Colorado State University Pueblo
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado- Graduation Rate
- 39% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $55,563 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $10,051 B
- 41% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 95% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 38.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $38.7 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado.
Every $1 spent returns $38.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,514,953.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 36% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 39% — 32% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $38.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Colorado State University Pueblo Matters
Colorado State University Pueblo is a public university in Pueblo, CO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by 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 University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 3,042
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Social Sciences
Why students choose Colorado State University Pueblo
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 95% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,051 a year after grants and scholarships — 41% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $55,563 ten years after enrolling — 36% above the typical college, against $21,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.42 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Colorado State University Pueblo has an acceptance rate of 95%, making it accessible to a wide range of students. This open-door policy allows many to pursue higher education, even if they face academic challenges in their past.
According to Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, specific mobility metrics for CSU Pueblo are not available. However, the overall graduation rate stands at 39%, indicating that students may encounter hurdles on their way to earning a degree. This figure suggests that while many students are able to enroll, a significant number may struggle to complete their programs.
Financially, attending CSU Pueblo is relatively affordable, with a net price of $10,051 and a median debt of $21,500. Graduates earn an average of $55,563 ten years after enrollment. This school might be a good fit for students seeking a supportive environment, especially those interested in fields like health professions, business, or psychology.
Rankings
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado
- #8 Best Nursing Colleges in Colorado
- #9 Best Computer Science Colleges in Colorado
- #9 Best Data Science Colleges in Colorado
- #13 Best Biology Colleges in Colorado
- #14 Best Bachelor's Programs in Colorado
- #14 Best Business Colleges in Colorado
- #15 Best Psychology Colleges in Colorado
Can I Get In?
How selective Colorado State University Pueblo 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 Pueblo? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Colorado State University Pueblo, located in Pueblo, Colorado, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 95%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Retention Rate
- 64%
- SAT Average
- 1120
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- ACT Range
- 19–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 55%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,216
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
- Applicants
- 1,572
- Admitted
- 1,553
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 Pueblo? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Colorado State University Pueblo is $17,944, 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 $10,051. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,374 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $9,720
- Out-of-State
- $17,944
- Avg Net Price
- $10,051
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 29%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 23%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,374
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,948
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,961
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,858
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Colorado State University Pueblo Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Colorado State University Pueblo earn a median of $55,563, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,053
- 8 Years
- $51,258
- 10 Years
- $55,563
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.39x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (171)
- 19%
- 100% (171)
- 19%
- 100% (171)
- 19%
- 100% (171)
- 19%
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 Pueblo Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Colorado State University Pueblo delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,051/year ($40,204 total). Graduates earn $55,563 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,555,157 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,514,953 (38.7× your investment). The median debt is $21,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 39% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $40,204
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,555,157
- Net Return
- $1,514,953
- ROI Multiple
- 38.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,051
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 39%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-673,289
Top Programs
The fields Colorado State University Pueblo 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.
- Health Professions 21%
- Business & Marketing 19%
- Computer Science & IT 13%
- Social Sciences 8%
- Psychology 6%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Humanities 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Colorado State University Pueblo'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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Colorado State University Pueblo? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Colorado State University Pueblo, located in Pueblo, Colorado, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 95%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Colorado State University Pueblo? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Colorado State University Pueblo is $17,944, 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 $10,051. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,374 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
Is Colorado State University Pueblo Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Colorado State University Pueblo earn a median of $55,563, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Colorado State University Pueblo? 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 Pueblo. Its economic connectedness score is 1.42, 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 Colorado State University Pueblo.
- Midwestern State UniversityWichita Falls, TX · Close peer42% grad $55,747 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- The University of Texas Permian BasinOdessa, TX · Close peer42% grad $56,073 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Hawaii-West OahuKapolei, HI · Close peer48% grad $52,075 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Texas A&M University-VictoriaVictoria, TX · Close peer26% grad $54,467 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity
- Saint Xavier UniversityChicago, IL · Close peer58% grad $58,656 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud, MN · Close peer44% grad $55,813 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Colorado State University Pueblo? 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 Pueblo. Its economic connectedness score is 1.42, 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