2027 at a glanceColorado Degree Completion Programs at a Glance
- The #1 school for degree completion in Colorado in 2027 is Colorado State University Global, because 100% of its undergraduates study fully online (higher than 7 other colleges on this list) and its online rate is $385 per credit for Colorado residents (lower than 6 other colleges on this list).
- #2 is University of Northern Colorado: 67% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (the highest on this list).
- #3 is Colorado State University: 61% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 7 other colleges on this list).
9 of the 10 colleges here are based in Colorado. They come first. The rest of the list is online colleges based in neighboring states, ranked with the same measures at their out-of-state rate.
The ranking
Degree Completion Programs in Colorado, Ranked
#1Denver, ColoradoColorado State University Global
BS in Organizational Leadership
OnlineTransfer entry route
Why it ranks #1: 100% of its undergraduates study fully online (higher than 7 other colleges on this list) and its online rate is $385 per credit for Colorado residents (lower than 6 other colleges on this list).
CSU Global, based in Denver, offers its Organizational Leadership BS in asynchronous 8-week courses with monthly starts. Standard transfer admission asks for 24 semester credits and a 2.30 GPA. Up to 90 credits can transfer overall, with no more than 64 from community colleges, and tuition is $385 per credit.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 100%
- Where You Start
- Standard transfer admission: 24 semester credits, 2.30 GPA and additional experience criteria; provisional routes are available.
- Transfer Credits
- Up to 90 credits overall, including no more than 64 community-college credits.
- Study Schedule
- Online, asynchronous 8-week courses; monthly starts
#2Greeley, ColoradoUniversity of Northern Colorado
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education
OnlineDegree completion route
Why it ranks #2: 67% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (the highest on this list) and its rate is $362 per credit for Colorado residents (lower than 7 other colleges on this list).
Northern Colorado designed its Early Childhood Education BA as a completion program for students who already hold an associate degree in early childhood education. The 120-credit degree pairs online coursework with in-person teaching experiences in your area, and it lists Liberal Arts and Early Childhood licensure concentrations.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 6%
- Where You Start
- The completion program is designed for students with an associate degree in early childhood education.
- Degree Requirements
- 120 credits total.
#3Fort Collins, ColoradoColorado State University
Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts
OnlineTransfer entry route
Why it ranks #3: 61% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 7 other colleges on this list) and its rate is $482 per credit for Colorado residents (lower than 1 other college on this list).
Colorado State University's Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts BA lets you build breadth across arts, humanities and social science, with a minor alongside. The degree requires 120 credits, including 42 upper-division credits and 30 upper-division credits through CSU. A Liberal Arts Capstone Seminar closes it out, and transfer applicants follow CSU's entry requirements, including its transfer mathematics requirement.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 8%
- Where You Start
- Transfer applicants follow CSU's undergraduate entry requirements, including its transfer mathematics requirement.
- Degree Requirements
- The degree requires 120 credits, including 42 upper-division credits and 30 upper-division credits through CSU.
#4Denver, ColoradoUniversity of Colorado Denver
BA in Public Administration
OnlineTransfer entry route
Why it ranks #4: Its rate is $390 per credit for Colorado residents (lower than 5 other colleges on this list) and 51% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 4 other colleges on this list).
The University of Colorado Denver's online Public Administration BA totals 120 credits, with 45 in the major made up of 21 core credits and 24 approved electives. Eligible public service experience may also support career and technical education credit. Pre-service students complete a three-credit internship.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 12%
#5Denver, ColoradoMetropolitan State University of Denver
BA in Political Science
OnlineTransfer entry route
Why it ranks #5: Its rate is $305 per credit for Colorado residents (lower than 8 other colleges on this list) and 23% of its undergraduates study fully online (higher than 4 other colleges on this list).
Metropolitan State University of Denver delivers its Political Science BA fully online, with no location-specific requirements. The degree is 120 credits and covers American politics, public policy, global relations, and ethical reasoning. MSU Denver accepts transfer credit and has an online enrollment team to review your transfer path.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 23%
#6Colorado Springs, ColoradoNazarene Bible College
Bachelor of Arts in Ministry (AdVantage Accelerated Degree Completion)
OnlineDegree completion route
Why it ranks #6: 100% of its undergraduates study fully online (higher than 7 other colleges on this list) and its online rate is $430 per credit for Colorado residents (lower than 3 other colleges on this list).
Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs runs AdVantage, an accelerated completion route to a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, one class at a time. It accepts up to 75% of the transferable courses a bachelor's requires, plus credit by exam, military experience and prior learning. Classes start every seven weeks, and tuition is $430.00 per credit hour.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 100%
- Where You Start
- Apply and have official transcripts from every college you attended mailed to the NBC admissions office.
- Transfer Credits
- Up to 75% of the transferable courses required to complete a bachelor's degree (90 of 120 credit hours)
- Study Schedule
- Classes start every seven weeks
#7Alamosa, ColoradoAdams State University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, General Business Emphasis
OnlineTransfer entry route
Why it ranks #7: Its online rate is $397 per credit for Colorado residents (lower than 4 other colleges on this list) and 31% of its undergraduates study fully online (higher than 5 other colleges on this list).
Adams State, in Alamosa, lets you earn a BA or BS in Business Administration with a General Business emphasis online. Send unofficial transcripts to the online advisor for a free evaluation before you apply. Courses follow a traditional 16-week format, and tuition is listed at $396.80 per credit hour, with most courses worth 3 credits.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 31%
- Where You Start
- Submit an official application for admission and official transcripts; Adams State Online offers free unofficial transcript evaluations before you apply.
