Colorado doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 19 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 19 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Durango came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Colorado For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Colorado's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Fort Lewis College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,079 (16 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 19,411 |
| Median rent | $1,636 |
| Graduation rate | 48% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,030 |
Durango is home to Fort Lewis College. There are 16 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,636 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,030 a year. It ranks 11th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Arapahoe Community College, Denver Seminary |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,383 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 44,710 |
| Median rent | $1,819 |
| Graduation rate | 40% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $18,332 |
Littleton is home to Arapahoe Community College, Denver Seminary. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,819 a month, and the average cost to attend is $18,332 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Colorado State University-Fort Collins |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 25,538 (15 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 170,229 |
| Median rent | $1,690 |
| Graduation rate | 69% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $31,642 |
Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University-Fort Collins. There are 15 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,690 a month, and the average cost to attend is $31,642 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Denver |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 40,026 (6 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 718,877 |
| Median rent | $1,831 |
| Graduation rate | 58% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $40,470 |
Denver is home to Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Denver. There are 6 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,831 a month, and the average cost to attend is $40,470 a year. It ranks 17th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Trinidad State College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,188 (14 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 8,286 |
| Median rent | $910 |
| Graduation rate | 60% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,458 |
Trinidad is home to Trinidad State College. There are 14 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $910 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,458 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Colorado School of Mines |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 6,155 (30 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 20,417 |
| Median rent | $1,953 |
| Graduation rate | 82% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $40,560 |
Golden is home to Colorado School of Mines. There are 30 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,953 a month, and the average cost to attend is $40,560 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Adams State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,250 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 9,879 |
| Median rent | $837 |
| Graduation rate | 47% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,352 |
Alamosa is home to Adams State University. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $837 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,352 a year. It ranks 16th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Colorado Boulder, Naropa University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 32,278 (30 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 106,433 |
| Median rent | $2,018 |
| Graduation rate | 60% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $45,540 |
Boulder is home to University of Colorado Boulder, Naropa University. There are 30 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,018 a month, and the average cost to attend is $45,540 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Northern Colorado, Aims Community College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 9,233 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 110,806 |
| Median rent | $1,388 |
| Graduation rate | 51% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $22,956 |
Greeley is home to University of Northern Colorado, Aims Community College. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,388 a month, and the average cost to attend is $22,956 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Front Range Community College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 11,476 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 115,484 |
| Median rent | $1,882 |
| Graduation rate | 37% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,526 |
Westminster is home to Front Range Community College. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,882 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,526 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Colorado
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 19 towns in Colorado that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Colorado.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Colorado.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Colorado
If you're looking for the best college towns in Colorado, Durango is where to start.
The best college towns in Colorado are Durango, Littleton, Fort Collins, Denver, Trinidad, Golden, Alamosa, Boulder, Greeley, and Westminster.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Colorado for 2026?
Durango is the best college town in Colorado for 2026, followed by Littleton and Fort Collins.
How did you rank the best college towns in Colorado?
We looked at every town in Colorado with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Colorado?
Gunnison ranks last of the 19 college towns we ranked in Colorado for 2026.
Best College Towns In Colorado For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durango, CO | 19,411 | 3,079 | $1,636 |
| 2 | Littleton, CO | 44,710 | 5,383 | $1,819 |
| 3 | Fort Collins, CO | 170,229 | 25,538 | $1,690 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | 718,877 | 40,026 | $1,831 |
| 5 | Trinidad, CO | 8,286 | 1,188 | $910 |
| 6 | Golden, CO | 20,417 | 6,155 | $1,953 |
| 7 | Alamosa, CO | 9,879 | 1,250 | $837 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | 106,433 | 32,278 | $2,018 |
| 9 | Greeley, CO | 110,806 | 9,233 | $1,388 |
| 10 | Westminster, CO | 115,484 | 11,476 | $1,882 |
| 11 | Pueblo, CO | 111,561 | 6,661 | $1,082 |
| 12 | Lakewood, CO | 156,583 | 12,488 | $1,806 |
| 13 | Grand Junction, CO | 68,142 | 8,143 | $1,142 |
| 14 | Colorado Springs, CO | 487,887 | 20,306 | $1,648 |
| 15 | Louisville, CO | 20,786 | 0 | $2,166 |
| 16 | Aurora, CO | 394,432 | 592 | $1,835 |
| 17 | Parker, CO | 61,783 | 0 | $2,096 |
| 18 | Glenwood Springs, CO | 10,241 | 2,816 | $1,867 |
| 19 | Gunnison, CO | 6,766 | 1,586 | $1,230 |
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