diversity grade: A-
— Dorms grade: A-
— Athletics grade: B+
#10. University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
– Acceptance rate: 90%
– Net price: $15,852
– Enrollment: 7,782 (15:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Diversity grade: A-
— Value grade: B
— Campus grade: B
#9. Metropolitan State University of Denver
– Acceptance rate: 83%
– Net price: $13,563
– Enrollment: 9,855 (16:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Location grade: A+
— Campus grade: A
— Diversity grade: A-
#8. Colorado Christian University
– Acceptance rate: 100%
– Net price: $25,882
– Enrollment: 1,704 (12:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B
— Dorms grade: A+
— Campus grade: A
— Student life grade: A
#7. Regis University
– Acceptance rate: 78%
– Net price: $27,785
– Enrollment: 2,090 (5:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B
— Value grade: A-
— Diversity grade: A-
— Campus food grade: A-
#6. University of Denver
– Acceptance rate: 61%
– Net price: $38,322
– Enrollment: 5,362 (5:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B+
— Athletics grade: A
— Party grade: A
— Location grade: A
#5. Colorado State University
– Acceptance rate: 84%
– Net price: $17,609
– Enrollment: 19,944 (12:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: A-
— Professors grade: A
— Student life grade: A
— Diversity grade: A-
#4. University of Colorado Boulder
– Acceptance rate: 84%
– Net price: $21,198
– Enrollment: 27,703 (14:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: A-
— Party grade: A+
— Student life grade: A+
— Campus grade: A
#3. University of Colorado Denver
– Acceptance rate: 66%
– Net price: $15,585
– Enrollment: 8,622 (2:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: A-
— Location grade: A+
— Diversity grade: A
— Professors grade: A
#2. Colorado College
– Acceptance rate: 14%
– Net price: $27,319
– Enrollment: 2,190 (10:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Academics grade: A+
— Diversity grade: A
— Professors grade: A
#1. Colorado School of Mines
– Acceptance rate: 55%
– Net price: $27,675
– Enrollment: 5,201 (14:1 student-to-teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Value grade: A+
— Academics grade: A
— Professors grade: A
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