Match #1
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO
Profile closeness82/100
Admit rate86%
- 5,598 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 49%, close to 46%
- Same control type (public)
The colleges most similar to University of Colorado Colorado Springs are University of Northern Colorado, Colorado Mesa University, and University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus. University of Colorado Colorado Springs admits 97% of applicants and has an average net price of $14,954 a year; 5 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 3 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO
Profile closeness82/100
Admit rate82%
- 8,143 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 43%, close to 46%
- Enrollment 8,143 students, close to 8,697
Match #3
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO
Profile closeness81/100
Admit rate75%
- 10,519 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 49%, close to 46%
- Enrollment 10,519 students, close to 8,697
Match #4
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO
Profile closeness76/100
Admit rate99%
- 15,002 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Acceptance rate 99%, close to 97%
- Average net price $13,803, close to $14,954
Match #5
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO
Profile closeness68/100
Admit rate100%
- 1,586 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Graduation rate 48%, close to 46%
- Acceptance rate 100%, close to 97%
Match #6
Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO
Profile closeness59/100
Admit rate77%
- 3,079 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Same control type (public)
Match #7
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
Profile closeness58/100
Admit rate89%
- 25,538 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Acceptance rate 89%, close to 97%
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
Adams State University
Alamosa, CO
Profile closeness58/100
Admit rate100%
- 1,250 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Acceptance rate 100%, close to 97%
- Same control type (public)
Match #9
University of Colorado Boulder Main Campus
Boulder, CO
Profile closeness46/100
Admit rate78%
- 31,939 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Same control type (public)
Match #10
Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs, CO
Profile closeness44/100
Admit rate—
- 2,816 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Same control type (public)
Questions about University of Colorado Colorado Springs alternatives
What colleges are similar to University of Colorado Colorado Springs?
The closest matches to University of Colorado Colorado Springs are University of Northern Colorado, Colorado Mesa University, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Western Colorado University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is University of Colorado Colorado Springs hard to get into?
University of Colorado Colorado Springs admitted 97% of its 11,900 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 3 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which University of Colorado Colorado Springs alternatives cost less?
5 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than University of Colorado Colorado Springs ($14,954 a year), including Colorado Mountain College ($8,218), Adams State University ($8,585), and University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus ($10,217). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
