The Best Bachelor's in Business Administration Programs in Colorado for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado
- United States Air Force Academy ranks #1 in Colorado on a 96.3 Program Score, with an 88% graduation rate.
- Public schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Western Colorado University, ranks #6.
- Programs analyzed
- 6
- In-state tuition range
- $7,308-$27,631
- Average graduation rate
- 58%
- Median salary (BLS)
- $105,770
We analyzed 6 business programs in Colorado on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes to rank where a bachelor's in business administration actually pays off. In-state tuition among the 6 ranked programs in Colorado runs from $7,308 to $27,631 a year, a $20,323 spread for the same credential.
United States Air Force Academy tops the list with a 96.3 Program Score on an 88% graduation rate. Across all 6 ranked schools, the average graduation rate is 58%, ranging from 41% to 88%. The national median pay in the field is $105,770 a year per the BLS, the same benchmark every ranked school here feeds into regardless of tuition paid.
Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado, Compared by Score
United States Air Force Academy leads at 96.3, and Western Colorado closes the chart at 70.7. Longer bars rank higher.
Our Methodology for Ranking Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 6 Best Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado, Ranked for 2027
The 6 best Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado, ranked by outcomes.
United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy, CO · Public
- Grad rate
- 88%
- Admit rate
- 14%
- Tuition
- No tuition (service academy)
The management major at the Air Force Academy prepares cadets for Air Force and Space Force leadership and is accredited by AACSB.
- Program Score 96.3
- 88% graduation rate
- 14% admit rate
- AACSB-accredited management major
The United States Air Force Academy offers a management major that prepares cadets for leadership roles in a technologically complex, global Air Force. The curriculum covers organizational perspectives and theories, global organizations, complex human systems, financial and managerial accounting, managerial finance, human resource management, marketing, production and operations management, information systems and strategic management. Sample courses include Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, and Power and Influence in Organizations. The page lists service assignments such as pilot, acquisition manager, space operations, logistics readiness, contracting and financial management, along with civilian paths in human resources, marketing, accounting, financial analysis and supply chain operations. The Academy reports that the major is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and AACSB.
The Academy admits 14% of applicants, and 88% of students graduate. The management major earns a Program Score of 96.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a business and management education combined with military officer training, and who are prepared for the selective admission process and the service commitment that comes with it.
Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, CO · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 64%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $27,631
- Out-of-state
- $27,631
Colorado Christian University's business degree offers ten emphases and a dual-degree option that applies coursework toward its MBA.
- 64% graduation rate
- Program Score 86
- $27,631 tuition
- Ten emphases plus MBA dual degree
Colorado Christian University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management as a major or a dual degree. Students choose an emphasis from accounting, business analytics, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, management, marketing, pre-law, and small business ownership. The school says the emphasis credits can count toward a second School of Business and Leadership major. The dual degree option lets students complete some coursework toward CCU's Master of Business Administration while earning the bachelor's. Classes include business law, foundations of management and leadership, principles of marketing, and business data analytics. The school describes a practitioner-professor model and teaches business from a Christian worldview.
CCU graduates 64% of its students and is open admission. Tuition is $27,631 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 86 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want faith integrated into their business coursework, those who may add a second major through shared emphasis credits, and anyone planning to continue to an MBA at the same school and shorten that path through the dual degree.
Regis University
Denver, CO · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 61%
- Admit rate
- 86%
- In-state
- $23,700
- Out-of-state
- $23,700
Regis University offers a B.S. in Business Administration with a FastForward option to earn a bachelor's and master's together.
- 61% graduation rate
- Program Score 80.5
- $23,700 tuition
- FastForward bachelor's plus master's
Regis University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a general business track or a choice of specializations. The first two years cover foundational courses in accounting, economics, computer applications, statistics, and an introduction to business operations. The final two years bring upper-division work in strategic planning, organizational leadership, and functional management, with sample courses in management essentials, marketing principles, and business finance. The page lists on-campus courses on 16-week semesters. Through the Regis FastForward program, students can earn a bachelor's and a master's degree at a faster pace. Applicants submit an online application, official high school transcripts, and a personal statement, and Regis uses rolling admissions. The university follows a Jesuit Catholic tradition.