- Published Tuition
- $396.80 per credit hour (the average course is 3 credits)
- Study Schedule
- A traditional 16 week format
#8Pueblo, ColoradoColorado State University Pueblo
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Business Management
OnlineTransfer entry route
Why it ranks #8: Its online rate is $450 per credit for Colorado residents (lower than 2 other colleges on this list) and 50% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 3 other colleges on this list).
CSU Pueblo offers its Business Management BSBA through CSU Pueblo Online, which describes its degree programs as 100% online. You apply online and send official transcripts so the school can build your individual degree plan. The 2026-2027 online business rate is $450.00 per credit hour, and active duty students pay $250 a credit hour.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 13%
- Where You Start
- Complete the online application and send official transcripts from your previous colleges so CSU Pueblo can create your individual degree plan.
#9Lakewood, ColoradoColorado Christian University
BA in Biblical Studies
OnlineTransfer entry route
Why it ranks #9: 56% of its undergraduates study fully online (higher than 6 other colleges on this list) and it accepts up to 90 transfer credits.
Colorado Christian University offers its Biblical Studies BA fully online, and you generally take one course at a time in five-week blocks. The degree requires 120 credits, including 39 in the major core. Adult applicants can submit previous college work for review under CCU's transfer-credit policies.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 56%
#10Based in ArizonaAspen University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Completion)
OnlinePhoenix, ArizonaDegree completion route
Why it ranks #10: Its online rate is $275 per credit for out-of-state students (the lowest on this list) and 62% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 8 other colleges on this list).
Aspen University, based in Arizona, starts new sections every 2 weeks, so you rarely wait long to begin. The Business Administration completion degree takes an associate degree or 60 college credits, accepts up to 90 transfer credits with a C or better in each course, and costs $275 per credit. It is 20 online courses, a capstone you choose, and a listed path to finish in 2 years.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 100%
- Published Tuition
- $275 per credit
- Study Schedule
- 20 online courses with program start dates every 2 weeks
Build a Plan Around Your Transfer Credits.
List the college credits you already have in the degree planner, then bring that list and your questions to a Colorado school’s transfer advisor. The school’s evaluation decides which credits count toward your degree.
Build your degree plan ↗Going Back to College in Colorado
Start with GT Pathways. Courses in which you earned a C- or higher are guaranteed to transfer and count toward general education in associate and most bachelor's degrees at public Colorado schools. If you stopped out of a four-year school with at least 70 credit hours, the CORE initiative lets participating institutions award you an associate degree, which can make a bachelor's feel closer. Tuition then depends on the school. CSU Pueblo lists $450.00 per credit hour for online business, Adams State lists $396.80, and CSU Global lists $385.
Read the official guidance: Colorado Re-Engaged (CORE) Initiative
CORE lets four-year institutions award an earned associate degree to eligible students who stopped out of a baccalaureate program after earning at least 70 credit hours.
Who qualifies: Students who stopped out of a baccalaureate program after earning at least 70 credit hours; participating institutions are listed on the CDHE page.
Visit the official Colorado Re-Engaged (CORE) Initiative page ↗GT Pathways General Education Curriculum
GT Pathways courses with a grade of C- or higher are guaranteed to transfer and apply to GT Pathways requirements at every public Colorado college and university for up to 10 years after completion.
Read the official guidance: Every college on every state list is scored the same way, out of 100. The measures, from most to least weight:
- Transfer Student Completion (25%): the share of transfer students who earn a degree within eight years (IPEDS Outcome Measures).
- Cost per Credit (20%): the online per-credit rate the school publishes, at the resident rate for in-state schools, or the federal per-credit charge when no online rate is published.
- Transfer Credit Maximum (15%): the most transfer credit the featured degree accepts, from the school’s own policy.
- Online Experience (15%): the share of undergraduates who study fully online (IPEDS).
- Graduate Earnings (15%): median earnings of the school’s graduates in that field (College Scorecard).
- School Reputation (10%): a rating of how employers regard the school’s bachelor’s degrees, made the same way for every school from its published facts.
When a measure is missing for a college, it gets the middle value for that measure, so missing data never helps a school move up.
Read the full state ranking method ↗ Before you call an admissions officeQuestions About Finishing Your Degree in Colorado
Which School Has the Best Degree Completion Program in Colorado?+
The #1 school for degree completion in Colorado in 2027 is Colorado State University Global, because 100% of its undergraduates study fully online (higher than 7 other colleges on this list) and its online rate is $385 per credit for Colorado residents (lower than 6 other colleges on this list). #2 is University of Northern Colorado: 67% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (the highest on this list). #3 is Colorado State University: 61% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 7 other colleges on this list). The order comes from transfer student graduation rates, cost per credit, transfer credit limits, online experience, graduate earnings and school reputation, weighted the same way for every state.
Which Colorado Credits Are Guaranteed to Transfer?+
GT Pathways General Education Curriculum courses are guaranteed to transfer and apply to GT Pathways requirements in AA, AS and most bachelor's degrees at every public Colorado college and university. You need a C- or higher, and the guarantee lasts up to 10 years after you finish the course.
Read the official guidance: Can I Get an Associate Degree for Credits I Already Have?+
Through the Colorado Re-Engaged initiative, participating four-year institutions can award an associate degree to students who stopped out of a baccalaureate program after earning at least 70 credit hours. The Colorado Department of Higher Education says over 25,000 Coloradans may be eligible, and it lists the participating universities on its CORE page.
Read the official guidance: Can I Start With a Technical or Ministry Credential and Still Finish Online?+
Yes, in some cases. Nazarene Bible College accepts up to 75% of the transferable courses a bachelor's requires, plus credit by exam, military experience and prior learning from life experience. Adams State offers a free unofficial transcript evaluation, so you can see what other courses you would need before you apply.
Read the official guidance: 
