2026 Best Value Psychology Schools in Colorado
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Psychology Schools
Red Rocks Community College earned the #1 spot for value among psychology schools in Colorado. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Psychology graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans. Psychology graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $76,340 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Denver earned it the #2 place for psychology. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, with out-of-state students paying around $17,658. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $18,830. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Community College Of Denver generally make around $45,202. That is a strong return on a $18,830 median debt.
Arapahoe Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,434 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,034 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,448 to complete the psychology program here. Early-career psychology graduates make about $47,579. Set against $20,448 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Front Range Community College one of the best values for psychology. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $17,384. Psychology graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $40,414 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,384 median debt.
Trinidad State Junior College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,608, while out-of-state students pay about $7,318. Students borrow a median of $10,502 to complete the psychology program here. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College generally make around $53,086. Set against $10,502 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado State University Global Campus landed the #6 spot for psychology value this year. Located in the city of Denver, Colorado State University Global Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,000 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $31,361. Early-career psychology graduates make about $68,936. Set against $31,361 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Pueblo placed #7 among the best values for psychology. Located in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,720, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $22,000. Psychology graduates of Colorado State University Pueblo earn a median of $27,133 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Adams State College came in at #8 for value in psychology this year. Set in the town of Alamosa, Adams State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,824, compared with $21,944 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $22,745. Early-career psychology graduates make about $49,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned the #9 position for value in psychology this year. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,124, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,624 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $39,955. Set against $26,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Mesa State College placed #10 among the best values for psychology. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,648 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $34,116 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,648 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earned the #11 position for value in psychology this year. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public school located in the city of Colorado Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $10,906, while out-of-state students pay about $25,039. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the psychology program here. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs generally make around $34,607. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs admits about 97% of applicants.
Western State College Of Colorado came in at #12 for value in psychology this year. Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Gunnison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,318, while out-of-state students pay about $24,434. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of Western State College Of Colorado earn a median of $32,352 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Fort Lewis College landed the #13 spot for psychology value this year. 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 psychology graduates is $20,264. Early-career psychology graduates make about $27,019. That is a strong return on a $20,264 median debt. Fort Lewis College admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #14 for value in psychology this year. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. In-state tuition and fees average $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $56,916 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Denver came in at #15 for value in psychology this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,928 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $48,064 early in their careers. Set against $21,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #16 spot for psychology value 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, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Students borrow a median of $23,147 to complete the psychology program here. Early-career psychology graduates make about $66,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #17 position for value in psychology this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Psychology graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career psychology graduates make about $30,176. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Regis University placed #18 among the best values for psychology. Located in the city of Denver, Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $28,140. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $31,773. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Regis University generally make around $49,365. That is a strong return on a $31,773 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado Christian University earned the #19 position for value in psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,846. Psychology graduates carry a median of $18,676 in student loans. Psychology graduates of Colorado Christian University earn a median of $44,930 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Naropa University earned the #20 position for value in psychology this year. Located in the city of Boulder, Naropa University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,620 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $33,250. Psychology graduates of Naropa University earn a median of $37,777 early in their careers. Set against $33,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado College placed #21 among the best values for psychology. Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,734. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete the psychology program here. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Colorado College generally make around $37,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 18% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Denver placed #22 among the best values for psychology. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,398. Students borrow a median of $21,083 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $61,198 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,083 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
[Psychology](/majors/psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong psychology education at a price that pays off.
