2026 Best Value Economics Schools in Colorado
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Economics Schools
For return on investment in economics, no school beat University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs this year. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,906, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,000. Early-career economics graduates make about $46,748. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Fort Lewis College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,958 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,526. Economics graduates carry a median of $18,888 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Fort Lewis College generally make around $30,676. Set against $18,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fort Lewis College admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $45,257. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Colorado Denver earned it the #4 place for economics. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Economics graduates carry a median of $23,049 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $56,201. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado State University Fort Collins earned it the #5 place for economics. 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. Economics graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $48,462. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #6 spot for economics value 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. Students borrow a median of $17,119 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $51,521. Set against $17,119 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Colorado School Of Mines earned the #7 position for value in economics this year. Located in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $24,521. Early-career economics graduates make about $76,298. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado College earned the #8 position for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,734. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $18,250. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Colorado College generally make around $58,082. Set against $18,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 18% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Denver placed #9 among the best values for economics. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,398. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $22,534. Early-career economics graduates make about $60,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong economics education at a price that pays off.
