The 10 Cheapest Colleges in Colorado
What’s Covered:
- The 10 Cheapest Colleges in Colorado
- Tips for Saving Money on College
- How Much Will You Pay for College?
There are a lot of factors you need to consider when choosing a college and price is one of them—especially when you consider that over the past two decades, the average cost of tuition and fees rose 93.2% (17.4% adjusted for inflation). Luckily, there are a handful of ways to keep the expense of higher education affordable.
The 10 Cheapest Colleges in Colorado
1. United States Air Force Academy | Air Force
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: Free
Location: USAF Academy, CO
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,124
The United States Air Force Academy is one of just five service academies in the U.S. The Air Force Academy is extremely selective, requires students to serve after graduation, and applicants must meet specific requirements—such as being between 17 and 23 years old and unmarried with no dependents. It’s also free.
Those chosen to attend the Air Force can anticipate a different experience from those attending a traditional college, with more regimented schedules, stricter rules, and receiving military training along with college coursework.
Learn more about the United States Air Force Academy and what it takes to get accepted.
2. Colorado Mountain College
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $5,112/$12,840
Location: Glenwood Springs, CO
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,673
Colorado Mountain College (CMC) is home to 11 campuses—three residential and eight commuter—scattered across the Rocky Mountains. CMC offers eight bachelor’s degrees:
- Business Administration
- Ecosystem Science & Stewardship
- Education
- Human Services
- Applied Science in Integrated Media
- Leadership & Management
- Nursing
- Sustainability
CMC’s district spans 12,000 square miles and covers three national forests, six wilderness areas, and the majority of the state’s major ski resorts. CMC is a Hispanic-Serving Institution, with more than a quarter of full-time undergraduates being Hispanic or Latino.
Learn more about Colorado Mountain College and what it takes to get accepted.
3. Colorado State University-Pueblo
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $9,720/$17,944
Location: Pueblo, CO
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,816
Colorado State University-Pueblo began in 1933 as a three-room junior college with just two instructors and 63 students. Today, the university is a 275-acre institution that offers 42undergraduate degrees to more than 4,500 students.
The university has been a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) since 2004 and was named HSI of the year by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities in 2008. In 2021, the university celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Chicano Studies program and announced plans to serve the Hispanic community better.
Learn more about Colorado State University-Pueblo and what it takes to get accepted.
4. Adams State University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $9,824/$21,944
Location: Alamosa, CO
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,576
Adams State University is a small school known for its diverse student body and its strong commitment to underserved populations. The university became Colorado’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution in 1998, and today, more than half of its students are people of color. First-generation college students also make up 50% of the student body.
Adams State University even has a program that supports migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents, the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).
Learn more about Adams State University and what it takes to get accepted.
5. Colorado Mesa University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $9,927/$25,124
Location: Grand Junction, CO
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,711
Nestled between the mountains and high desert canyons is Colorado Mesa University (CMU), the largest institution of higher education in the western part of the state. The school’s proximity to Powderhorn Mountain Resort and more than 300 days of annual sunshine make it popular with outdoor recreationists.
The college offers more than 100 majors through its 13 academic departments. Traditionally underrepresented students make up 29% of CMU’s student population, and the school offers online and distance classes to further serve non-traditional and working students.
Learn more about Colorado Mesa University and what it takes to get accepted.
6. Fort Lewis College
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $9,958/$21,526
Location: Durango, CO
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,313
Fort Lewis College (FLC) has an interesting history—it began as an army post in 1878 and was converted to a boarding school for Native Americans in 1911. Today, FLC provides a liberal-arts-based curriculum, and Native Americans continue to have a significant presence at the school.
Students representing 166 Tribes and Native Alaskan villages are found on campus and make up roughly 40% of the student body. Fort Lewis College awards more degrees to Native American students than any other four-year, baccalaureate-granting institution in the nation.
Learn more about Fort Lewis College and what it takes to get accepted.
7. University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $10,149/$24,336
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,398
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is one of the fastest-growing schools in the University of Colorado system. UCCS’s Rocky Mountain backdrop and its 300 days of annual sunshine are part of its appeal.
The university is known for niche programs like homeland security and hazards management, professional golf management, and innovation. UCCS is also known for its connection with the armed services—Colorado Springs is home to both Army and Air Force bases, and almost 30% of UCCS students are military-affiliated.
Learn more about the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and what it takes to get accepted.
8. University of Colorado Denver | CU Denver
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $10,383/$29,391
Location: Denver, CO
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,027
CU Denver is Colorado’s only public urban research institution and the most diverse research institution in the state, with half of its students identifying as people of color. Domestic students from 48 states call campus home, while international students from 75 countries study at CU Denver. Nearly half (49%) of CU Denver students are the first people in their families to complete a four-year degree.
Learn more about the University of Colorado Denver and what it takes to get accepted.
9. Western Colorado University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $11,318/$24,434
Location: Gunnison, CO
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,569
Western Colorado University was founded more than a century ago (in 1901) as a teacher training college. Today, the university offers a curriculum based on liberal arts. The school’s 125-acre campus in the heart of the Rocky Mountains (and at almost 8,000 feet in elevation) makes it popular with adventurous undergraduates—they’re never far from world-class climbing, mountain biking, rafting, skiing, and snowboarding. It also makes the school a popular place to study environmental science.
Learn more about Western Colorado University and what it takes to get accepted.
10. University of Northern Colorado | UNC
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $12,416/$27,266
Location: Greeley, CO
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,616
The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) was founded in 1899 as a school to train teachers and has grown into a major university offering more than 100 undergraduate programs in fields such as the arts, business, health and wellness, humanities, science and technology, and social science. Almost half of UNC’s incoming class (44%) are first-generation college students.
Learn more about the University of Northern Colorado and what it takes to get accepted.
Tips for Saving Money on College
Looking to lower the cost of college? Check out these great money-saving tips.
State Schools
State schools receive federal, state, and local funding, which allows them to offer lower-cost tuition to in-state students. According to the College Board—the organization that administers the SAT—the average cost of tuition and fees in 2024-25 for a private college was $43,350—almost four times higher than the $11,610 it was for in-state students at public universities and colleges.
It’s worth noting that you can find value at private colleges, particularly at ones where your profile is strong. Private colleges will commonly award significant scholarships to strong applicants in hopes of enticing them to their institution.
100% Demonstrated Need
Applying to colleges that meet 100% of demonstrated need—a commitment by the school that all accepted students can attend regardless of their financial circumstances—is a smart strategy to ensure you can pay for college. However, it doesn’t necessarily help you avoid accumulating debt while earning your degree. To do that, you will want to apply to one of the few (and select) colleges that meet 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans or without loans for certain income brackets.
Minimize Time in College
Less than half of students graduate from college in four years, and only about two-thirds of those who enter college graduate within six years. All of that extra time at college comes at a cost, namely, spending money at school rather than earning it in the workforce.
There are a number of ways to earn your degree in a timely fashion, such as earning college credit for AP classes, taking expanded course loads, attending school over the summer, and enrolling in dual-degree or accelerated programs.
How Much Will You Pay for College?
The sticker price of a college is a poor indicator of what it will cost you to attend. Net price—a calculation that uses factors like financial aid and scholarships—provides a more accurate picture of what you can expect to pay for college. While you can use each individual school’s net price calculator, our free Financial Aid Calculator lets you estimate the cost of hundreds of schools in just minutes.
Another useful tool provided by CollegeVine is our free Chancing Engine, which predicts your chance of acceptance based on grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and demographics. Use these free tools to improve your profile, improve your odds of acceptance, and plan your college finances!
