DENVER (KDVR) — The Princeton Review released its list of the Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition, and it features five colleges and universities from Colorado.
The list does not rank colleges from highest to lowest, however, it does rank colleges in several categories like what kinds of resources are available, how diverse the student body is, student life habits, expenses and more.
These Colorado colleges were named in the list, with some ranking well in specific categories.
University of Denver
The University of Denver is a “private university dedicated to the public good,” according to its page on the Princeton Review.
DU was also featured in Princeton Review’s lists of Best Value Colleges, Green Colleges and Best Southwest Colleges. The university topped the ‘Their Students Love These Colleges‘ list, which is based on student ratings.
The university was ranked in several categories, including:
Their students love these colleges – No. 1
Best college library – No. 7
Best health services – No. 18
Best-run colleges – No. 15
College city gets high marks – No. 13
Green matters: Everyone cares about conservation – No. 24
Happiest students – No. 23
Least politically active students – No. 18
LGBTQ-friendly – No. 21
Most beautiful campus – No. 24
Reefer madness – No. 18
Top 50 green colleges – No. 47
Town-gown relations are great – No. 22
According to Princeton Review, DU has an acceptance rate of 71% with an average high school grade point average of 3.8.
University of Colorado Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is described on its Princeton Review page as a “comprehensive public research university.”
CU Boulder was listed in Princeton Review’s lists of Best Value Colleges, Green Colleges and Best Southwest Colleges. CU was ranked in these categories:
Top 50 best value colleges (public schools) – No. 39
Lots of hard liquor – No. 17
Reefer madness – No. 9
According to its page on the Princeton Review site, CU has an acceptance rate of 81% and an average high school grade point average of 3.76.
Colorado State University
Colorado State University, located in Fort Collins, is a public research university that is “determined to engage and challenge its students, preparing them for post-graduate life,” according to its Princeton Review page.
CSU was mentioned in the Princeton Review’s list of Green Colleges and Best Southwest Colleges and ranked 14th in the Top 50 Green Colleges. The university has an acceptance rate of 90% and an average high school grade point average of 3.7.
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is a public university and military service academy near Colorado Springs. The school offers cadets free tuition and a guaranteed job after graduating.
The school was featured in Princeton Review’s lists of Best Value Colleges, Green Colleges, Best Southwest Colleges and Tuition-Free Schools.
The U.S. Air Force Academy ranked in these categories:
Best health services – No. 16
Best student support and counseling services – No. 19
Lots of race/class interaction – No. 24
Most conservative students – No. 8
Pot’s not hot – No. 2
Scotch and soda, hold the scotch – No. 10
Town-gown relations are great – No. 12
The academy has an acceptance rate of 14% and an average high school grade point average of 3.8, according to its page on the Princeton Review site.
Colorado College
Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado College takes a different approach to education. Students can complete an academic year in 28 weeks with the school’s Block Plan.
“There’s just one intensive class per block, followed by a 4.5-day break. Eight blocks later, students have an academic year under their belts, along with a slight feeling of invincibility,” the school’s page on the Princeton Review website reads.
Colorado College was mentioned in Princeton Review’s lists of Best Value Colleges, Green Colleges and Best Southwest Colleges. The school ranked 45th in the Top 50 Best Value Colleges (private schools) category and 13th in the Reefer Madness category.
Colorado College has an acceptance rate of 20% and an average high school grade point average of 3.7.
