2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Colorado
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value liberal arts schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Colorado
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Colorado Mountain College the best value for a degree in liberal arts in Colorado. Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Glenwood Springs. Students from in state pay about $2,616 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,541 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $32,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Morgan Community College earned it the #2 place for liberal arts. Morgan Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Fort Morgan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,252, while out-of-state students pay about $16,852. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $6,250 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Morgan Community College earn a median of $70,412 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Aurora came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,470, compared with $17,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $12,250. Liberal Arts graduates of Community College Of Aurora earn a median of $38,729 early in their careers. Set against $12,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Red Rocks Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,913 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $27,242 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Aims Community College, which ranked #5. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Students from in state pay about $2,258 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,786. Students borrow a median of $9,152 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Aims Community College generally make around $29,845. Set against $9,152 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Denver ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $14,445 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Community College Of Denver generally make around $29,078. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pikes Peak Community College earned the #7 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,510, with out-of-state students paying around $17,110. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $26,779. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arapahoe Community College placed #8 among the best values for liberal arts. Arapahoe Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Littleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, with out-of-state students paying around $17,034. Students borrow a median of $15,125 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $38,592. Set against $15,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar Community College earned the #9 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Lamar, Lamar Community College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,550, compared with $7,260 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,300 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $25,669. That is a strong return on a $9,300 median debt.
Front Range Community College earned the #10 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $14,750. Liberal Arts graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $35,023 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pueblo Community College earned the #11 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,049, while out-of-state students pay about $17,649. Students borrow a median of $14,962 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Pueblo Community College earn a median of $30,640 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,962 median debt.
Trinidad State Junior College placed #12 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,608 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,318. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,995 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $30,532. Set against $9,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado Northwestern Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Rangely, Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,594, compared with $7,304 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $56,978. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Otero Junior College came in at #14 for value in liberal arts this year. Otero Junior College is a small public school located in the town of La Junta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $7,270 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $9,750. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Otero Junior College generally make around $66,338. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado State University Pueblo came in at #15 for value in liberal arts this year. Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public school located in the city of Pueblo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,720, with out-of-state students paying around $17,944. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $25,750. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $38,502. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern Junior College earned the #16 position for value in liberal arts this year. Northeastern Junior College is a small public school located in the town of Sterling. Students from in state pay about $5,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,267. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,287. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Adams State College placed #17 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the town of Alamosa, Adams State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,824, compared with $21,944 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $24,879 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Adams State College earn a median of $39,546 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,879 median debt.
Mesa State College came in at #18 for value in liberal arts this year. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. In-state tuition and fees average $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Students borrow a median of $23,485 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $37,298 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,485 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Colorado earned the #19 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,974 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $45,705. Set against $23,974 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #20 position for value in liberal arts this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $34,540. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Colorado Christian University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,846. Students borrow a median of $32,500 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Colorado Christian University generally make around $47,333. Set against $32,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Denver placed #22 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,398. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $56,999. Set against $22,534 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
More Liberal Arts Rankings
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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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
