Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Colorado
Ranked by graduate earnings
Adams State University, Colorado State University Pueblo and Colorado State University - Fort Collins are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Colorado by graduate earnings. Adams State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,546, College Scorecard. Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado State University - Fort Collins and University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Colorado: 185, 163 and 114 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 29 Colorado colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 5,206 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 3 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adams State University Alamosa Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,546 | 97 | 39% | — | $24,879 |
| 2 | Colorado State University Pueblo Pueblo Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,502 | 20 | 40% | — | $25,750 |
| 3 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,540 | 163 | 67% | — | $25,000 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Community College of Aurora Aurora Public · Associate degree | $38,729 | 481 | 33% | — | $12,250 |
| 2 | Front Range Community College Westminster Public · Associate degree | $35,023 | 709 | 35% | — | $14,750 |
| 3 | Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Public · Associate degree | $32,460 | 123 | 41% | — | $21,000 |
| 4 | Pueblo Community College Pueblo Public · Associate degree | $30,640 | 183 | 31% | — | $14,962 |
| 5 | Trinidad State College Trinidad Public · Associate degree | $30,532 | 78 | 55% | — | $9,995 |
| 6 | Aims Community College Greeley Public · Associate degree | $29,845 | 521 | 40% | — | $9,152 |
| 7 | Red Rocks Community College Lakewood Public · Associate degree | $27,242 | 175 | 32% | — | $11,913 |
| 8 | Lamar Community College Lamar Public · Associate degree | $25,669 | 55 | 55% | — | $9,300 |
| 9 | Northeastern Junior College Sterling Public · Associate degree | $24,287 | 74 | 56% | — | $11,000 |
| 10 | Arapahoe Community College Littleton Public · Associate degree | $38,592 | 433 | 29% | — | $15,125 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Colorado
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver Public | 185 | Not reported |
| 2 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins Public | 163 | $34,540 |
| 3 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver Public | 114 | Not reported |
| 4 | Adams State University Alamosa Public | 97 | $39,546 |
| 5 | Otero College La Junta Public | 93 | Not reported |
| 6 | Morgan Community College Fort Morgan Public | 66 | Not reported |
| 7 | Colorado Christian University Lakewood Private not-for-profit | 53 | Not reported |
| 8 | Colorado Northwestern Community College Rangely Public | 51 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Public | 27 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Denver Denver Private not-for-profit | 27 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 19 Colorado colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pikes Peak State College | Colorado Springs | Public | 818 |
| Front Range Community College | Westminster | Public | 709 |
| Aims Community College | Greeley | Public | 521 |
| Community College of Aurora | Aurora | Public | 481 |
| Arapahoe Community College | Littleton | Public | 433 |
| Colorado Mountain College | Glenwood Springs | Public | 349 |
| Community College of Denver | Denver | Public | 236 |
| Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Public | 183 |
| Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood | Public | 175 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction | Public | 123 |
| Trinidad State College | Trinidad | Public | 78 |
| Northeastern Junior College | Sterling | Public | 74 |
| Lamar Community College | Lamar | Public | 55 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison | Public | 27 |
| Regis University | Denver | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo | Public | 20 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley | Public | 16 |
| Colorado College | Colorado Springs | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy | Public | 4 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Colorado
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Colorado.
Which Colorado colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Metropolitan State University of Denver (185 graduates a year), Colorado State University - Fort Collins (163 graduates a year) and University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (114 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 29 Colorado colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Colorado?+
By graduate earnings, Adams State University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Colorado, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,546, College Scorecard. Colorado State University Pueblo and Colorado State University - Fort Collins follow. By degrees awarded, Metropolitan State University of Denver is the largest, with 185 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Colorado has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Adams State University tops the list at $39,546. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Colorado?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Colorado is $102,600 (median $83,210), across about 480 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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