Colorado is home to national sports franchises, a bewildering array of breweries, stunning natural beauty, and legalized recreational marijuana. With all the world-class skiing and hiking at their doorstep, as well as a wealth of clean air and water, it probably shouldn't be a surprise that residents also have the longest life expectancy of those in any state. Colorado can be an amazing place to live, study, and work.
Choosing a law school in Colorado shouldn't be too difficult. There are just two American Bar Association (ABA) accredited schools in the state, which differ fairly significantly. However, the scarcity of options doesn't mean you won't need to carefully consider your personal goals and preferences before making your decision.
The following article provides an overview of Colorado law schools and some important details to help you make the right decision.
University of Colorado, Boulder School of Law
The University of Colorado's law school outperforms its in-state competition in the U.S. World & News Report's annual law school rankings. However, the school's rankings have been on a downward trend for a number of years, and some institutions have pulled out of the rankings altogether amidst concerns over their methodology.
The school is located in Boulder, a town considerably smaller than Denver. Still, it is also located in the midst of the Rocky Mountains, so students interested in enjoying Colorado's natural beauty may prefer to study at the University of Colorado. It should be no surprise that the University of Colorado's environmental law program is highly regarded. Boulder also boasts nationally recognized intellectual property and American Indian law programs.
Boulder is also the more economical option in Colorado, with tuition of around $34,000 per year for Colorado residents. One downside is that housing options in Boulder are limited, and the overall cost of living tends to be marginally higher in Boulder than in Denver.
University of Denver, Sturm College of Law
Although ranked lower than the University of Colorado, Sturm College of Law still appears within the top 100 law schools in the nation and has received attention for its public interest law program. It also offers a more bustling urban study environment.
Sturm College is more expensive than the University of Colorado at around $56,000 a year. However, it offers scholarships to nearly half of the students attending, and the average level of student debt is lower than the cost of attendance at Boulder School of Law. Additional savings can be had on account of a more developed and cheaper housing market in Denver.
Get More Law School Guidance
Having chosen the right law school, you might be interested in taking a break to hit the slopes. But when it's time to hit the books, you'll find articles about passing exams, finding internships, choosing extracurricular activities, and other topics of interest throughout FindLaw for Law Students.