Best Small Colleges in Colorado 2023
Small colleges in Colorado are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.
Best Small Colleges in Colorado 2022
- Pueblo Community College 18 to 1
- Western Colorado University 18 to 1
- Fort Lewis College 15 to 1
- Colorado Mountain College 13 to 1
- Adams State University 13 to 1
- Colorado College 9 to 1
- Aspen University 8 to 1
- Naropa University 7 to 1
- Colorado College $62,070
- Naropa University $34,800
- Fort Lewis College $7,056
- Adams State University $5,976
- Aspen University $5,110
- Pueblo Community College $3,680
- Colorado College $34,300
- Naropa University $19,556
- Western Colorado University $13,972
- Adams State University $7,132
- Fort Lewis College $6,750
- Aspen University $3,900
- Naropa University 7 to 1
- Aspen University 8 to 1
- Colorado College 9 to 1
- Colorado Mountain College 13 to 1
- Adams State University 13 to 1
- Fort Lewis College 15 to 1
- Pueblo Community College 18 to 1
- Western Colorado University 18 to 1
- Pueblo Community College $3,680
- Aspen University $5,110
- Adams State University $5,976
- Fort Lewis College $7,056
- Naropa University $34,800
- Colorado College $62,070
- Aspen University $3,900
- Fort Lewis College $6,750
- Adams State University $7,132
- Western Colorado University $13,972
- Naropa University $19,556
- Colorado College $34,300
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?
- 9 Research Universities
- 15 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 9 Graduate Schools
- 17 Public Colleges & Universities
- 7 Private Colleges & Universities
- 2 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 9 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 23 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 12 Community Colleges
- Best Online Colleges
Colorado’s Best Overall
The following list of the best small colleges and universities in Colorado is composed mainly of four-year undergraduate schools (though a handful also offer graduate programs). We’ve identified 8 small colleges in Colorado. The list below of the best small colleges in Colorado. To be included schools must fully accredited, and must have student body populations below 5,000 students.
Best Small Colleges in Colorado 2022
- #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Colorado 2023 #2 Best Private Colleges in Colorado 2023 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #5 Best Colleges in Colorado 2023
Other Rankings
- #10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Education Degrees
- #11 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Economics Degree
- #12 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Earth Sciences Degree
- #16 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Sociology Degrees
- #16 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Math Degrees
- #16 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Anthropology Degrees
- #17 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Earning Computer Science Degrees 2023
- #19 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for a Biology Degree
- #22 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Religious Studies Degrees
- #23 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for History Degrees
- #24 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Philosophy Degrees
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
86%
Student body
2K
What is Colorado College known for?
Colorado College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Economics
- Computer Science
- Sociology
- Earth Sciences
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Biology
- Anthropology
- History
- Political Science
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
34%
Student body
<1K
What is Naropa University known for?
Naropa University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
44%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1060/19
What is Fort Lewis College known for?
Fort Lewis College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Earth Sciences
- Economics
- Engineering
- Business
- Political Science
- Literature
- History
- Sociology
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
48%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/23
What is Western Colorado University known for?
Western Colorado University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Earth Sciences
- Sociology
- Literature
- Education
- Political Science
- History
- Psychology
- Mathematics
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
29%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
990/19
What is Adams State University known for?
Adams State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
27%
Student body
3K
What is Colorado Mountain College known for?
Colorado Mountain College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
19%
Student body
4K
What is Pueblo Community College known for?
Pueblo Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Colorado 2023 #3 Best Private Colleges in Colorado 2023 #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado 2023 #7 Best Grad Schools in Colorado 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
6K
What is Aspen University known for?
Aspen University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
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
Colorado’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest
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.
