Adams State University
#6 Best Business Colleges in Colorado- Graduation Rate
- 36% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,372 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,980 B-
- 24% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,250
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.3 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Business Colleges in Colorado.
Every $1 spent returns $20.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,004,075.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 36% — 38% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Adams State University Matters
Adams State University is a public university in Alamosa, CO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,250
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Health Professions
Why students choose Adams State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,980 a year after grants and scholarships — 24% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,372 ten years after enrolling — 9% above the typical college, against $19,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 32% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.40 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Adams State University has a small enrollment of 1,250 students, allowing for a close-knit community feel. This can lead to more personalized attention from faculty and a supportive environment for students seeking to thrive academically and socially.
According to available data, graduates from Adams State earn a median income of $44,372 ten years after enrollment. While the graduation rate stands at 36%, this figure highlights the challenges some students face in completing their degrees. However, the presence of a 38% Pell Grant rate suggests that a significant portion of students come from low-income backgrounds, which can influence both access and outcomes.
The net price to attend Adams State is $12,980, with a median debt of $19,500 for graduates. Students who thrive here are often those engaged in the top programs, such as Humanities, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, and Psychology. This school may appeal to individuals seeking a more intimate college experience while pursuing diverse fields of study.
Rankings
- #6 Best Business Colleges in Colorado
- #8 Best Psychology Colleges in Colorado
- #10 Best Colleges in Colorado
- #11 Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado
- #11 Best Bachelor's Programs in Colorado
- #11 Best Online Colleges in Colorado
- #11 Best Nursing Colleges in Colorado
- #11 Best Biology Colleges in Colorado
Can I Get In?
How selective Adams State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Adams State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Alamosa, Colorado, Adams State University enrolls students across a range of programs. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 21. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
- Retention Rate
- 51%
- ACT Midpoint
- 21
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,123
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
- Applicants
- 1,580
- Admitted
- 1,567
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Adams State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Adams State University is $21,944, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,980. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,947 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $9,824
- Out-of-State
- $21,944
- Avg Net Price
- $12,980
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 38%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 33%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,947
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,392
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,921
- Family Income $110K+
- $20,274
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Adams State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Adams State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Adams State University report median earnings of $44,372, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $38,338
- 8 Years
- $43,072
- 10 Years
- $44,372
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.44x
- Earning > $25K
- 52%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (54)
- 14%
- 100% (54)
- 14%
- 100% (54)
- 14%
- 100% (54)
- 14%
How Adams Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Adams State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Adams State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,980/year ($51,920 total). Graduates earn $44,372 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,055,995 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,004,075 (20.3× your investment). The median debt is $19,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 36% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $51,920
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,055,995
- Net Return
- $1,004,075
- ROI Multiple
- 20.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,980
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 36%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Adams State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Adams State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.88%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $67,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.88%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 14.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 12.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $91,301
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $62,674
- Federal Grants
- $5,657,538
- Investment Income
- $-2,202,838
Top Programs
The fields Adams State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 30% $33,292 early-career
- Business & Marketing 24% $41,115 early-career
- Social Sciences 10% $37,326 early-career
- Health Professions 5% $68,105 early-career
- Psychology 5% $53,303 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $35,271 early-career
- Physical Sciences 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Adams State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Adams State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Alamosa, Colorado, Adams State University enrolls students across a range of programs. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 21. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Adams State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Adams State University is $21,944, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,980. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,947 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
Is Adams State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Adams State University report median earnings of $44,372, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Adams State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Adams State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.88%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $67,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Adams State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Adams State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Adams State University.
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- Northwestern Oklahoma State UniversityAlva, OK · Close peer33% grad $44,358 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Adams State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Adams State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note