Lens covers 9 big-city colleges in the Mountain West, 6 public and 3 private. They range from Colorado College (2,014 undergraduates) to University of Arizona (42,537). Acceptance rates run from 18% to 99%, and 8 of the 9 admit at least half of applicants.
Big-city colleges are in a city of 250,000 people or more (NCES locale). It describes the surrounding area; some city colleges have a campus of their own. In Lens, the Mountain West means Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Open these 9 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 9 big-city colleges in the Mountain West
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado College | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 2,014 | 18% | $70,734 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, Colorado | 15,002 | 99% | $11,124 in-state · $30,684 out-of-state |
| Regis University | Denver, Colorado | 2,627 | 86% | $46,340 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, Arizona | 42,537 | 86% | $13,926 in-state · $42,278 out-of-state |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 8,697 | 97% | $10,149 in-state · $24,336 out-of-state |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, Colorado | 10,519 | 75% | $10,383 in-state · $29,391 out-of-state |
| University of Denver | Denver, Colorado | 6,025 | 78% | $61,398 |
| University of Nevada–Reno | Reno, Nevada | 15,599 | 74% | $9,578 in-state · $27,720 out-of-state |
| University of New Mexico | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 17,244 | 95% | $10,140 in-state · $33,060 out-of-state |
Sources: IPEDS (fall 2024 enrollment and admissions); College Scorecard (published tuition and fees before aid, about 2023–24). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Related lists
- Big-City Colleges
- Big-City Colleges in the Northeast
- Big-City Colleges in the Southeast
- Big-City Colleges in the Midwest
- Big-City Colleges in the South and Southwest
- Big-City Colleges on the West Coast
- Large Public Universities in the Mountain West
- Smaller Public Universities in the Mountain West
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Mountain West
- Division I Colleges in the Mountain West
FAQ
Which big-city colleges in the Mountain West admit at least half of applicants? 8 of the 9: Metropolitan State University of Denver, Regis University, University of Arizona, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Denver, University of Nevada–Reno, University of New Mexico (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest big-city colleges in the Mountain West? University of Arizona is the largest, with 42,537 undergraduates, and Colorado College is the smallest, with 2,014 (fall 2024).
How many big-city colleges in the Mountain West are public? 6 of the 9 are public and 3 are private.
Where these numbers come from
Lens covers the 850 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges that receive the most applications, so some smaller colleges are not listed. Enrollment, acceptance rates and degrees come from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education, fall 2024); published prices from the College Scorecard. Each college's page lists its own sources. See the data behind Lens.