2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Colorado
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in civil engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Civil Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Colorado Denver the best value for a degree in civil engineering in Colorado. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $38,460 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $72,362 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $38,460 median debt. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,480 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $76,180. Set against $25,480 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $75,436. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the civil engineering program here. Civil Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $72,238 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
