2026 Best Value Chemistry Schools in Colorado

[Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for chemistry students.
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2026 Best Value Chemistry Schools in Colorado
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in chemistry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Chemistry Schools
For return on investment in chemistry, no school beat Metropolitan State College Of Denver this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,318 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $34,417 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fort Lewis College earned it the #2 place for chemistry. Located in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,958, with out-of-state students paying around $21,526. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $15,417. Chemistry graduates of Fort Lewis College earn a median of $34,159 early in their careers. Set against $15,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Colorado Denver earned it the #3 place for chemistry. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,365 to complete the chemistry program here. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $66,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in chemistry will find it at University Of Northern Colorado, which ranked #4. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. Students borrow a median of $26,626 to complete the chemistry program here. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $45,406. That is a strong return on a $26,626 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the best values for chemistry. 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. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $19,062. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $63,896. That is a strong return on a $19,062 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #6 spot for chemistry value this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. Students from in state pay about $15,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete the chemistry program here. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $72,394. Set against $20,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado School Of Mines landed the #7 spot for chemistry value this year. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Students borrow a median of $24,521 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. Set against $24,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado School Of Mines admits about 61% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.