Best Private Colleges in Colorado 2025

Badge for BEST IN COLORADO PRIVATE COLLEGES
By Dr. James Barham
Published:
Updated:

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

  1. University of Denver
  2. Colorado College
  3. Naropa University
    +2
  4. Regis University
  5. Aspen University
    –2
  6. Colorado Technical University
  7. Colorado Christian University

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

  2. #2

    Colorado College

    Colorado Springs , CO
    #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
    Other Rankings

    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: $67,932
    Expenses: $19,196
    Starting Salary: $49,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 22 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Colorado College known for?

    Colorado College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  3. #3

    Naropa University

    Boulder , CO
    #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: $34,600
    Expenses: $16,710
    Starting Salary: $27,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 23 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Naropa University known for?

    Naropa University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  4. #4

    Regis University

    Denver , CO
    #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
    Other Rankings

    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: $43,980
    Expenses: $19,428
    Starting Salary: $62,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Regis University known for?

    Regis University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Regis University’s Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  6. #5

    Aspen University

    Phoenix , AZ
    #7 Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado 2025 #7 Best Grad Schools in Colorado 2025 #8 Best Small Colleges in Colorado 2024 #1 Most Affordable Online PhD Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
    Other Rankings

    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
    Compare school
  8. #7

    Colorado Christian University

    Lakewood , CO
    #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
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $18K

    Graduation

    61%

    Student body

    16K

    Career Outlook for degree at Colorado Christian University

    Cost of Degree: $27,808
    Expenses: $14,976
    Starting Salary: $44,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Colorado Christian University known for?

    Colorado Christian University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    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
    Compare school
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Colorado’s Best Private Colleges in Your Area Interest

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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.

  1. Colorado College
  2. University of Denver
  3. Regis University
  4. Colorado Christian University

Check out our directory of private colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top private schools in every state.

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