Top 50 Best Doctoral Degree Programs in Colorado by ROI

Every Doctoral Degree program in Colorado ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Colorado

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$506,746

Across all Colorado programs

Average Annual Cost

$42,308

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Grad rate: 45.6%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,615,784	$127,463	$23,369	N/A	Full ROI →
2	Regis University Grad rate: 63.8%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,499,484	$127,952	$54,889	N/A	Full ROI →
3	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Grad rate: 45.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,497,264	$121,537	$23,369	N/A	Full ROI →
4	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.	+$1,393,596	$118,373	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
5	Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs Grad rate: 18.6%	Computer Science.	+$887,604	$90,719	$21,694	N/A	Full ROI →
6	Colorado State University-Fort Collins Grad rate: 66.8%	Chemistry.	+$840,356	$89,957	$29,696	N/A	Full ROI →
7	Regis University Grad rate: 63.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$732,564	$89,606	$54,889	N/A	Full ROI →
8	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.	+$726,916	$85,039	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
9	University of Denver Grad rate: 77.7%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$581,380	$86,073	$75,020	N/A	Full ROI →
10	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Grad rate: 45.6%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$527,464	$73,047	$23,369	N/A	Full ROI →
11	University of Northern Colorado Grad rate: 51.6%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$477,344	$71,265	$26,989	N/A	Full ROI →
12	University of Denver Grad rate: 77.7%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$411,620	$77,585	$75,020	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Colorado State University-Fort Collins Grad rate: 66.8%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$381,336	$67,006	$29,696	N/A	Full ROI →
14	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Education, General.	+$371,336	$67,260	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
15	Regis University Grad rate: 63.8%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$356,404	$70,798	$54,889	N/A	Full ROI →
16	University of Northern Colorado Grad rate: 51.6%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$299,944	$62,395	$26,989	N/A	Full ROI →
17	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Grad rate: 45.6%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$287,004	$61,024	$23,369	N/A	Full ROI →
18	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Grad rate: 45.6%	Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General.	+$285,604	$60,954	$23,369	N/A	Full ROI →
19	University of Denver Grad rate: 77.7%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$226,140	$68,311	$75,020	N/A	Full ROI →
20	Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs Grad rate: 18.6%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$160,604	$54,369	$21,694	N/A	Full ROI →
21	Regis University Grad rate: 63.8%	Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education.	+$89,044	$57,430	$54,889	N/A	Full ROI →
22	University of Denver Grad rate: 77.7%	Geography and Cartography.	+$36,440	$58,826	$75,020	N/A	Full ROI →
23	University of Colorado Boulder Grad rate: 74.9%	Music.	-$52,144	$46,086	$33,466	N/A	Full ROI →
24	Colorado Mesa University Grad rate: 40.3%	Education, General.	-$90,092	$42,072	$22,883	N/A	Full ROI →
25	University of Denver Grad rate: 77.7%	Curriculum and Instruction.	-$143,000	$49,854	$75,020	N/A	Full ROI →
26	University of Denver Grad rate: 77.7%	Religion/Religious Studies.	-$224,600	$45,774	$75,020	N/A	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.