Best Colleges in Colorado – 2024

Academic Highlights: Rather than the typical semester schedule, Colorado College operates on the “block plan,” a series of eight three-and-half-week periods during which students take only one course. You won’t find a more intimate liberal arts college than CC. Classes have a cap of 25 students, and no more than a handful of courses exceed that figure. The average class consists of 16 students. Research opportunities are built into the academic program as 20% of CC classes involve some degree of undergraduate research. Another 6% of students receive stipends to conduct research. Tigers appear unafraid to go into the world and immerse themselves in other cultures as a healthy 74% study abroad.

Professional Outcomes: Among the Class of 2023, an impressive 96% arrived successfully at their next destination within six months of earning their diploma. Being a small school, Colorado College does not send massive numbers of graduates to any one company or organization, but there are employers that have wrangled their fair share of Tigers. That list includes Adobe, Wells Fargo, CBRE, Amazon, Google, and the Democratic National Committee. Roughly one-quarter of grads stay in the state of Colorado while the majority migrate to major cities across the United States with San Francisco, New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles among the most popular destinations.

Academic Highlights: The USAFA boasts an outstanding 8:1 cadet-to-faculty ratio, and classes are accordingly modest in size with 66% of sections containing fewer than 20 students, a number that would make most traditional liberal arts schools jealous. There are plenty of opportunities to participate in research, whether at one of the 24 research centers and institutes or through the Cadet Summer Research Program, which attracts 450 cadets. Undergraduates also have the chance to participate in an international exchange program such as the Cadet Summer Language Immersion Program or Cadet Semester Study Abroad Program.

Professional Outcomes: As with any service academy, the bulk of graduates spend a good portion of their careers within the armed forces. For USAFA grads, a minimum five-year commitment to the Air Force is mandatory. Many alumni spend time later in their careers working in the commercial airline industry at Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines. Many also work for Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Lockheed Martin. The USAFA Academic Success Center helped place 27% of the recent graduating class in graduate programs.

Academic Highlights: Classes are rarely small as Mines possesses a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1. The average class has 34 students, and only 18% of sections have an enrollment under twenty. Yet, that does not translate into a lack of hands-on opportunities. All Mines students must take a two-semester sequence of courses called EPICS (Engineering Practices Introductory Course Sequence) in which they tackle an open-ended design problem as part of a small team. Freshmen also take Cornerstone Design, in which teams of students must solve real-world design problems. In a given year, roughly 125 students are awarded Mines Undergraduate Research Fellowships and work as research assistants on faculty-led projects.

Professional Outcomes: Recent grads landed industry jobs or full-time graduate school positions at a clip of 94%. Companies employing massive numbers of Mines’ grads include Lockheed Martin, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Northrop Grumman, United Launch Alliance, Chevron, and Xcel Energy. Those finding employment enjoyed an average starting salary of $76,400. While alums pursuing further education were accepted into Stanford, Columbia, and Northwestern, 56% of grad students chose to continue their studies at Mines.

Academic Highlights: Forty percent of classes actually have fewer than 20 students, while 19% of courses enroll 50 or more students. Opportunities to connect with faculty for research opportunities span all majors and fields of study. The school also offers the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program, which enables engineering students to conduct paid faculty-mentored research. Over 2,200 students per year participate in the credit- bearing Education Abroad program that offers hundreds of destinations within 60 countries around the world.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of leaving CU Boulder, 83% of recent grads were working or in graduate school. 47% of graduates earned between $50k and $75k, with the greatest number working at Lockheed Martin, Charles Schwab, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, and RS&H. More than 100 alumni can also be found at Google, Amazon, Apple, Oracle, and Microsoft. 25% of new grads immediately jumped into an advanced degree program, and 93% were accepted into their first-choice school.

Academic Highlights: There are over 100 undergraduate majors, minors, and concentrations offered at the University of Denver, with small class sizes being the norm as 54% of sections contain no more than 19 students, and 79% enroll a maximum of 29 individuals. The Undergraduate Research Center helps facilitate connections between intellectually curious undergrads and faculty mentors, and 85% of students participate in research or complete an internship during their time at the university. You won’t find many schools more committed to encouraging their undergraduates to study abroad. An astonishing 70% of DU students spend a semester or summer in a foreign country.

Professional Outcomes: 91% of Pioneer grads successfully entered the world of employment or graduate school within six months of earning their bachelor’s degree. 72% were employed full-time with a mean starting salary of $62k. Top employers included Deloitte, KPMG, The Walt Disney Company, Comcast, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and RMHS. Other corporations employing 50 or more DU alums include Amazon, EY, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce. 14% of recent graduates elected to continue their education in a graduate program.

