Colorado College Tuition Trends from 2015 to 2025

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Tuition trends by school type and level for Colorado colleges

There are 43 four-year colleges and universities in Colorado—23 public institutions and 20 private institutions. This page summarizes average tuition & fees and how costs have changed over time based on the latest available IPEDS data.

Undergraduate Tuition Trends

Public colleges: In 2025, average in-state tuition & fees are $8,718, while out-of-state tuition & fees are $22,126. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 2.69% and out-of-state costs changed by 3.32%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 35.32% (in-state) and 31.88% (out-of-state).

Private colleges: The average tuition & fees are $27,851 in 2025. That is a -2.95% change from last year and 17.64% cumulative growth since 2015.

Graduate Tuition Trends

Public graduate schools: In 2025, average in-state graduate tuition & fees are $12,955, while out-of-state graduate tuition & fees are $21,546. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 2.74% and out-of-state costs changed by 2.62%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 26.31% (in-state) and 9.08% (out-of-state).

Private graduate schools: The average graduate tuition & fees are $21,261 in 2025. That is a 1.14% change from last year and 13.47% cumulative growth since 2015.

Public vs. private comparison (increase rates): In 2025, private undergraduate tuition changed by -2.95% year-over-year. Public undergraduate in-state changed by 2.69% (higher by 5.64 percentage points vs. private), and public out-of-state changed by 3.32% (higher by 6.27 percentage points vs. private). Over the full period since 2015, private undergraduate tuition grew by 17.64%, compared with public in-state 35.32% (higher by 17.68 percentage points vs. private) and public out-of-state 31.88% (higher by 14.24 percentage points vs. private).

Graduate comparison: In 2025, private graduate tuition changed by 1.14% year-over-year. Public graduate in-state changed by 2.74% (higher by 1.60 percentage points vs. private), and public graduate out-of-state changed by 2.62% (higher by 1.49 percentage points vs. private). Since 2015, private graduate tuition grew by 13.47%, compared with public graduate in-state 26.31% (higher by 12.84 percentage points vs. private) and public graduate out-of-state 9.08% (lower by 4.39 percentage points vs. private).

COA Trends

Undergraduate cost of attendance change by school type (tuition & fees + room & board): In 2025, estimated on-campus COA is $26,507 (public in-state), $39,914 (public out-of-state), and $45,639 (private). Year-over-year, on-campus COA changed by 4.15%, 4.01%, and -0.04%, respectively. Since 2015, cumulative on-campus COA growth is 36.06% (public in-state), 33.87% (public out-of-state), and 24.32% (private).

Off-campus COA: In 2025, estimated off-campus COA is $28,896 (public in-state), $42,303 (public out-of-state), and $48,029 (private). Year-over-year, off-campus COA changed by 7.09%, 6.01%, and 1.78%. Since 2015, cumulative off-campus COA growth is 45.81% (public in-state), 40.30% (public out-of-state), and 29.64% (private).

Tuition & Fees Trends of Colorado Colleges from 2015 to 2025

The tables and charts below show how average college tuition and fees have changed in Colorado from 2015 through 2025.

All figures are based on the latest available IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) data published by the U.S. Department of Education. To keep the comparisons consistent, these averages reflect 4-year colleges and universities in Colorado and exclude most community colleges and trade schools due to differences in reporting and availability.

Under. (Public) Under. (Private) Graduate (Public) Graduate (Private)
For Colorado public schools, the 2025 undergraduate in-state tuition & fees are $8,718 which has increased by 35.32% over the current decade and the out-of-state cost is $22,126 which has risen by 31.88%. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 3.19% while last year increase rate was 3.32%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Colorado Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$6,640$7,200$7,419$7,705$7,695$7,756$7,938$8,175$8,490$8,718
Year-to-Year Rates3.07%8.42%3.05%3.85%-0.13%0.79%2.34%3.00%3.85%2.69%
Cumulative Rates3.07%11.75%15.16%19.60%19.45%20.39%23.21%26.90%31.78%35.32%
Out-of-State Costs$17,254$18,196$18,859$19,370$19,467$19,457$19,788$20,412$21,414$22,126
Year-to-Year Rates2.85%5.46%3.64%2.71%0.50%-0.05%1.70%3.15%4.91%3.32%
Cumulative Rates2.85%8.46%12.41%15.46%16.03%15.98%17.95%21.67%27.64%31.88%
For private schools in Colorado state, the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees are $27,851 which has increased by 17.64% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 1.76% while last year increase rate was -2.95%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Colorado Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$22,609$24,459$24,771$24,343$26,387$25,777$26,199$25,646$28,697$27,851
Year-to-Year Rates-4.50%8.18%1.27%-1.73%8.40%-2.31%1.64%-2.11%11.90%-2.95%
Cumulative Rates-4.50%3.32%4.63%2.82%11.46%8.88%10.67%8.33%21.22%17.64%
The average graduate school tuition & fees of Colorado public schools are $12,955 which has increased by 26.31% over the current decade and the out-of-state graduate cost is $21,546 which has risen by 9.08%. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 0.91% while last year increase rate was 2.62%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Colorado Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$10,556$11,040$10,811$11,631$11,435$11,708$11,742$12,189$12,609$12,955
Year-to-Year Rates2.93%4.58%-2.07%7.58%-1.69%2.39%0.30%3.80%3.45%2.74%
Cumulative Rates2.93%7.64%5.41%13.40%11.49%14.15%14.49%18.84%22.94%26.31%
Out-of-State Costs$20,283$20,359$20,430$19,781$19,587$19,748$19,977$20,895$20,995$21,546
Year-to-Year Rates2.68%0.38%0.35%-3.18%-0.98%0.82%1.16%4.60%0.47%2.62%
Cumulative Rates2.68%3.07%3.43%0.14%-0.84%-0.02%1.13%5.79%6.29%9.08%
For private graduate schools in Colorado state, the 2025 tuition & fees are $21,261 which has increased by 13.47% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 1.34654% while last year increase rate was 1.14%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Colorado Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$19,540$19,966$20,889$20,322$20,935$20,773$20,354$20,117$21,022$21,261
Year-to-Year Rates4.28%2.18%4.62%-2.71%3.01%-0.77%-2.02%-1.16%4.50%1.14%
Cumulative Rates4.28%6.55%11.48%8.46%11.72%10.86%8.62%7.36%12.19%13.47%
You can check the changes of other college costs including room & board costs, book & supplies, and other living expenses at Colorado college cost trends.