University of Northern Colorado
#3 Best Online Colleges in Colorado- Graduation Rate
- 51% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $52,231 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $17,760 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 86% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Online Colleges in Colorado.
Every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,226,918.
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 28% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.2%
- Top 80%
- Patents
- 34
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 94
- Downstream influence
Why University of Northern Colorado Matters
University of Northern Colorado is a public doctoral / professional university in Greeley, 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 Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 5,598
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology
Why students choose University of Northern Colorado
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 86% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 950–1190. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,760 a year after grants and scholarships — 4% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $52,231 ten years after enrolling — 28% above the typical college, against $20,470 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 74% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.76 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Over 5,500 students call the University of Northern Colorado home, with an acceptance rate of 86%. This welcoming environment allows many students to pursue their academic interests without the pressure of highly selective admissions.
Data from Opportunity Insights reveals that while specific mobility data isn't available for UNC, the graduation rate stands at 51%. This indicates that just over half of students complete their degrees, a crucial factor for long-term economic success. Graduates earn an average of $52,231 ten years post-graduation, which reflects the potential return on investment for those who do complete their education.
The net price for attending UNC is $17,760, and graduates carry a median debt of $20,470. The institution serves students with diverse financial backgrounds, as evidenced by a 26% Pell Grant rate. Students who thrive here often pursue programs in Health Professions, Education, Psychology, Business & Marketing, and Visual & Performing Arts, aligning their passions with practical career paths.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Northern Colorado 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 Northern Colorado? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Greeley, Colorado, University of Northern Colorado admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,082. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Retention Rate
- 76%
- SAT Average
- 1082
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 950–1190
- ACT Range
- 21–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 57%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,988
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.57
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 10,107
- Admitted
- 7,938
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Northern Colorado is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 13% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 13%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 22%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 2%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 24% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 Northern Colorado? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Northern Colorado is $27,266, 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 $17,760. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,695 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,470 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $12,416
- Out-of-State
- $27,266
- Avg Net Price
- $17,760
- Median Debt
- $20,470
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 37%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,695
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,290
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $16,038
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,306
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 Northern Colorado — 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 Northern Colorado Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Northern Colorado earn a median of $52,231, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,756
- 8 Years
- $48,079
- 10 Years
- $52,231
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.39x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (630)
- 33%
- 100% (630)
- 33%
- 100% (630)
- 33%
- 100% (630)
- 33%
How University 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 University of Northern Colorado Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Northern Colorado delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,760/year ($71,040 total). Graduates earn $52,231 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,297,958 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,226,918 (18.3× your investment). The median debt is $20,470, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 51% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $71,040
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,297,958
- Net Return
- $1,226,918
- ROI Multiple
- 18.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,760
- Median Debt
- $20,470
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 51%
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 University of Northern Colorado Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Northern Colorado 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 1.03%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.03%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 23.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $134,506
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of Northern Colorado produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 34 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.17%
- Top 80% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 34
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 94
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.63%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,641,868
- Investment Income
- $-2,707,719
Top Programs
The fields University of Northern Colorado 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 13% $54,259 early-career
- Health Professions 13% $68,909 early-career
- Education 13% $45,173 early-career
- Psychology 10% $34,675 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 9% $34,698 early-career
- Social Sciences 7% $48,868 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $41,024 early-career
- Communications 4% $39,121 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 Northern Colorado'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
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Northern Colorado? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Greeley, Colorado, University of Northern Colorado admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,082. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Northern Colorado? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Northern Colorado is $27,266, 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 $17,760. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,695 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,470 in federal student loans.
Is University of Northern Colorado Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Northern Colorado earn a median of $52,231, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does University of Northern Colorado Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Northern Colorado 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 1.03%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Northern Colorado? 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 Northern Colorado. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does University of Northern Colorado offer Early Decision?
No. University of Northern Colorado does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is University of Northern Colorado really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 24% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of Northern Colorado (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Northern Colorado?
About 13% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Northern Colorado — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Northern Colorado.
- University of Wisconsin-StoutMenomonie, WI · Close peer54% grad $58,084 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville, PA · Close peer56% grad $55,246 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Radford UniversityRadford, VA · Close peer49% grad $53,739 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-Green BayGreen Bay, WI · Close peer50% grad $52,528 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Augusta UniversityAugusta, GA · Close peer49% grad $48,472 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- State University of New York at OswegoOswego, NY · Close peer60% grad $57,566 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Northern Colorado? 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 Northern Colorado. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note