The Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado That Actually Graduate Their Students
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus offers the strongest combination of affordability and graduation rate among public colleges in Colorado, graduating 47% of students within six years at $8,548 in-state tuition. This ranking covers Colorado’s public four-year colleges, ranked by six-year graduation rate per thousand dollars of in-state tuition, using federal IPEDS data.
| Rank | College | City | 6-Year Grad Rate | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Median ACT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver | 47% | $8,548 | $24,820 | 24 |
| 2 | Fort Lewis College | Durango | 43% | $7,960 | $7,960 | 22 |
| 3 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Fort Collins | 67% | $13,490 | $29,220 | 26 |
| 4 | Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction | 50% | $10,214 | $14,989 | 22 |
| 5 | University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder | 75% | $16,804 | $36,570 | 29 |
| 6 | Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo | 38% | $8,571 | $20,401 | 21 |
| 7 | Colorado School of Mines | Golden | 79% | $20,196 | $42,138 | 31 |
| 8 | University of Northern Colorado | Greeley | 51% | $13,866 | $24,000 | 24 |
| 9 | Western Colorado University | Gunnison | 51% | $15,550 | $16,050 | 25 |
| 10 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | 45% | $14,560 | $28,330 | 24 |
1. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, Colorado
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus graduates 47% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $8,548 per year. Out-of-state students pay $24,820. Median ACT: 24.
2. Fort Lewis College
Durango, Colorado
Fort Lewis College graduates 43% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $7,960 per year. Out-of-state students pay $7,960. Median ACT: 22.
3. Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado
Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates 67% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $13,490 per year. Out-of-state students pay $29,220. Median ACT: 26.
4. Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, Colorado
Colorado Mesa University graduates 50% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $10,214 per year. Out-of-state students pay $14,989. Median ACT: 22.
5. University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
University of Colorado Boulder graduates 75% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $16,804 per year. Out-of-state students pay $36,570. Median ACT: 29.
6. Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo, Colorado
Colorado State University Pueblo graduates 38% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $8,571 per year. Out-of-state students pay $20,401. Median ACT: 21.
7. Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado
Colorado School of Mines graduates 79% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $20,196 per year. Out-of-state students pay $42,138. Median ACT: 31.
8. University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, Colorado
University of Northern Colorado graduates 51% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $13,866 per year. Out-of-state students pay $24,000. Median ACT: 24.
9. Western Colorado University
Gunnison, Colorado
Western Colorado University graduates 51% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $15,550 per year. Out-of-state students pay $16,050. Median ACT: 25.
10. University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado
University of Colorado Colorado Springs graduates 45% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $14,560 per year. Out-of-state students pay $28,330. Median ACT: 24.
How were these colleges ranked?
These rankings score each public four-year college in Colorado by dividing its six-year graduation rate by its in-state tuition per thousand dollars. A school graduating 60% of students at $10,000 in-state tuition scores 6.0; one graduating 60% at $20,000 scores 3.0. Higher score means more degree completions per dollar spent.
Data comes from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the federal government’s official higher education database. Graduation rates reflect the most recent six-year cohort. Only public four-year bachelor’s-granting institutions with at least 100 students in the graduation cohort are included. The ranking covers 23 qualifying public institutions in Colorado.
Source: IPEDS — National Center for Education Statistics
Data from IPEDS 2022 reporting year. Published September 2026.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only. Information and conditions are subject to change. Verify current details directly with the relevant source before making any decisions.
