Forbes' Top 13 Colorado Colleges and Their (Mostly Unimpressive) National Rankings

Forbes has just released its list of the top colleges in America -- a roster that includes 650 institutions. And while thirteen Colorado colleges are included, none of them made the top ten...or the top twenty...or the top thirty. Below, see our photo-illustrated countdown of the Colorado finishers, complete with...

By Michael Roberts

August 19, 2014

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Forbes has just released its list of the top colleges in America -- a roster that includes 650 institutions. And while thirteen Colorado colleges are included, none of them made the top ten...or the top twenty...or the top thirty.

Below, see our photo-illustrated countdown of the Colorado finishers, complete with tuition info, student population figures and their national ranking -- which, for many, isn't especially impressive. Count them down below, and to check out the full methodology, click here.

Number 13: Colorado Mesa University

Cost: $29,752
Student Population: 9,482
National Rank: 642

Number 12: Metropolitan State University of Denver

Cost: $31,093
Student Population: 23,381
National Rank: 638

Continue to keep counting down Colorado's top thirteen colleges according to Forbes. Number 11: University of Northern Colorado

Cost: $31,803
Student Population: 13,070
National Rank: 610

Number 10: Fort Lewis College

Cost: $33,322
Student Population: 3,883
National Rank: 596

Continue to keep counting down Colorado's top thirteen colleges according to Forbes. Number 9: University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Cost: $31,837
Student Population: 10,612
National Rank: 536

Number 8: Western State Colorado University

Cost: $29,986

Student Population: 2,301
National Rank: 496

Continue to keep counting down Colorado's top thirteen colleges according to Forbes. Number 7: University of Colorado, Denver

Cost: $38,679

Student Population: 22,396
National Rank: 493

Number 6: Colorado State University

Cost: $39,056
Student Population: 30,659
National Rank: 310

Continue to keep counting down Colorado's top thirteen colleges according to Forbes. Number 5: Colorado School of Mines

Cost: $46,533
Student Population: 5,721
National Rank: 153

Number 4: University of Denver

Cost: $56,077
Student Population: 11,656
National Rank: 139

Continue to keep counting down Colorado's top thirteen colleges according to Forbes. Number 3: University of Colorado, Boulder

Cost: $50,655
Student Population: 31,945
National Rank: 118

Number 2: Colorado College

Cost: $57,400

Student Population: 2,022
National Rank: 51

Number 1: United States Air Force Academy

Cost: N/A
Student Population: 4,120

National Rank: 34

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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