The average graduation rate of Colorado colleges is 56.89%. It means that 56.89% of students have completed their studies within 150% of program length.

For the bachelor's degree (BS) in 4-year Colorado colleges, the average graduation rate is 45.69%, which means 45.69% of students earned BS degree in 6 years after enrolling first year.

In Colorado 2-year institutions (i.e. community colleges), the average graduation rate is 54.06%.

For Colorado colleges, Colorado College has the highest graduation rate of 86.09% among 4-year colleges. For Colorado community colleges, Colorado School of Trades has the highest graduation rate of 76.27%.

Graduation Rate By School Level and Completion Time for Colorado Colleges

The following table compares graduation rates between Colorado colleges. For 4-year colleges, the rates are based on the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, which typically requires 4 years of study. Therefore, 100% normal time means 4-year, 125% normal time means 5-years, and the 150% normal time means 6 years.

For community colleges (2-4 year schools) and trade schools, the completion time to measure graduation rates vary depending on the length of the program. For example, 150% normal time for 1-year certificate programs is 18 months and 3 years for 2-years associate degree.

Graduation Rate Comparison between Colorado Colleges
SchoolGraduation Rate
(Completers)
Transfer-out RateRetention Rate
In 100% Normal TimeIn 125% Normal TimeIn 150% Normal Time
Adams State University4-Year College, public21.29%32.21%33.33%37%57%
Aims Community College4-Year College, public17.57%-45.05%8%58%
Arapahoe Community College4-Year College, public---38%0%
Bel-Rea Institute of Animal TechnologyCommunity College58.33%-58.33%18%48%
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus4-Year College, public23.35%39.09%43.85%32%70%
University of Colorado Colorado Springs4-Year College, public24.58%38.94%42.51%19%67%
Spartan College of Aeronautics and TechnologyCommunity College53.66%-74.39%--
University of Colorado Boulder4-Year College, public57.37%72.15%74.74%15%88%
Colorado Christian University4-Year College, private52.07%58.88%60.58%--
Colorado College4-Year College, private82.89%85.71%86.09%--
Concorde Career College-Aurora4-Year College, private-----
Colorado Mountain College4-Year College, public5.71%8.57%8.57%8%43%
Colorado Northwestern Community CollegeCommunity College23.84%-31.79%21%37%
Colorado School of Mines4-Year College, public65.67%79.34%81.81%4%94%
Colorado School of TradesCommunity College64.41%-76.27%--
Colorado State University-Fort Collins4-Year College, public47.43%63.87%66.62%18%86%
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs4-Year College, private13.88%16.35%17.11%--
Community College of AuroraCommunity College17.11%-25.00%18%61%
Technical College of the RockiesTrade School83.10%-83.10%--
Community College of Denver4-Year College, public---19%0%
Lincoln College of Technology-DenverCommunity College55.33%-65.03%--
Denver Seminary4-Year College, private-----
University of Denver4-Year College, private70.18%76.44%77.45%--
Emily Griffith Technical CollegeTrade School86.95%-86.95%--
Fort Lewis College4-Year College, public26.89%35.77%38.77%34%59%
Front Range Community College4-Year College, public---27%0%
Iliff School of Theology4-Year College, private-----
International Salon and Spa AcademyTrade School38.89%-77.78%--
Lamar Community CollegeCommunity College43.58%-44.13%25%65%
Colorado Mesa University4-Year College, public26.50%41.00%45.33%27%76%
Metropolitan State University of Denver4-Year College, public10.73%23.37%28.98%29%63%
Morgan Community College4-Year College, public---7%0%
Naropa University4-Year College, private20.69%31.03%31.03%27%59%
Nazarene Bible College4-Year College, private33.33%-66.67%33%0%
Northeastern Junior CollegeCommunity College43.56%-51.23%10%68%
University of Northern Colorado4-Year College, public36.83%49.86%51.91%30%75%
Otero CollegeCommunity College30.91%-37.27%7%56%
Pikes Peak State College4-Year College, public---20%0%
Pueblo Community College4-Year College, public---14%0%
Red Rocks Community College4-Year College, public---14%86%
Regis University4-Year College, private58.00%65.28%66.74%--
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design4-Year College, private13.64%29.55%40.91%29%62%
Montessori Education Center of the Rockies4-Year College, private-----
Colorado State University Pueblo4-Year College, public19.49%31.37%35.05%24%62%
Pickens Technical CollegeCommunity College43.93%-61.06%--
Intellitec College-Colorado SpringsCommunity College33.48%-43.44%--
Intellitec College-Grand JunctionCommunity College43.15%-50.13%--
Trinidad State College4-Year College, public---7%63%
Empire Beauty School-ThorntonTrade School--62.07%--
Western Colorado University4-Year College, public32.25%42.86%46.75%17%77%
Platt College-Aurora4-Year College, private-----
Dr. Ida Rolf InstituteTrade School100.00%-100.00%--
IBMC CollegeCommunity College67.16%-67.16%1%73%
Avalon Institute-AuroraTrade School47.83%-73.91%--
Colorado Chinese Medicine University4-Year College, private-----
Cheeks Beauty AcademyTrade School51.28%-71.79%--
Colorado School of Healing ArtsTrade School100.00%-100.00%--
Pima Medical Institute-DenverCommunity College15.79%-62.20%1%62%
Pima Medical Institute-Colorado SpringsCommunity College19.58%-61.25%1%80%
Tigi Hairdressing Academy-Colorado SpringsTrade School44.83%-60.00%--
Colorado Media SchoolTrade School56.34%-64.79%--
Empire Beauty School-LittletonTrade School--66.67%--
Empire Beauty School-AuroraTrade School--47.37%--
Academy of Natural Therapy IncTrade School-----
Taft University System4-Year College, private-----
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-BoulderCommunity College38.13%-46.22%1%59%
Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture4-Year College, private-----
Denver College of Nursing4-Year College, private-----
Aveda Institute-DenverTrade School1.28%-78.30%--
Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado SpringsTrade School4.44%-48.89%--
The Salon Professional Academy-Colorado SpringsTrade School80.00%-80.00%--
Pima Medical Institute-AuroraCommunity College5.66%-55.35%--
United Beauty CollegeTrade School92.00%-98.00%--
Colorado Academy of Veterinary TechnologyCommunity College67.80%-67.80%--
Colorado State University Global4-Year College, public-----
Elevate Salon Institute-WestminsterTrade School40.00%-80.00%--
Rocky Vista University4-Year College, private-----
Paul Mitchell the School-DenverTrade School2.22%-57.78%--
Stacey James InstituteTrade School17.91%-80.60%--
Tuana European Beauty AcademyTrade School100.00%-100.00%--
Apex College of Veterinary TechnologyCommunity College-----
Colorado Technical University-Denver South4-Year College, private-----
Otero College - La Junta High SchoolCommunity College-----
Otero College - Fort Lyon Colorado Coalition for the HomelessCommunity College-----
Columbia College - Denver4-Year College, private-----
National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA)Trade School85.37%-85.37%--
Relay Graduate School of Education - Denver4-Year College, private-----