DENVER (KDVR) — For some high school seniors, it’s almost time to make the big decision on what university to attend after graduation. While this can mean moving out of homes and even across the country, for Coloradans, students might not have to go as far to get one of the top educations in the country.
U.S. News & World Report released its annual rankings of the 2026 best national universities, which included top colleges like Princeton University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, along with several Colorado schools.
The report, which has been released for more than four decades, uses several factors to rank the best colleges in the country. The study uses categories like student outcomes, which include graduation rates and first-year retention, along with faculty resources and research, financial resources and standardized tests to determine the best schools.
Among well-known schools and Ivy League institutions, nine Colorado schools made the list of the best universities in the country, with two schools listed in the top 100 universities.
No. 80 – Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines is considered the top university in Colorado and among the top in the nation.
The school was listed as having the No. 42 best undergraduate engineering programs in the country, with the No. 4 best petroleum degree. The school also ranked high in the best undergraduate teaching, most innovative schools and best colleges for veterans.
In 2025, the school also topped the list in Colorado, ranking No. 76 in the country. However, it isn’t considered the best Colorado school in every report.
In the report’s list of best global universities, the school ranked No. 755 in the world, behind several schools including the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University and University of Colorado Denver.
No. 97 – University of Colorado Boulder
CU Boulder was another university among the top 100 in the nation.
The university is considered to have the No. 28 best undergraduate engineering programs in the country, with the No. 10 best aerospace, aeronomical and astronomical degrees. The school also ranked high in economics, best colleges for veterans and best undergraduate teaching.
The university moved up a spot from 2025, when it ranked at No. 98 in the country. In the report’s list of best global universities, CU Boulder was considered the best school in Colorado, ranking at No. 107 in the world.
2025 Best Colleges in Colorado
Here’s the full list of Colorado schools:
| Rank | School |
| No. 80 | Colorado School of Mines |
| No. 97 | University of Colorado Boulder |
| No. 117 | University of Denver |
| No. 151 | Colorado State University |
| No. 232 | University of Colorado Denver |
| No. 273 | Regis University |
| No. 343 | University of Northern Colorado |
| No. 395-434 | Colorado Technical University |
| No. 395-434 | University of Colorado at Colorado Springs |
Comparing all the Colorado universities against each other, the University of Denver has the highest tuition at $63,246, while the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs has the lowest in-state tuition at under $10,000.
Colorado School of Mines has the highest first-year retention rate at 93%, while Colorado Technical University has the lowest at 45%.
The full list of schools can be found on U.S. News & World Report’s website.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
