2026 Best Value Teaching Schools in Colorado
Looking for the best-value Teaching degree programs in Colorado? This list ranks 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.
So you can compare your options, Teaching Degree Search reviewed 15 schools to build 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 Teaching Degree Schools in Colorado
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Front Range Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Teaching degree schools in Colorado. Based in Westminster, CO, Front Range Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, compared with $17,263 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $17,384. Front Range Community College alumni report median earnings of $45,910 a decade after entry. Set against $17,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Front Range Community College profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Red Rocks Community College earned it the #2 place in Colorado. Located in Lakewood, CO, Red Rocks Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. The median Teaching program debt is $14,471. Red Rocks Community College alumni report median earnings of $46,288 a decade after entry. Set against $14,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Red Rocks Community College profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pueblo Community College earned it the #3 place in Colorado. Set in Pueblo, CO, Pueblo Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,049, with out-of-state students paying around $17,649. The median Teaching program debt is $14,106. Pueblo Community College alumni report median earnings of $37,434 a decade after entry. Set against $14,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Pueblo Community College
Out of the 15 schools in Colorado in this year's value ranking, Community College Of Denver landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Denver, CO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $18,830. Community College Of Denver alumni report median earnings of $39,095 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $18,830 median debt. More on Community College Of Denver
A rank of #5 makes University Of Colorado Denver one of the best values in Colorado. Located in Denver, CO, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. The median Teaching program debt is $26,582. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,270 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants. See the full University Of Colorado Denver profile
Adams State College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Alamosa, CO, Adams State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,824, compared with $21,944 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $25,523. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,372. That is a strong return on a $25,523 median debt. Read more about Adams State College
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Set in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Colorado State University Fort Collins Teaching students take on a median of $22,843 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,543 ten years after entry. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants. Get the full Colorado State University Fort Collins report
University Of Northern Colorado placed #8 among the best-value Teaching schools in Colorado. Based in Greeley, CO, University Of Northern Colorado is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,974 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $52,231. That is a strong return on a $23,974 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%. Read the full report on University Of Northern Colorado
Metropolitan State College Of Denver ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Set in Denver, CO, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Typical Teaching student debt is $27,484. Metropolitan State College Of Denver alumni report median earnings of $52,093 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 99% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Metropolitan State College Of Denver report
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #10 spot for value in Colorado this year. Based in Boulder, CO, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,738 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants. More on University Of Colorado Boulder
Regis University came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Set in Denver, CO, Regis University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,140. Typical Teaching student debt is $31,773. Regis University alumni report median earnings of $72,105 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $31,773 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Regis University
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs landed the #12 spot for value in Colorado this year. Set in Colorado Springs, CO, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,906, while out-of-state students pay about $25,039. Typical Teaching student debt is $23,559. Median earnings reach $54,659 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs has an acceptance rate of 97%. More on University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs
Mesa State College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Grand Junction, CO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $22,310. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,823 ten years after entry. Set against $22,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mesa State College has an acceptance rate of 82%. Read the full report on Mesa State College
Colorado Christian University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Set in Lakewood, CO, Colorado Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,846. The median Teaching program debt is $36,092. Median earnings reach $50,416 ten years out. Set against $36,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Colorado Christian University
University Of Denver landed the #15 spot for value in Colorado this year. Set in Denver, CO, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,398. Graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans. University Of Denver alumni report median earnings of $71,155 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 78% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Denver
Empire Beauty School Aurora ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Empire Beauty School Aurora
Pikes Peak Community College placed #17 among the best-value Teaching schools in Colorado. Read more about Pikes Peak Community College
Aveda Institute Denver placed #18 among the best-value Teaching schools in Colorado. See the full Aveda Institute Denver profile
Northeastern Junior College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Northeastern Junior College
Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins landed the #20 spot for value in Colorado this year. More on Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins
Rocky Vista University landed the #21 spot for value in Colorado this year. Get the full Rocky Vista University report
Taft University System came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. See the full Taft University System profile
Arizona College Of Nursing Aurora landed the #23 spot for value in Colorado this year. More on Arizona College Of Nursing Aurora
Nazarene Bible College landed the #24 spot for value in Colorado this year. See the full Nazarene Bible College profile
United Beauty College came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. See the full United Beauty College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Colorado
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Bel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on Bel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology
Empire Beauty School Thornton ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Empire Beauty School Thornton profile
University Of Colorado System Office came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Colorado System Office
Colorado Northwestern Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. More on Colorado Northwestern Community College
Fort Lewis College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Fort Lewis College report
Stacey James Institute ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Stacey James Institute
National Institute For Medical Assistant Advancement Nimaa offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. More on National Institute For Medical Assistant Advancement Nimaa
Colorado State University Global Campus came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Colorado State University Global Campus
Lamar Community College landed the #34 spot for value in Colorado this year. Read more about Lamar Community College
Rolf Institute Of Structural Integration offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. More on Rolf Institute Of Structural Integration
Colorado Media School came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. More on Colorado Media School
Naropa University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Get the full Naropa University report
Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Get the full Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology report
Denver Seminary
Denver Seminary landed the #39 spot for value in Colorado this year. Read more about Denver Seminary
Institute Of Business And Medical Careers offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. More on Institute Of Business And Medical Careers
Colorado College
Colorado College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Colorado College
Intellitec College Colorado Springs offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Intellitec College Colorado Springs
Colorado School Of Trades came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. More on Colorado School Of Trades
Colorado State University System Office landed the #44 spot for value in Colorado this year. Read the full report on Colorado State University System Office
Concorde Career College Aurora placed #45 among the best-value Teaching schools in Colorado. Get the full Concorde Career College Aurora report
Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs placed #46 among the best-value Teaching schools in Colorado. Read more about Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs
United States Air Force Academy ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full United States Air Force Academy profile
Academy Of Natural Therapy Inc landed the #48 spot for value in Colorado this year. See the full Academy Of Natural Therapy Inc profile
Trinidad State Junior College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Trinidad State Junior College
Lincoln College Of Technology Denver ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read the full report on Lincoln College Of Technology Denver
More Teaching Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Teaching Degree Search (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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