Top Rated Colorado Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in Colorado for 2025

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in Colorado as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2025 as the best public college in Colorado is Colorado School of Mines. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


12 results

Colorado School of Mines
C
Golden, CO

Colorado School of Mines

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 7,599enrollment
  • $29,785net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Colorado Boulder
C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 41,432enrollment
  • $22,640net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1420SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Colorado State University Fort Collins
C
Fort Collins, CO

Colorado State University Fort Collins

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 33,500enrollment
  • $19,828net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

University of Colorado Denver
C
Denver, CO

University of Colorado Denver

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 23,409enrollment
  • $15,303net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 980-1220SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.46Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

University of Colorado Colorado Springs
C
Colorado Springs, CO

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 11,213enrollment
  • $16,816net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

University of Northern Colorado
N
Greeley, CO

University of Northern Colorado

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 9,067enrollment
  • $19,115net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 970-1180SAT range
  • 17-26ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Western State Colorado University
W
Gunnison, CO

Western State Colorado University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 4,053enrollment
  • $17,709net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Fort Lewis College
F
Durango, CO

Fort Lewis College

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 3,413enrollment
  • $16,074net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 980-1220SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Colorado Mesa University
C
Grand Junction, CO

Colorado Mesa University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 8,995enrollment
  • $15,076net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 930-1180SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

Metropolitan State College of Denver
M
Denver, CO

Metropolitan State College of Denver

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 17,593enrollment
  • $13,727net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 880-1110SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.03Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

Adams State College
A
Alamosa, CO

Adams State College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 2,950enrollment
  • $13,800net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 910-1130SAT range
  • 15-26ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Colorado State University Pueblo
C
Pueblo, CO

Colorado State University Pueblo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 6,691enrollment
  • $14,188net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 870-1100SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1