University of Colorado Colorado Springs
- Graduation Rate
- 46% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,659 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $15,788 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 97% F
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $21.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,296,167.
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 34% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Colorado Colorado Springs Matters
University of Colorado Colorado Springs is a public research university in Colorado Springs, CO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base 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
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 8,697
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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 97% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1010–1220. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,788 a year after grants and scholarships — 8% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,659 ten years after enrolling — 34% 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 1.63 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs has a remarkably high acceptance rate of 97%. This means that nearly all applicants gain admission, making it an accessible choice for many students. The campus serves about 8,700 students, fostering a diverse environment for learning and growth.
Data from the Chetty/Opportunity Insights study isn't available for this institution, but graduates can expect to earn an average of $54,659 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure signals a solid return on investment for students, especially considering the net price of $15,788 and an average debt of $20,000. While graduation rates sit at 46%, students who persist can find themselves in stable career positions after graduation.
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is well-suited for students interested in fields like Business, Health Professions, and Psychology. The environment here tends to attract those who thrive in a supportive setting, with a strong focus on practical, career-oriented education. With a significant number of students receiving Pell Grants (27%), the school appeals to those seeking affordable education without compromising on opportunity.
Rankings
- #11 Best Computer Science Colleges in Colorado
- #11 Best Data Science Colleges in Colorado
- #12 Best Nursing Colleges in Colorado
- #12 Best Biology Colleges in Colorado
- #13 Best Bachelor's Programs in Colorado
- #13 Best Psychology Colleges in Colorado
- #15 Best Business Colleges in Colorado
- #16 Best Colleges in Colorado
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Colorado Colorado Springs 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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Colorado Springs, Colorado, University of Colorado Colorado Springs admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 97%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,133. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Retention Rate
- 68%
- SAT Average
- 1133
- SAT Range
- 1010–1220
- ACT Range
- 20–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 62%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,318
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 31%
- Applicants
- 14,751
- Admitted
- 12,504
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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Colorado Colorado Springs is $24,336, 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 $15,788. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,065 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $10,149
- Out-of-State
- $24,336
- Avg Net Price
- $15,788
- Median Debt
- $20,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 34%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,065
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,642
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,104
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,142
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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs — 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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Colorado Colorado Springs earn a median of $54,659, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,766
- 8 Years
- $52,312
- 10 Years
- $54,659
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.37x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (407)
- 25%
- 100% (407)
- 25%
- 100% (407)
- 25%
- 100% (407)
- 25%
How University 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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Colorado Colorado Springs delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,788/year ($63,152 total). Graduates earn $54,659 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,359,319 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,296,167 (21.5× your investment). The median debt is $20,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 46% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $63,152
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,359,319
- Net Return
- $1,296,167
- ROI Multiple
- 21.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,788
- Median Debt
- $20,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields University of Colorado Colorado Springs 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.
- Business & Marketing 16% $48,147 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 11% $36,192 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $70,627 early-career
- Psychology 9% $30,119 early-career
- Social Sciences 7% $47,633 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $79,894 early-career
- Communications 7% $37,207 early-career
- Criminal Justice 6% $38,867 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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs'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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Colorado Springs, Colorado, University of Colorado Colorado Springs admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 97%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,133. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Colorado Colorado Springs? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Colorado Colorado Springs is $24,336, 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 $15,788. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,065 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,000 in federal student loans.
Is University of Colorado Colorado Springs Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Colorado Colorado Springs earn a median of $54,659, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Colorado Colorado Springs? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
- Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IL · Close peer56% grad $56,346 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Cleveland State UniversityCleveland, OH · Close peer50% grad $52,131 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Texas Woman's UniversityDenton, TX · Close peer47% grad $56,544 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, PA · Close peer54% grad $52,416 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, SD · Close peer61% grad $55,070 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX · Close peer53% grad $49,634 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Colorado Colorado Springs? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note