Best Research Universities in Colorado 2023

Best Research Universities in Colorado 2023
By James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Interested in attending a STEM school in Colorado? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.

10 Best Research Universities in Colorado 2022

  1. University of Colorado Boulder
  2. University of Denver
  3. Colorado State University
  4. Colorado School of Mines
  5. University of Colorado Denver
  6. University of Northern Colorado
  7. Regis University
  8. University of Colorado Colorado Springs
  9. Colorado Technical University

Colleges and Universities in Colorado

Fans of the outdoors will feel right at home in Colorado. With the Rocky Mountains, Colorado River, and even part of the Great Plains, you’re sure to find adventure in The Centennial State. Students looking to balance outdoor adventure with higher education can choose from over 40 colleges and universities offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees for an average in-state tuition of $10,800.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Colorado’s 28 public institutes include junior colleges, universities, the United States Air Force Academy, and the Colorado School of Mines, a research university that specializes in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Tuition for Colorado’s public schools ranges from $3,000 to $19,000, with many of the colleges and junior colleges starting at $4,000 and the universities at $8,000. Several of public colleges in Colorado enroll a large number of online students, including Colorado State University

.

Colorado’s private institutions boast smaller class sizes and student populations. This category includes five religiously affiliated campuses. Private colleges in Colorado tend to be more expensive, ranging from $4,000 to $55,000 in tuition. There are several online colleges in Colorado that are categorized as private schools.

The University of Colorado, Boulder, a notable research institute, is ranked as the number one school in the state and has a student population of just over 32,000. Students can earn degrees in computer science and physics both through in-person courses and online learning. Influential Boulder alumni include Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Academy Award-winning actor and director Robert Redford.

Prospective art students can check out Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, and those desiring a career in the medical field can look into the Institute of Business and Medical Careers.

To learn more, check out the best brick-and-mortar and online colleges in Colorado.


What are Colorado’s Colleges & Universities?

Colorado’s Best Overall

Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges

Colorado's Best Research Universities Badge
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A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 9 research universities in Colorado. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

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Best Research Universities in Colorado 2022

  9. #8

    University of Colorado Colorado Springs

    Colorado Springs , CO
    #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado 2023 #8 Best Public Colleges in Colorado 2023 #8 Best Grad Schools in Colorado 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    95%

    Graduation

    44%

    Student body

    10K

    What is University of Colorado Colorado Springs known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

    University of Colorado Colorado Springs’s Online Degrees

    BS in Business
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Communication
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Philosophy
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Sociology
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Healthcare Sciences
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
  10. #9

    Colorado Technical University

    Colorado Springs , CO
    #6 Best Private Colleges in Colorado 2023 #9 Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Graduation

    23%

    Student body

    31K

    What is Colorado Technical University known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

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Find the Best Research Universities in Colorado for Your Area of Interest

Anthropology Biology Business Chemistry Commun­ications Computer Science Criminal Justice Earth Sciences Economics Education Engineering History Law Literature Mathematics Medical Nursing Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Social Work Sociology
2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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. University of Denver
  2. University of Colorado Denver
  3. University of Colorado Boulder
  4. Colorado School of Mines
  5. Colorado State University
  6. Regis University
  7. University of Northern Colorado
  8. University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.

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