Colorado colleges often fail to score great grades on national surveys.
Last year, just two Colorado institutions made the top thirty in an NPR roster of premier U.S. colleges.
And in recent weeks, we noted that a ranking of America's best public colleges featured just one Colorado school in the top fifty.
So it's a pleasant surprise to discover the top-ten finish of a Colorado college in SmartAsset's new analysis of the schools offering the best value — those that most successfully balance expenses with student aid and starting salaries upon graduation.
Continue to see the photo-illustrated list, featuring SmartAsset data; note that the tuition figures are generally calculated to the charges for in-state students. That's followed by the complete methodology. For more information from SmartAsset, including an interactive map and more, click here.
Number 1: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
City: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Average scholarships and grants: $33,585
Average starting salary: $74,900
College tuition: $43,498
Student living costs: $15,522
Student retention rate: 99 percent
College Education Value Index: 100.00
Number 2: Harvey Mudd College
City: Claremont, California
Average scholarships and grants: $28,001
Average starting salary: $78,200
College tuition: $46,509
Student living costs: $17,351
Student retention rate: 97 percent
College Education Value Index: 94.51
Number 3: California Institute of Technology
City: Pasadena, California
Average scholarships and grants: $29,759
Average starting salary: $72,600
College tuition: $41,538
Student living costs: $17,217
Student retention rate: 97 percent
College Education Value Index: 91.03
Number 4: Georgia Institute of Technology — Main Campus
City: Atlanta, Georgia
Average scholarships and grants: $8,798
Average starting salary: $62,500
College tuition: $10,650
Student living costs: $12,734
Student retention rate: 96 percent
College Education Value Index: 88.05
Number 5: Stanford University
City: Stanford, California
Average scholarships and grants: $38,662
Average starting salary: $65,900
College tuition: $16,485
Student living costs: $17,066
Student retention rate: 94 percent
College Education Value Index: 86.07
Continue to keep counting down the ten best U.S. colleges for value, including one in Colorado.