There may be no better place for higher education, quite literally, than Colorado. This state is entirely above 1,000 meters in elevation, and every campus in the state sits higher than many of the colleges and universities around the country.

Elevation aside, there are several outstanding institutes of higher education in the Centennial State. The 2020 best colleges and universities in Colorado are also some of the best in the western region of schools.

Colorado College – This school offers an innovative block plan for taking classes, and students take one class at a time for three and a half weeks. Students can take advantage of small class sizes, and teachers are encouraged to spend as much time as necessary to make sure the material is learned. Every completed block class gets a several-day break before the next one starts. Also, all students are required to complete a volunteer service project. This school ranks #27 among national liberal arts colleges, and the annual tuition and fees are $55,470.

Colorado Mesa University – A top-25 school in western regional colleges, this university focuses on the student academic experience by offering small classes that investigate regional, national and global issues. A little more than half of the student population is female. In-state tuition and fees are just under $9,243 per year.

United States Air Force Academy – Air Force requires that all students engage in military training in addition to their chosen field of study.  Cadets commit to an ambitious schedule that takes up most of their days, but they also have an opportunity to become involved in additional activities. Academy graduates are well-known for their integrity, likely because they take the school’s honor code seriously. There is no cost for tuition.

Regis University – A top school in Colorado, Regis ranks at #26 among western regional universities, and it’s a good choice for veterans. Regis is a private school that focuses on teaching values as well as academics. Tuition is $36,810 annually.

Colorado School of Mines – Ranked 80^th among national universities, this school offers studies in Mechanical Engineering and Geophysical, and it’s also known for Liberal Arts & International Studies as well as Economics & Business. More impressive, though, is that graduates of this school have some of the highest starting salaries in the United States. In-state tuition is just under $19,000 annually.

University of Denver – At #96 nationally, the private University of Denver boasts many programs for study, including fine arts and engineering, and the curriculum in every discipline includes a focus on writing as well as cross-disciplinary studies. The acclaimed Sturm College of Law is housed at this school. Annual tuition is approximately $50,556 per year.

These top colleges and universities are not only among the best in Colorado, but they are among the best in the nation.

 Click here to learn more about the ranking methodology that we used to compile this list.

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