Healthcare Administration Degree Programs in Colorado (2026)

Quick answer: Medical and Health Services Managers in Colorado earn a median $134,910 per year, above the national median of $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 8,400 of them. Licensing runs through your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in.

Healthcare Administration Pay and Employment in Colorado at a Glance

MetricColoradoNationalSource
Median annual wage$134,910$123,860BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$82,680$73,390BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$103,600$94,700BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$171,810$166,100BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$227,940$224,340BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment8,400597,080BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.761.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state23.2%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Colorado Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Colorado median of $134,910 sits above the national median of $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.76 puts Colorado below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Colorado

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Boulder$138,150510
Denver$137,7604,700
Fort Collins$129,230490
Grand Junction$127,940240
Greeley$127,090240
Colorado Springs$125,2101,050
Pueblo$115,790220

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Health administration demand follows the local hospital systems, clinic networks and long-term care operators that employ these managers.

Medical and Health Services Managers Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical and health services managers wages in Colorado vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial4,700$137,760$156,850$88,150$240,740
Colorado Springs1,050$125,210$138,150$80,470$213,900
Boulder510$138,150$160,580$83,600$296,740
Fort Collins-Loveland490$129,230$136,390$74,110$195,190
Grand Junction240$127,940$137,940$74,390$208,630
Greeley240$127,090$139,730$77,690$213,540
Pueblo220$115,790$127,190$75,020$184,690

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Colorado Metro Areas With Published Data

Boulder * Colorado Springs * Denver * Fort Collins * Grand Junction * Greeley * Pueblo

Licensing and Credentials in Colorado

Most health services management roles carry no individual license. The significant exception is long-term care: nursing home administrators are licensed by state boards, with examinations administered through NAB. On the academic side, CAHME accredits graduate healthcare management programs, and undergraduate programs are covered by institutional accreditation.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 7 schools within 44 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 7 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of Denver

Denver, CO 15.5 miles away BOC Score 70.4
Tuition $61,398 - $78,476
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 77.8%
  • Graduation rate: 76.8%
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 533
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $78,504 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Regis University

Denver, CO 21.1 miles away BOC Score 62.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 61.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 17
  • Annual completions: 204
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $81,785 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO 23.3 miles away BOC Score 61.7
Tuition $10,383 - $29,391
Contact
  • 1380 Lawrence Street, Lawrence Street Center, Suite 1400 Denver, CO 80217-3364
  • (303) 556-5600
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 74.7%
  • Graduation rate: 46.7%
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 459
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $74,059 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Colorado State University Global

Denver, CO 19.0 miles away BOC Score 57.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 1908
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $79,486 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO 18.6 miles away BOC Score 43.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 30.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 20
  • Annual completions: 719
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,186 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Colorado Christian University

Lakewood, CO 15.4 miles away BOC Score 36.5
Tuition $41,342 - $54,242
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 60.0%
  • Programs offered: 16
  • Annual completions: 382
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,576 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO 43.6 miles away BOC Score 27.3
Tuition $12,750 - $23,744
Contact
  • 1575 Garden of the Gods Road, Suite 100 Colorado Springs, CO 80907-3812
  • (719) 598-0200
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 18.2%
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 2524
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,707 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do medical and health services managers make in Colorado?

The median annual wage for medical and health services managers in Colorado is $134,910, above the national median of $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $103,600 at the 25th percentile to $171,810 at the 75th.

How many medical and health services managers work in Colorado?

Colorado holds about 8,400 medical and health services manager jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 597,080, and BLS projects about 62,100 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a medical and health services manager in Colorado?

Most health services management roles carry no individual license. The significant exception is long-term care: nursing home administrators are licensed by state boards, with examinations administered through NAB. On the academic side, CAHME accredits graduate healthcare management programs, and undergraduate programs are covered by institutional accreditation. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a healthcare administration degree online while working in Colorado?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in.

What is the highest-paying area of Colorado for medical and health services managers?

Among Colorado metro areas with published data, Boulder reports the highest median at $138,150 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Colorado a good state for medical and health services managers?

On pay, the state median of $134,910 sits above the national $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.76 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Medical and Health Services Managers (SOC 11-9111), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.