Accounting Degrees for CPAs in Colorado

Colorado’s evolving economy offers a mix of opportunities for accounting professionals. As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce notes, the state has attracted significant investment in the 2020s, especially in its fast-growing tech sector. In Colorado, innovation thrives alongside traditional industries, with abundant natural resources supporting the state’s economic foundations.

Accountants in Colorado serve a base of corporate and small businesses, creating diverse professional opportunities. A 2024 report from the Colorado Society of CPAs also highlights the state’s favorable conditions for accounting professionals, noting an ongoing talent shortage.

This guide explores educational pathways for aspiring certified public accountants (CPAs) in Colorado. Delve into the details as you consider whether the Centennial State aligns with your career goals and lifestyle preferences.

Colorado offers a unique mix of urban comfort and rugged outdoor beauty, including Denver and the college town of Boulder. The state’s job market also holds promise for accounting graduates, with employers throughout Colorado eagerly seeking candidates with business and finance skills.

The 2024 Colorado Talent Pipeline Report, which a Colorado Workforce Development Council-led group of state agencies produces annually, specifically cited business and finance occupations as a leading growth area for future job development. It projected nearly 4,000 annual openings in Colorado for accountants and auditors with no previous experience.

The state’s changing economy increasingly requires a highly educated labor force, with the Talent Pipeline Report also finding that 73% of all job openings in Colorado will require postsecondary education by 2031. To help meet these needs, the state government approved a set of significant education budget increases in early 2025.

The budget increases included a $39 million year-over-year increase in funding for college operations and financial aid. This development will further help Colorado college students, where average tuition is already lower than other states’ average price in some cases.

Thanks in significant measure to the quality of its college system, Colorado has built a well-educated workforce. Compared to national averages drawn from U.S. Census Bureau data, the state’s population has higher-than-average percentages of people with bachelor’s and graduate degrees.

Notably, Colorado has a below-average percentage of students enrolled in distance education courses. This may speak to the quality of the traditional campus experience for Colorado college students. If you prefer face-to-face learning, you may enjoy what the state has to offer.

You must attend an accredited institution to qualify for federal financial aid, and to ensure the recognition of your academic credits. Look for endorsement from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which has traditionally served as Colorado’s primary institutional accrediting agency.

Due to changes to the U.S. higher education accreditation system introduced in 2020, schools can hold institutional accreditations from other recognized organizations. You can check a school’s accreditation status with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education.

You may also prefer accounting programs with programmatic accreditation, an optional endorsement from field-specific organizations that point to elevated academic quality and adherence to specific professional standards.

Organizations like AACSB and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs offer programmatic accreditation for accounting departments and programs.

Even though Colorado students tend to engage with distance learning at lower-than-average rates, you can access all varieties of program delivery in Colorado. Consider the following descriptions to understand the differences between learning formats:

As a campus-based student, you may find it easier to engage with experiential learning that many accounting programs offer. These opportunities include internships and practicum placements, which are excellent for networking with potential future employers.

Fully online programs help you maximize flexibility while controlling your expenses. Compared to national averages, Colorado has elevated living costs, and housing expenses particularly are higher than average. You can reduce or eliminate some of these costs by learning online, especially if you live out of state.

Hybrid accounting programs blend face-to-face and online coursework. Depending on your program’s structure, you may have significant levels of control over how many courses you take in each format. As an accounting student, hybrid learning can offer scheduling flexibility and access to networking and social opportunities. However, you often need to live locally to meet in-person attendance obligations.

With the exception of out-of-state learners at public institutions, Colorado students generally pay average or below-average tuition rates. Refer to the table below for a more complete snapshot of the typical costs you can expect to encounter as a higher education enrollee in the state.

Colorado’s state budget for the 2025-26 school year includes increases to higher education financial aid funding. If you need help meeting your schooling costs, look for scholarships, fellowships, and grants that match your personal profile. These nonrepayable aid sources directly reduce your education costs without creating debt.

To explore further financial aid options, use the links below.

Public colleges and universities usually have tiered tuition rates, with in-state students paying less and out-of-state students paying more. The price gap between in-state and out-of-state rates is especially high in Colorado. However, nonresident students at public institutions may have access to multiple programs designed to make a Colorado education more affordable.

Colorado participates in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), a tuition reciprocity program that offers cost breaks to regional students from other participating jurisdictions. WICHE operates the Western Undergraduate Exchange and the Western Regional Graduate Program.

If New Mexico is your home state, you may have access to additional perks through the New Mexico-Colorado Tuition Reciprocity Agreement.

The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center assigned Colorado an overall cost of living index score of 104.0 for the first quarter of 2025. With 100 serving as the baseline national average, this means that Colorado’s living costs are about 4% higher than the U.S. as a whole.

Note that Colorado also has especially high housing and healthcare costs, while utilities and transportation costs are lower than average.

Colorado’s diverse economy emphasizes both innovation and traditional industries. Anchored by the Denver metropolitan area and its large population, Colorado’s economy continues to modernize, and its technology sector has grown at especially high rates.

Accounting professionals can find rewarding roles in innovation-driven sectors, especially among employers in need of strategic and analytical insights. Each of the Big Four accounting firms maintain offices in Colorado, with some having multiple locations. These large international businesses typically rank among the leading employers of accountants in the locations where they operate.

While many accountants work for professional services and finance firms, you can look for employment opportunities in other leading industries. According to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, these include:

Accountants, auditors, and professionals in select related roles have a bright employment outlook in Colorado. The sections below explore some career paths to consider.

CPAs in Colorado have a solid employment outlook, but so do accounting and financial professionals in multiple other career tracks. Consider these alternatives:

Bookkeepers track financial transactions, organize and manage financial records, and ensure internal information matches bank statement details. They also help prepare financial statements and tax returns. You can enter this accessible career path with an associate degree. Notably, Colorado anticipates near-term growth for bookkeepers despite expected declines at the national level.

Job Outlook in Colorado (2022-32): +2.1%

Compliance officers ensure their employers follow all applicable legal requirements and regulations. Some organizations also maintain their own internal policy programs, and compliance officers monitor activities to ensure they meet these standards. Demand for these professionals is expected to rise as regulatory regimes become more complex, with Colorado growth projections outpacing national estimates.

Job Outlook in Colorado (2022-32): +14.0%

Personal financial advisors help individuals and families plan and meet their financial goals. They monitor investment performance and recommend financial strategies, services, and products. An advanced accounting degree can equip you with expert insights into financial forecasting in support of your clients’ goals.

Job Outlook in Colorado (2022-32): +19.7%