Best College ROI in Co 2026
30 colleges in Co analyzed for return on investment. Pueblo Community College leads with a ROI Score of 99/100 (STRONG BUY).
Co has 30 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 22 public institutions and 8 private ones. Across the 30 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $84K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Co colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Pueblo Community College (median $95K on Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management). The lowest median debt comes from Red Rocks Community College at $13K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Co
Pueblo Community College
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Co's ROI rankings on its Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $14K in median debt.
Red Rocks Community College
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Fort Lewis College
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $20K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Co
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pueblo Community College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $14K | $95K | A (99) |
| 2 | Red Rocks Community College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $13K | $95K | A (99) |
| 3 | Fort Lewis College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $20K | $95K | A (97) |
| 4 | Colorado College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | Colorado Mesa University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | United States Air Force Academy(public) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | University of Denver(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 8 | Colorado School of Mines(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | University of Colorado Boulder(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs(public) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 12 | Adams State University(public) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 13 | Colorado State University Pueblo(public) | Information Science/Studies | $22K | $95K | A (94) |
| 14 | Metropolitan State University of Denver(public) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (94) |
| 15 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $24K | $95K | A (94) |
| 16 | Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs(private) | Computer Science | $27K | $95K | A (93) |
| 17 | Regis University(private) | Computer Science | $27K | $95K | A (93) |
| 18 | Western Colorado University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $28K | $95K | A (92) |
| 19 | Colorado Christian University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $31K | $95K | A (91) |
| 20 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $33K | $95K | A (91) |
College debt and earnings data for Co is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pueblo Community College has the best ROI in Co with a score of 99/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $14K in median debt.
Across 30 Co colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $84K.
Pueblo Community College graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Co has 30 colleges in our database (22 public, 8 private). Of the 30 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).