Academic Highlights: Colorado State University provides students with a dynamic academic environment offering 74 undergraduate degree programs supported by a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. While 33% of courses maintain an intimate setting with fewer than 20 students, another 22% feature larger lecture-style classes, creating diverse learning experiences. CSU shines in hands-on learning, with 5,000+ undergraduates engaging in research annually and one in four students gaining global perspectives through study abroad or international programs—demonstrating the university’s commitment to experiential education at scale.

Professional Outcomes: CSU graduates achieve remarkable career success, with 90% of the Class of 2023 securing employment or graduate school placement within six months. An impressive 72% completed internships, contributing to strong outcomes where 87% landed jobs aligned with their career goals, and 69% overall were employed. Alumni thrive at industry leaders like Lockheed Martin, Deloitte, and Fidelity Investments, while those continuing their education frequently choose top public research universities, including the University of Colorado system, Arizona State, and the University of Washington. With an average starting salary of $57,461, CSU proves the value of its academic programs.

Academic Highlights: The University of Colorado-Denver stands as Colorado’s only public urban research university, offering students dynamic learning experiences that bridge classroom education with real-world application. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1, the university fosters an environment of personalized attention and academic engagement. Students can choose from more than 110 undergraduate majors and minors across five schools and colleges, with 73% of classes maintaining an intimate learning environment of fewer than 30 students.

Program Outcomes: Graduates of the University of Colorado-Denver achieve a median income of $61,107, reflecting the strong return on investment from their education. Alumni are highly sought after by top employers such as Denver Public Schools, UC Health, the City and County of Denver, Charles Schwab, and the University of Colorado system. Demonstrating the university’s deep ties to the region, 71% of graduates remain in Colorado, with the majority building their careers in the thriving Denver metropolitan area.

Academic Highlights: As the Rocky Mountain region’s only Jesuit Catholic university, Regis University delivers a values-based education through 83 degree programs across three colleges. The university’s exceptional 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and intimate class sizes (60% under 20 students, 92% under 30) ensure personalized mentorship within the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis. Regis enhances its curriculum with global perspectives through 35+ study abroad programs, creating well-rounded graduates prepared to lead with both professional competence and moral character.

Professional Outcomes: Regis graduates achieve outstanding career preparation, with 90% employed or in graduate school and 92% affirming that their education effectively prepared them for post-college success. Alumni earn an average salary of $58,000 at respected employers like Children’s Hospital Colorado and US Bank. Others serve in the US Air Force or pursue advanced degrees at institutions including Colorado State. Most build their careers in the Denver metropolitan area, demonstrating how Regis’ unique combination of Jesuit values, academic rigor, and practical learning develops professionals who contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Academic Highlights: UNC masterfully blends the engaged learning environment of a small college with the robust resources of a research university, offering 100+ undergraduate programs across five colleges. Students benefit from a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and optimally sized classes (average of 25 students, with 76% under 30), ensuring meaningful faculty interaction. The university’s commitment to global education shines through 300+ study abroad programs in 60+ countries, complementing its strong emphasis on undergraduate research and hands-on learning.

Professional Outcomes: UNC graduates achieve a 91% success rate, launching careers with top employers including UC Health, Denver Public Schools, Charles Schwab, Colorado State University, and various State of Colorado agencies. While many alumni strengthen Colorado’s workforce, particularly in the thriving Denver metropolitan area, the university’s comprehensive preparation equips graduates to excel in diverse professional environments nationwide. UNC’s balanced focus on theoretical knowledge and practical application creates highly sought-after professionals.

Academic Highlights: Colorado Mesa University provides career-focused education through 200 majors across 13 departments, all grounded in hands-on, experiential learning. With an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students benefit from personalized attention while accessing global perspectives through study abroad programs in 56 countries. This balanced approach combines practical skill development with expansive academic opportunities, preparing graduates to excel in Colorado’s dynamic workforce and beyond.

Professional Outcomes: CMU graduates play vital roles in Colorado’s communities, with 68% employed and 31% continuing their education. Many establish careers in the Greater Grand Junction area with leading employers like Intermountain Health and UCHealth, while others contribute to the Denver metropolitan region’s growing economy. These strong regional outcomes demonstrate CMU’s success in aligning its experiential curriculum with Colorado’s workforce needs, while maintaining connections to global opportunities through its extensive study abroad network.