Students looking for online colleges in Colorado can find dozens of options. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that 87 colleges and universities are based in Colorado, which includes 28 public, 17 nonprofit, and 42 for-profit institutions. This includes institutions like the University of Colorado at Boulder — the state's flagship public research university with an enrollment of more than 34,000 students — and the small Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs. Students interested in pursuing community college online or in-person in Colorado can also choose from 34 two-year institutions.
The following guide introduces prospective learners to the best online colleges in Colorado. It also provides a general overview of higher education in the state, including the prevalence of online learning in Colorado. Aspiring students can also read about job prospects for college graduates in Colorado and peruse a sampling of scholarships available to online students in the state.
Before looking at the best online colleges in Colorado, this guide provides a summary of higher education in the state, including online education.
Recommended Reading
Overview of Online Colleges in Colorado
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in Colorado
Students looking for institutions of higher learning in Colorado can choose from a variety of options, including public, nonprofit, and for-profit schools. As of the 2015-2016 school year, the NCES reported that Colorado housed almost 90 colleges and universities, enrolling more than 350,000 students at degree-granting postsecondary institutions.[dataviz-stats public="28" non-profit="17" for-profit="42"]The cost of earning a degree represents a primary concern for many prospective students who hope to find cheap online colleges in Colorado. CollegeBoard reported that the average in-state tuition during the 2018-2019 school year for four-year, public schools in Colorado was $11,140. The state's flagship university — the University of Colorado at Boulder — charged slightly more than average for in-state tuition ($12,532). Additionally. out-of-state learners paid almost three times the amount as in-state students ($37,286 per year). However, many schools offer online students in-state tuition rates, regardless of where they live.Students attending online colleges in Colorado can qualify for a variety of financial aid opportunities. In the 2015-2016 academic year, Colorado students received almost $169,000,000 in financial aid to help offset the cost of a higher education. Undergraduates benefitted from the vast majority of this funding, receiving more than $160,000,000, while graduate students were awarded the remaining funds. This money went to students who demonstrated financial need as well as to learners who qualified for aid based on merit and other non-need-based eligibility criteria.
Higher Education in Colorado
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in Colorado
According to a recent online learning survey carried out by the Babson Survey Research Group, 114,448 students — or 32.5% of the total student body in Colorado — took at least one online course in 2015. The amount of students taking Colorado online college courses slightly outpaces the national average of 29.7%. Nearly 21% (73,745) of survey respondents took all of their classes online, including 53,636 undergraduates and 20,109 graduate students. Of the students taking all of their courses online, 29,078 (or 39.4%) live in Colorado, while the rest live out of state.[dataviz-nces online="29.7" undergrad="21" in-state="39.4"]
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
The high cost of out-of-state tuition can give prospective students pause. However, the Western Interstate Commission For Higher Education (WICHE) helps make tuition more affordable for students residing in Western states who want to go to school outside of their home state. Established in the 1950s, this regional organization helps higher education systems in Western states share resources. Fifteen states participate in WICHE, including Colorado, Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawai'i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Some U.S. Pacific Territories and freely associated states also participate.A major component of WICHE's work includes its Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program. WUE helps students save money on tuition, ensuring that they won't need to pay more than 150% of in-state tuition rates at an out-of-state, participating academic institution. Although not every program at participating schools qualifies for this exchange, hundreds of degree tracks do. Students who participate in WUE receive an average nonresident tuition discount of $9,000 each academic year. More than 160 colleges and universities (both two-year and four-year institutions) participate in WUE, including 23 on-campus and online colleges in Colorado. Students can locate participating academic programs by using WUE's savings finder.
Best Online Colleges in Colorado
The rankings below list the best online four-year programs in Colorado. These profiles look at how schools approach online education and include the services provided to distance students and a school's popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in Colorado, students can explore additional state resources, such as a database that contains every college and university in Colorado and an index of popular in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in Colorado
The ranking below includes the best online schools in Colorado, sorted by affordability.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online schools in Colorado is based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.Those institutions with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in their state.
College Graduate Outlook in Colorado
Job Outlook for College Graduates in Colorado
Graduates of accredited online colleges in Colorado can take advantage of the state's healthy economy. As of September 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a low unemployment rate of 3.1% in Colorado — more than half a percentage point lower than the national average. Colorado also boasted a mean wage of $25.99 an hour — or $54,050 a year — for all occupations. This ranks higher than the national annual mean wage of $50,620 a year.