Fort Lewis College
#6 Best Nursing Colleges in Colorado- Graduation Rate
- 39% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $46,349 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $17,296 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 77% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.4 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Nursing Colleges in Colorado.
Every $1 spent returns $18.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,203,176.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 39% — 31% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Fort Lewis College Matters
Fort Lewis College is a public college in Durango, 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 College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 3,079
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose Fort Lewis College
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
Competitive — admits about 77% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1010–1210. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,296 a year after grants and scholarships — 1% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $46,349 ten years after enrolling — 14% above the typical college, against $18,389 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 85% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.51 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 4 in 10 students at Fort Lewis College graduate within six years. This 39% graduation rate is crucial for prospective students weighing their options. With an acceptance rate of 77%, the college opens its doors to a broad range of applicants, making higher education more accessible.
Ten years after graduation, alumni earn an average of $46,349. This income can provide a solid return on investment, especially when considering the net price of attendance at $17,296 and a median debt of $18,389. Students receiving Pell Grants, which support low-income families, make up 35% of the student body, indicating a commitment to affordability and accessibility.
Fort Lewis College appeals to students interested in programs like Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, and Health Professions. Those who thrive here are likely to value a supportive community and a diverse range of academic offerings in the scenic environment of Durango, Colorado.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Fort Lewis College 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 Fort Lewis College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Durango, Colorado, Fort Lewis College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,111. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Retention Rate
- 66%
- SAT Average
- 1111
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- SAT Range
- 1010–1210
- ACT Range
- 18–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 82%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,374
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.78
- First-Gen Students
- 31%
- Applicants
- 4,942
- Admitted
- 4,496
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 Fort Lewis College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fort Lewis College is $21,526, 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 $17,296. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,622 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,389 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $9,958
- Out-of-State
- $21,526
- Avg Net Price
- $17,296
- Median Debt
- $18,389
- Pell Grant Rate
- 35%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 30%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,622
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,014
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,468
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,158
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 Fort Lewis College — 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 Fort Lewis College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fort Lewis College earn a median of $46,349, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,352
- 8 Years
- $41,375
- 10 Years
- $46,349
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.4x
- Earning > $25K
- 53%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (226)
- 29%
- 100% (226)
- 29%
- 100% (226)
- 29%
- 100% (226)
- 29%
How Fort 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 Fort Lewis College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Fort Lewis College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,296/year ($69,184 total). Graduates earn $46,349 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,272,360 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,203,176 (18.4× your investment). The median debt is $18,389, 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)
- $69,184
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,272,360
- Net Return
- $1,203,176
- ROI Multiple
- 18.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,296
- Median Debt
- $18,389
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 39%
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 Fort Lewis College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Fort Lewis College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.85%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.85%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $123,094
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,197,342
- Investment Income
- $-3,093,047
Top Programs
The fields Fort Lewis College 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.
- Social Sciences 16% $54,760 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15% $51,598 early-career
- Health Professions 7% $34,410 early-career
- Psychology 6% $23,207 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $30,722 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $26,716 early-career
- Physical Sciences 4% $41,658 early-career
- English & Literature 4% $31,037 early-career
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 Fort Lewis College'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 Fort Lewis College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Durango, Colorado, Fort Lewis College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,111. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fort Lewis College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fort Lewis College is $21,526, 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 $17,296. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,622 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,389 in federal student loans.
Is Fort Lewis College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fort Lewis College earn a median of $46,349, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Fort Lewis College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Fort Lewis College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.85%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Fort Lewis College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Fort Lewis College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), 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 Fort Lewis College.
- University of South Carolina AikenAiken, SC · Close peer40% grad $45,603 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, AR · Close peer48% grad $42,386 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lander UniversityGreenwood, SC · Close peer49% grad $42,396 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Vermont State UniversityRandolph, VT · Close peer48% grad $50,331 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenosha, WI · Close peer40% grad $51,129 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of South Carolina BeaufortBluffton, SC · Close peer36% grad $48,088 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Fort Lewis College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Fort Lewis College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), 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