Colleges in Denver, Colorado
20 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 20 colleges and universities in Denver, Colorado (9 Private for-profit, 6 Private nonprofit, 5 Public). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 20 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $18,397 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 72.0%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 86% of applicants.
The median net price in Denver runs about $1,355 higher than the Colorado statewide median of $17,042.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Denver, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$18,397
After aid
Median grad rate
72.0%
6-year
Median admission rate
86%
Median enrollment
757
Undergrad
All colleges in Denver
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO | CO | Public, 4-year | $15,327 | 31.5% | 99% | 15,002 | Complete | |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO | CO | Public, 4-year | $11,900 | 46.2% | 75% | 10,519 | Complete | |
| Colorado State University Global Denver, CO | CO | Public, 4-year | $16,510 | Not available | 98% | 6,563 | Complete | |
| Emily Griffith Technical College Denver, CO | CO | Public, <2-year | $7,197 | 97.0% | Not available | 6,123 | Partial | |
| University of Denver Denver, CO | CO | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $36,131 | 75.6% | 78% | 6,025 | Complete | |
| Community College of Denver Denver, CO | CO | Public, 4-year | $9,450 | 20.0% | Not available | 5,096 | Partial | |
| Regis University Denver, CO | CO | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $18,397 | 61.0% | 86% | 2,627 | Complete | |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Denver Denver, CO | CO | Private for-profit, 2-year | $32,423 | 71.2% | Not available | 1,212 | Partial | |
| Denver College of Nursing Denver, CO | CO | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 757 | Partial | |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver Denver, CO | CO | Private for-profit, 2-year | $22,034 | 72.7% | Not available | 664 | Partial | |
| Aveda Institute-Denver Denver, CO | CO | Private for-profit, <2-year | $20,167 | 83.5% | Not available | 280 | Partial | |
| National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) Denver, CO | CO | Private nonprofit, <2-year | $12,959 | 79.5% | 29% | 194 | Partial | |
| Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology Denver, CO | CO | Private for-profit, 2-year | $22,905 | 26.9% | Not available | 139 | Partial | |
| Colorado Media School Denver, CO | CO | Private for-profit, <2-year | $30,514 | 71.4% | Not available | 38 | Partial | |
| United Beauty College Denver, CO | CO | Private for-profit, <2-year | $11,666 | 96.8% | Not available | 23 | Partial | |
| Montessori Education Center of the Rockies Denver, CO | CO | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $19,557 | 83.3% | 100% | 10 | Complete | |
| Iliff School of Theology Denver, CO | CO | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Colorado Chinese Medicine University Denver, CO | CO | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Taft University System Denver, CO | CO | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 0 | Missing | |
| Relay Graduate School of Education - Denver Denver, CO | CO | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing |
By institution type
Private for-profit (9)
Private for-profit colleges in Denver operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Lincoln College of Technology-DenverNet price: $32,423Grad: 71.2%
- Denver College of NursingNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Pima Medical Institute-DenverNet price: $22,034Grad: 72.7%
- Aveda Institute-DenverNet price: $20,167Grad: 83.5%
- Bel-Rea Institute of Animal TechnologyNet price: $22,905Grad: 26.9%
- Colorado Media SchoolNet price: $30,514Grad: 71.4%
- United Beauty CollegeNet price: $11,666Grad: 96.8%
- Colorado Chinese Medicine UniversityNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Taft University SystemNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Private nonprofit (6)
Private nonprofit colleges in Denver are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- University of DenverNet price: $36,131Grad: 75.6%
- Regis UniversityNet price: $18,397Grad: 61.0%
- National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA)Net price: $12,959Grad: 79.5%
- Montessori Education Center of the RockiesNet price: $19,557Grad: 83.3%
- Iliff School of TheologyNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Relay Graduate School of Education - DenverNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (5)
Public colleges in Denver are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- Metropolitan State University of DenverNet price: $15,327Grad: 31.5%
- University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusNet price: $11,900Grad: 46.2%
- Colorado State University GlobalNet price: $16,510Grad: Not available
- Emily Griffith Technical CollegeNet price: $7,197Grad: 97.0%
- Community College of DenverNet price: $9,450Grad: 20.0%
Top programs in Denver
Most-completed programs across Denver colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business19.7% of degrees
- Health professions14.8% of degrees
- Computer science7.0% of degrees
- Psychology5.8% of degrees
- Liberal arts5.4% of degrees
- Biological sciences4.8% of degrees
- Social sciences4.4% of degrees
- Visual & performing arts4.0% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Denver
Q.How many colleges are in Denver, Colorado?
There are 20 colleges and universities in Denver, Colorado that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 9 Private for-profit, 6 Private nonprofit, 5 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in Denver?
By undergraduate enrollment, Metropolitan State University of Denver is the largest institution in Denver with roughly 15,002 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Denver?
Based on average net price after aid, Emily Griffith Technical College is the most affordable institution in Denver at $7,197 per year.
Q.Which Denver college has the highest graduation rate?
Emily Griffith Technical College reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Denver institutions at 97.0%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Denver?
The median net price across all 20 colleges in Denver is $18,397 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Denver?
Across Denver colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Health professions, Computer science.
Q.Are there community colleges in Denver?
Yes — Denver includes 5 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in Colorado
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Denver that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.