Regis graduates 61% of its students and admits 86% of applicants. Tuition is $23,700 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 80.5 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a general business foundation that can lead to management, consulting, or marketing roles, and those who plan to add a master's degree and want to compress the timeline through FastForward.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical
Denver, CO · Public
- Grad rate
- 46%
- Admit rate
- 75%
- In-state
- $9,360
- Out-of-state
- $28,368
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical's BSBA offers five majors, including Risk Management and Insurance, in a 120-credit program from an AACSB-accredited school.
- 46% graduation rate
- Program Score 79
- $9,360 in-state tuition
- Five majors including risk and insurance
The University of Colorado Denver Business School offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and the page describes an online version that uses the same curriculum as the on-campus program. The degree totals 120 credit hours, with a 36-hour business core, 12 hours of general non-business courses, a 3-hour international studies requirement, and 18 to 24 hours in the major. Majors are accounting, information systems, management, marketing, and risk management and insurance. The accounting major is described as preparation for a CPA path, and students can enroll full time or part time with fall, spring, and summer starts. The school reports AACSB accreditation. Transfer credit is evaluated after admission.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical graduates 46% of its students and admits 75% of applicants. In-state tuition is $9,360 against $28,368 for out-of-state students, so residency makes a large difference. The program earns a Program Score of 79 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want to choose among several majors under one business degree, including the less common risk management and insurance route, and transfer students who can bring credits toward a 120-hour degree.
Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 41%
- Admit rate
- 82%
- In-state
- $8,807
- Out-of-state
- $24,004
Colorado Mesa University's BBA offers nine concentrations, with two of them available fully online, plus a 3+2 route to the MBA.
- 41% graduation rate
- Program Score 73.1
- $8,807 in-state tuition
- 3+2 BBA to MBA route
Colorado Mesa University offers a Bachelor of Business Administration that the school calls one of its most popular degrees. Students select one or more concentrations: business analytics, economics, energy management and landman, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality management, human resource management, international business management, and marketing. The school says human resource management and international business management are offered 100% online. Students enter a Pre-BBA status and declare a concentration after completing 30 credit hours with at least a 2.0 GPA. CMU also offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration for students who hold an associate of applied science degree, a business minor, and a 3+2 program that pairs a bachelor's with the MBA over five years.
CMU graduates 41% of its students and admits 82% of applicants. In-state tuition is $8,807 and out-of-state tuition is $24,004. The program earns a Program Score of 73.1 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits Colorado students who want a broad business degree at public-university prices, those drawn to the energy management and landman concentration, and applied-science associate holders who want a bachelor's in about four more full-time semesters.
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO · Public
- Grad rate
- 50%
- Admit rate
- 100%
- In-state
- $7,308
- Out-of-state
- $20,424
Western Colorado University lets business administration majors stack multiple business emphases or add a second major such as accounting or economics.
- Program Score 70.7
- 50% graduation rate
- $7,308 in-state tuition
- Multiple business emphases or second major
Western Colorado University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration through its School of Business, available as a major or a minor. The program covers management, marketing, finance and entrepreneurship, and the school describes it as flexible and career focused. Students can customize the degree by choosing multiple business emphases or by declaring a second major in accounting, economics or another related program. The page points to small class sizes, competitive internships and hands-on competitions as ways students practice what they learn. It lists student wins in sales and investment competitions, and it shows a professional selling program. A major must be paired with a minor to complete the degree. Career pathways named on the page include management analyst, operations manager, sales manager and purchasing manager.
Western's Program Score is 70.7 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. The university reports a 50% graduation rate and admits 100% of applicants. In-state tuition is $7,308, against $20,424 for out-of-state students, a wide gap that makes the program most affordable for Colorado residents. It fits students who want a small campus, a mountain-town setting and room to pair business with a second field.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado
The median school on this list graduates 56% of its students. The highest rates belong to United States Air Force Academy (88%) and Colorado Christian University (64%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 United States Air Force Academy88% graduation rate
- #2 Colorado Christian University64% graduation rate
- #3 Regis University61% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado?
