Best Private Colleges in Colorado 2025
Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in Colorado.
Key Takeaways
- Many private colleges in Colorado emphasize social justice, sustainability, and community service as core components of their educational mission, encouraging students to actively engage with local communities and global causes through service-learning projects and internships.
- Colorado’s private colleges offer unique experiential learning programs that take advantage of the state’s stunning natural environment, providing students with hands-on fieldwork in areas like environmental science, biology, and geology.
- Some of the best private colleges in Colorado are known for block plans, where students focus on one course at a time for a shorter time period. This intensive model allows for deep immersion in subjects and more flexible scheduling for internships, research, and study abroad opportunities.
10 Best Private Colleges in Colorado in 2025
2025 Ranking Update
Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.
In 2025, the top schools in our ranking of the best private colleges in Colorado remained fairly stable. Naropa University gained two ranking positions as the university enhanced its Contemplative Studies and Mindfulness Center, offering new programs that integrate mindfulness practices with academic disciplines such as psychology, environmental studies, and the arts.
Additionally, Naropa has enhanced its social justice and community engagement programs, offering students more opportunities for hands-on activism and service-learning projects that align with the university’s commitment to holistic education and social responsibility. These updates reflect Naropa’s focus on integrating mindfulness, sustainability, and social justice into its educational experience.
This list is composed entirely of private colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 7 private universities in Colorado. To be included in the list below of the best private universities in Colorado, schools must be fully accredited, private, non-profit institution, and must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.
Best Private Colleges in Colorado
- #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #2 Best Colleges in Colorado 2025 #2 Best Research Universities in Colorado 2024 #2 Best Grad Schools in Colorado 2025
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
77%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1310/30
Career Outlook for degree at University of Denver
Cost of Degree: $59,340Expenses: $21,196Starting Salary: $65,400Cost Recoup Time: 18 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Denver known for?
University of Denver’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Political Science
- Social Work
- Law
- Psychology
- Business
- Economics
- Anthropology
- History
- Education
- Religious Studies
Most Influential Alumni
- #1 Best Small Colleges in Colorado 2024 #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Colorado 2025 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #5 Best Colleges in Colorado 2025
Tuition + fees
$65K
Acceptance
16%
Graduation
86%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1370/31
Career Outlook for degree at Colorado College
Cost of Degree: $67,932Expenses: $19,196Starting Salary: $49,900Cost Recoup Time: 22 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Colorado College known for?
Colorado College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Earth Sciences
- Sociology
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Psychology
- Anthropology
Most Influential Alumni
- #2 Best Small Colleges in Colorado 2024 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Colorado 2025 #6 Best Colleges in Colorado 2025 #10 Best Online Master’s in Counseling 2025
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
31%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Naropa University
Cost of Degree: $34,600Expenses: $16,710Starting Salary: $27,800Cost Recoup Time: 23 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Naropa University known for?
Naropa University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #11 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #18 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Colorado 2025 #7 Best Research Universities in Colorado 2024
Tuition + fees
$42K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
67%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/23
Career Outlook for degree at Regis University
Cost of Degree: $43,980Expenses: $19,428Starting Salary: $62,700Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Regis University known for?
Regis University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- Business
- Medical
- Economics
- Political Science
- Education
- Social Work
Most Influential Alumni
Regis University’s Online Degrees
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #7 Best Grad Schools in Colorado 2025 #7 Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado 2025 #8 Best Small Colleges in Colorado 2024 #1 Most Affordable Online PhD Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
14K
What is Aspen University known for?
Aspen University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Aspen University’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Completion
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Early Childhood Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Completion
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSN in Nursing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #9 Best Research Universities in Colorado 2024 #10 Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado 2025 #4 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Colorado #5 Best Online MBA Programs in Colorado
Tuition + fees
$13K
Graduation
20%
Student body
50K
Career Outlook for degree at Colorado Technical University
Cost of Degree: $12,760Starting Salary: $51,300What is Colorado Technical University known for?
Colorado Technical University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #2 Best Christian Colleges in Colorado 2025 #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Colorado #2 Best Online Associate in Psychology #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Colorado 2025
Tuition + fees
$18K
Graduation
61%
Student body
16K
Career Outlook for degree at Colorado Christian University
Cost of Degree: $27,808Expenses: $14,976Starting Salary: $44,600Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Colorado Christian University known for?
Colorado Christian University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Religious Studies
- Psychology
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Computer Science
- Literature
- Business
- Sociology
- Criminal Justice
- History
Most Influential Alumni
Colorado Christian University’s Online Degrees
BS in Accountancy
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Business
Degree Concentrations
- Entrepreneurship
- International Business
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Economics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Human Resource Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Logistics And Supply Chain Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Marketing And Sales
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Nonprofit Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Organizational Management In Christian Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Organizational Management In Enterprise Agility
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Organizational Management In Project Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Computer Information Technology
Degree Concentrations
- Data Engineering
- Database Management
- Networking
- System Analyst
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Information Systems Management
Degree Concentrations
- Cybersecurity
- System Analyst
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Early Childhood Education
Degree Concentrations
- Licensure
- Non Licensure
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Elementary Education
Degree Concentrations
- Licensure
- Non Licensure
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Special Education
Degree Concentrations
- Licensure
- Non-Licensure
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Applied Apologetics
Degree Concentrations
- Cultural Engagement
- Global Apologetics
- Innovative Evangelism
- Practical Apologetics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Biblical Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Christian Ministry
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Communication Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Colorado’s Best Private Colleges in Your Area Interest
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Check out our directory of private colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top private schools in every state.
