Colorado State University-Fort Collins
#8 Best Biology Colleges in Colorado- Graduation Rate
- 67% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $60,543 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $21,279 D+
- 24% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 89% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.2 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Biology Colleges in Colorado.
Every $1 spent returns $18.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,462,421.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 48% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Colorado State University-Fort Collins Matters
Colorado State University-Fort Collins is a public research university in Fort Collins, CO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 25,538
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Engineering, Social Sciences
Why students choose Colorado State University-Fort Collins
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
Accessible — admits about 89% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $21,279 a year after grants and scholarships — 24% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $60,543 ten years after enrolling — 48% above the typical college, against $20,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.79 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Colorado State University-Fort Collins has an acceptance rate of 89%. This means that a significant majority of applicants can expect to gain admission. With over 25,500 students enrolled, it offers a vibrant campus life.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data is not available for this institution, but graduates of Colorado State University-Fort Collins see a median earning of $60,543 ten years after graduation. The university’s graduation rate stands at 67%, indicating that a strong number of students complete their degrees and enter the workforce.
The net price for attending is $21,279, and the median debt for graduates is $20,000. This suggests a manageable financial commitment for many students. Those who thrive here are often interested in business, biology, engineering, social sciences, or psychology, as these are the top programs offered.
Rankings
- #8 Best Biology Colleges in Colorado
- #9 Best Computer Science Colleges in Colorado
- #9 Best Data Science Colleges in Colorado
- #11 Best Business Colleges in Colorado
- #12 Best Psychology Colleges in Colorado
- #13 Best Bachelor's Programs in Colorado
- #15 Best Colleges in Colorado
- #15 Best Master's Programs in Colorado
Can I Get In?
How selective Colorado State University-Fort Collins 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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Fort Collins, Colorado, Colorado State University-Fort Collins admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 26. The graduation rate is roughly 67%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Retention Rate
- 86%
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 74%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,801
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.48
- First-Gen Students
- 24%
- Applicants
- 33,122
- Admitted
- 30,066
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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Colorado State University-Fort Collins is $34,783, 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 $21,279. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,259 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $13,373
- Out-of-State
- $34,783
- Avg Net Price
- $21,279
- Median Debt
- $20,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 32%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,259
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,460
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,905
- Family Income $110K+
- $29,763
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Colorado State University-Fort Collins earn a median of $60,543, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,748
- 8 Years
- $56,079
- 10 Years
- $60,543
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.33x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,999)
- 47%
- 100% (1,999)
- 47%
- 100% (1,999)
- 47%
- 100% (1,999)
- 47%
How Colorado Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Colorado State University-Fort Collins delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,279/year ($85,116 total). Graduates earn $60,543 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,547,537 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,462,421 (18.2× your investment). The median debt is $20,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 67% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $85,116
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,547,537
- Net Return
- $1,462,421
- ROI Multiple
- 18.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $21,279
- Median Debt
- $20,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 67%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-55,380,294
Top Programs
The fields Colorado State University-Fort Collins awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 15%
- Biology & Biomedical 15%
- Engineering 9%
- Social Sciences 7%
- Psychology 6%
- Humanities 5%
- Communications 5%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Colorado State University-Fort Collins'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
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Colorado State University-Fort Collins? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Fort Collins, Colorado, Colorado State University-Fort Collins admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 26. The graduation rate is roughly 67%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Colorado State University-Fort Collins? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Colorado State University-Fort Collins is $34,783, 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 $21,279. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,259 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,000 in federal student loans.
Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Colorado State University-Fort Collins earn a median of $60,543, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Colorado State University-Fort Collins. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Colorado State University-Fort Collins.
- Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA · Close peer75% grad $63,386 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of KentuckyLexington, KY · Close peer71% grad $59,025 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of OregonEugene, OR · Close peer72% grad $61,324 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL · Close peer65% grad $62,117 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of KansasLawrence, KS · Close peer69% grad $61,945 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA · Close peer64% grad $58,128 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Colorado State University-Fort Collins. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note