On this list, 1 of 6 schools is open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Of the rest, 1 school admits fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being United States Air Force Academy at 14%.
- #1 United States Air Force Academy14% admitted
- #4 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus75% admitted
- #5 Colorado Mesa University82% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Public and Private Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado
This list holds 4 public and 2 private nonprofit schools. Their median Program Scores: 76.0 public and 83.3 private nonprofit.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Where the Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado Are
The 6 ranked schools are spread across 5 cities. Denver (2) is the only one with more than one ranked school.
Main campus city as reported to IPEDS.
Campus Size Across the Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado
Enrollment on this list runs from 3,568 at Western Colorado University to 23,124 at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus. Of the 6, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 3 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #2 | Colorado Christian UniversityColorado Christian | $72,519 | $28,605 |
| #3 | Regis UniversityRegis | $81,628 | $18,133 |
| #4 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusColorado Denver/Anschutz Medical | $75,142 | $10,217 |
| #5 | Colorado Mesa UniversityColorado Mesa | $69,297 | $14,808 |
| #6 | Western Colorado UniversityWestern Colorado | $61,876 | $16,756 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $61,876 at Western Colorado to $81,628 at Regis.
The highest-ranked school in the table, Colorado Christian (#2), reports $72,519, so the highest score and the highest pay are not the same school.
After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical, $10,217 a year, and most at Colorado Christian, $28,605.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What a Bachelor's in Business Administration Costs in Colorado
In-state tuition among the 6 ranked programs in Colorado runs from $7,308 to $27,631 a year. Western Colorado University anchors the low end at $7,308, while Colorado Christian University sits at the top at $27,631. At public schools that in-state figure is the resident rate; out-of-state students routinely pay two to three times as much, which can reorder this list entirely for anyone moving in from elsewhere.
Run the four-year math and the gap widens: about $29,232 in tuition at the low end against roughly $110,524 at the high end for the same bachelor's in business administration. Against the national median of $105,770 a year, the cheaper degree pays its tuition back far faster.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Online Business Administration Options in Colorado
3 of the 6 ranked Colorado programs offer a confirmed online or distance-education option, which widens access for working students who cannot relocate. An accredited online business degree carries the same standing as its on-campus version, since accreditation attaches to the program and school, not the delivery format.
- #2 Colorado Christian UniversityLakewood, CO
- #3 Regis UniversityDenver, CO
- #5 Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction, CO
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Business Administration Careers and Pay After a Colorado Program
Every degree on this list points toward the same national labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts national median pay in the field at $105,770 a year, a figure that applies across the profession rather than to any single school here, and it holds whether a graduate paid $7,308 or $27,631 a year in tuition. That is the core tradeoff this ranking is built to expose: a higher price does not buy a higher starting salary in the federal wage data.
Keep Exploring
Common Questions About Business Administration Bachelor's Programs in Colorado
What is the best business degree in Colorado?
By Program Score, United States Air Force Academy ranks first among the 6 business administration programs in Colorado we analyzed, with a 96.3 score and an 88% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, in-state cost, and outcomes, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one.
How much does a business degree cost in Colorado?
In-state tuition among the ranked Colorado programs runs from $7,308 to $27,631 a year. These are resident rates at public schools; out-of-state students pay more, so confirm your residency status and check the out-of-state column before comparing.
Is an online business degree respected by employers?
Yes, when the school is accredited. An accredited online degree lists the same on a transcript as the on-campus version, and accreditation, not delivery format, is what protects the credential. Every program ranked here is accredited and reporting to the federal IPEDS system.
What salary can graduates expect?
The BLS reports a national median of $105,770 a year for the field. That is a national benchmark, not an Colorado-specific figure or a promised outcome for any single school, but it is the number every tuition dollar on this page should be measured against.