Best Colorado Schools
By Iris Stone
In this ranking, we examine top value universities and colleges in Colorado. For a look at flexible online options, see our ranking of the best value online Colorado colleges and universities.
If you're looking to go to school out West, it will be difficult to find a better spot than Colorado. In general, there are a lot fewer universities in this region than there are on the East Coast, and some states only have a few really serious options. But Colorado is a bright spot, full of spectacular options with equally spectacular mountain views. The state's public school system is especially strong, and between popular universities like University of Colorado and the University of Denver, you can't go wrong! The independent colleges in Colorado offer just as much quality – more so in some cases – and the Colorado School of Mines and Colorado College are both worth a close look.
While some would say that you can't put a price on the picturesque views and natural access you'll at any Colorado school, the reality is that most college applicants are trying to stick to a budget. Enter our "best value" ranking, a favorite of the budget-conscious, which will help you identify the universities that offer the most bang for their buck. These schools vary greatly in their exact cost and quality, but they all strike a balance that will make you feel like your money has been well invested.
Graduation Rate: This indicator refers to the percentage of students who complete their degree within 150% of normal time (six years for a typical four-year degree program). Schools that perform well in this area have a track record of keeping students engaged and successful for their entire time on campus. We weighted this category 30% of the total and retrieved the information from College Navigator.
Net Price: In order to make sure that cost was still a factor in the ranking, we also considered overall net price as an indicator. Taken from data on College Navigator, "net price" is an approximate value that refers to the average amount of money a student could expect to pay each year after taking into account tuition, room and board, living expenses, scholarship awards, and financial aid packages. We weighted this category 25% of the total.
Acceptance Rate: Academically challenging, popular universities tend to be more selective and thus have a lower acceptance rate. In order to pinpoint those colleges that boast rigorous academics and also receive a large number of applications, we considered acceptance rate – the percentage of students out of the total number of applicants who receive an acceptance letter. We retrieved this information from College Navigator and weighted it 30% of the total.
20-Year Net Return on Investment: Taken from information on the website PayScale, this statistic provides a picture of how much students can expect to make after they graduate from a particular college. More specifically, the figure is calculated by taking the average income an alumnus will make over his or her first 20 years after graduation and subtracting the amount paid in tuition. Schools with a high ROI tend to be better at preparing their students for the job market. We weighted this category only 15% because data was not available for all colleges considered.
After adding all the points, we gave each university a final score out of 200. The schools below have scores ranging from 78 to 166, and each has something different to offer in terms of its cost, quality, and reputation. No one college is perfect (which is why the scores vary so much) but this ranking offers you a premier selection of universities to help get you started on your search for an education in Colorado.
Ranking the Top Value Universities and Colleges in Colorado
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Featured Online Programs
Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.
Sources:
Pay Scale
College Navigator
This concludes our ranking of the top values universities and colleges in Colorado.
About the Author:
Iris Stone began her writing career as a freelance writer and researcher. She now owns and operates a writing and editing firm that works with clients all across the country. Her work has included articles related to education policy, colleges and universities, academic programs, and careers.
