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2026 Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in Colorado

[Engineering & Applied Physics](/majors/engineering/engineering-physics/engineering-applied-physics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering & applied physics education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering & applied physics students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in Colorado

2026 Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in Colorado

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering & applied physics degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools

1

University Of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO

$15,214 In-State Tuition & Fees

$20,373 Avg Student Debt

$69,738 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked University Of Colorado Boulder the best value for a degree in engineering & applied physics in Colorado. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $55,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.

2

Colorado School Of Mines
Golden, CO

$21,914 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,500 Avg Student Debt

$97,335 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes Colorado School Of Mines one of the best values for engineering & applied physics. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $72,858. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Colorado School Of Mines admits about 61% of applicants.

View All Engineering & Applied Physics Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.