Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in Colorado

Colorado School of Mines leads Colorado among colleges for earnings: its former students earn a median of $97k ten years after enrolling, against $50k for the typical college in this list.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Colorado School of Mines, CO: $97k
  • #2 Denver College of Nursing, CO: $82k
  • #3 Colorado State University Global, CO: $77k
  • 39 colleges ranked across Colorado
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: $50k across the typical college in this list.

  1. 1Colorado School of Mines CO$97k
  2. 2Denver College of Nursing CO$82k
  3. 3Colorado State University Global CO$77k
  4. 4Regis University CO$72k
  5. 5University of Denver CO$71k
  6. 6University of Colorado Boulder CO$70k
  7. 7Colorado College CO$65k
  8. 8University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus CO$64k
  9. 9Colorado State University-Fort Collins CO$61k
  10. 10Colorado State University Pueblo CO$56k

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Colorado School of Mines ($97k) is well clear of Colorado State University Pueblo at #10 ($56k).
  • Denver College of Nursing reaches #2 on a sample of 757 students enrolled, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • University of Colorado Boulder is the largest market in the top ten, with 31,939 students enrolled behind its figure.
  • Colleges with fewer than 500 students enrolled are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Median earnings ten years after enrolling show what former students of a college go on to earn, as the Department of Education publishes it.

How to use it

Compare colleges within the same level and field, and read earnings next to completion rate and net price. Earnings reflect who enrolls and what they study as much as the college.

The top 25

  1. 1
    Completion rate
    82%
    Net price a year
    $28,690
    Public
    6,155 students

    Based on 6,155 students enrolled.

    Colorado School of Mines: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  2. 2
    Completion rate
    Not available
    Net price a year
    Not available
    Private for-profit
    757 students

    Based on 757 students enrolled.

    Denver College of Nursing: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  3. 3
    Completion rate
    Not available
    Net price a year
    $16,510
    Public
    6,563 students

    Based on 6,563 students enrolled.

    Colorado State University Global: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  4. 4
    Completion rate
    61%
    Net price a year
    $18,397
    Private nonprofit
    2,627 students

    Based on 2,627 students enrolled.

    Regis University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  5. 5
    Completion rate
    76%
    Net price a year
    $36,131
    Private nonprofit
    6,025 students

    Based on 6,025 students enrolled.

    University of Denver: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  6. 6
    Completion rate
    74%
    Net price a year
    $25,346
    Public
    31,939 students

    Based on 31,939 students enrolled.

    University of Colorado Boulder: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  7. 7
    Completion rate
    88%
    Net price a year
    $33,375
    Private nonprofit
    2,014 students

    Based on 2,014 students enrolled.

    Colorado College: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  8. 8
    Completion rate
    46%
    Net price a year
    $11,900
    Public
    10,519 students

    Based on 10,519 students enrolled.

    University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  9. 9
    Completion rate
    67%
    Net price a year
    $21,279
    Public
    25,538 students

    Based on 25,538 students enrolled.

    Colorado State University-Fort Collins: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  10. 10
    Completion rate
    40%
    Net price a year
    $10,051
    Public
    3,042 students

    Based on 3,042 students enrolled.

    Colorado State University Pueblo: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  11. 11
    Completion rate
    47%
    Net price a year
    $15,788
    Public
    8,697 students

    Based on 8,697 students enrolled.

    University of Colorado Colorado Springs: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  12. 12
    Completion rate
    51%
    Net price a year
    $17,760
    Public
    5,598 students

    Based on 5,598 students enrolled.

    University of Northern Colorado: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  13. 13
    Completion rate
    32%
    Net price a year
    $15,327
    Public
    15,002 students

    Based on 15,002 students enrolled.

    Metropolitan State University of Denver: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  14. 14
    Completion rate
    64%
    Net price a year
    $29,500
    Private nonprofit
    5,549 students

    Based on 5,549 students enrolled.

    Colorado Christian University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  15. 15
    Completion rate
    29%
    Net price a year
    $11,571
    Public
    5,383 students

    Based on 5,383 students enrolled.

    Arapahoe Community College: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  16. 16
    Completion rate
    51%
    Net price a year
    $16,425
    Public
    1,586 students

    Based on 1,586 students enrolled.

    Western Colorado University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  17. 17
    Completion rate
    71%
    Net price a year
    $32,423
    Private for-profit
    1,212 students

    Based on 1,212 students enrolled.

    Lincoln College of Technology-Denver: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  18. 18
    Completion rate
    36%
    Net price a year
    $17,296
    Public
    3,079 students

    Based on 3,079 students enrolled.

    Fort Lewis College: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  19. 19
    Completion rate
    32%
    Net price a year
    $9,044
    Public
    4,889 students

    Based on 4,889 students enrolled.

    Red Rocks Community College: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  20. 20
    Completion rate
    35%
    Net price a year
    $13,031
    Public
    11,476 students

    Based on 11,476 students enrolled.

    Front Range Community College: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  21. 21
    Completion rate
    41%
    Net price a year
    $15,103
    Public
    8,143 students

    Based on 8,143 students enrolled.

    Colorado Mesa University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  22. 22
    Completion rate
    33%
    Net price a year
    $8,656
    Public
    3,250 students

    Based on 3,250 students enrolled.

    Community College of Aurora: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  23. 23
    Completion rate
    39%
    Net price a year
    $12,980
    Public
    1,250 students

    Based on 1,250 students enrolled.

    Adams State University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  24. 24
    Completion rate
    27%
    Net price a year
    $7,813
    Public
    2,816 students

    Based on 2,816 students enrolled.

    Colorado Mountain College: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

  25. 25
    Completion rate
    34%
    Net price a year
    $12,131
    Public
    504 students

    Based on 504 students enrolled.

    Colorado Northwestern Community College: programs, pay and open jobs nearby

Full ranking

All 39 colleges that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCollegeScoreSample
1Colorado School of Mines CO$97k6,155
2Denver College of Nursing CO$82k757
3Colorado State University Global CO$77k6,563
4Regis University CO$72k2,627
5University of Denver CO$71k6,025
6University of Colorado Boulder CO$70k31,939
7Colorado College CO$65k2,014
8University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus CO$64k10,519
9Colorado State University-Fort Collins CO$61k25,538
10Colorado State University Pueblo CO$56k3,042
11University of Colorado Colorado Springs CO$55k8,697
12University of Northern Colorado CO$52k5,598
13Metropolitan State University of Denver CO$52k15,002
14Colorado Christian University CO$50k5,549
15Arapahoe Community College CO$48k5,383
16Western Colorado University CO$47k1,586
17Lincoln College of Technology-Denver CO$46k1,212
18Fort Lewis College CO$46k3,079
19Red Rocks Community College CO$46k4,889
20Front Range Community College CO$46k11,476
21Colorado Mesa University CO$46k8,143
22Community College of Aurora CO$45k3,250
23Adams State University CO$44k1,250
24Colorado Mountain College CO$44k2,816
25Colorado Northwestern Community College CO$44k504
26Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design CO$43k2,050
27Intellitec College-Colorado Springs CO$42k679
28Aims Community College CO$42k3,635
29Pikes Peak State College CO$41k9,595
30Northeastern Junior College CO$40k786
31Morgan Community College CO$39k634
32Community College of Denver CO$39k5,096
33Otero College CO$39k619
34Pima Medical Institute-Denver CO$39k664
35Pueblo Community College CO$37k3,619
36Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs CO$37k28,086
37Trinidad State College CO$36k1,188
38Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder CO$32k8,504
39Intellitec College-Grand Junction CO$32k1,077

How this ranking works

Earnings are the median earnings of students who received federal financial aid, ten years after they first enrolled, as published in the Department of Education College Scorecard. They describe past students, not a promise for future ones.

Only colleges with at least 500 students and published earnings are ranked. A college's earnings reflect who enrolls and what they study as much as what the college teaches.

Sample bar: colleges with fewer than 500 students enrolled are not ranked.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (median earnings, completion, net price), as held in our college tables. Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which certification ranks first: colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in colorado?
Colorado School of Mines leads Colorado among colleges for earnings: its former students earn a median of $97k ten years after enrolling, against $50k for the typical college in this list.
How many colleges are ranked?
39 colleges have at least 500 students enrolled, so the list has 39 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
Earnings are the median earnings of students who received federal financial aid, ten years after they first enrolled, as published in the Department of Education College Scorecard. They describe past students, not a promise for future ones. Only colleges with at least 500 students and published earnings are ranked. A college's earnings reflect who enrolls and what they study as much as what the college teaches.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in Colorado,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/colleges-with-the-highest-earnings-in-colorado

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/colleges-with-the-highest-earnings-in-colorado">Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in Colorado (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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