Adams State University
Alamosa, Colorado · Public
ROI Score: 29/100 · Poor Value
Adams State University, a small public in Alamosa, Colorado, posts an ROI score of 29 -- Poor Value tier. ASU enrolls 1,250 students at a high-altitude campus in the San Luis Valley. In-state tuition is $9,824 with out-of-state of $21,944; net price is $12,980 producing a $51,920 four-year all-in -- one of the lower price tags in this batch. Six-year median earnings are just $28,800, recovering to $44,372 by year ten. The 20.5-year payback period reflects how thin early-career earnings are relative to investment. The most damaging input is completion rate (20) at just 39.4% -- six in ten students don't finish. The 60.3% three-year repayment rate is also weak, and median debt of $19,500 produces a 0.677 debt-to-earnings ratio. The school's mission as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and access-oriented teacher's college shapes the data: it serves a high-need rural population with limited regional employer base. Strong programs include Nursing (B grade) and Sociology (a notable program where four-year earnings of $46,948 are competitive). Business Administration is the volume program with C-grade outcomes.
The data raises concerns about Adams State University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score29/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate39.4% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period20.5 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Adams State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,824/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,944/yr |
| Average net price | $12,980/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $51,920 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,372 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $28,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,250 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Adams State University is $9,824/year ($21,944/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $12,980/year, or roughly $51,920 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $9,947/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,274/year.
The median graduate leaves with $19,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $207 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $44,372 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.68 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,947 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,392 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,921 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,787 |
| $110,001+ | $20,274 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-$30,000 face a net price of $9,947 -- modestly above in-state tuition. With Pell stacking and Colorado state grants, this bracket sees meaningful aid. The four-year cost of about $40,000 against $28,800 six-year earnings is workable for completers; the institutional 39% completion rate is the dominant risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $10,392, $48,001-$75,000 pays $11,921. These are reasonable net prices for a public university. Colorado middle-income families benefit from both federal and state grant stacking; comparison against community college transfer paths and CU regional campuses is the relevant alternative analysis.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $15,787, $110,001-plus pays $20,274 -- approaching out-of-state sticker. Higher-income families lose much of the aid leverage. At the upper end, the price gap between ASU and CU's regional campuses or Colorado State narrows; for higher-income students, those alternatives often offer stronger program portfolios at comparable cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Adams State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $51,111 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $44,701 | D |
| Sociology | $46,948 | C |
| Biology | $56,467 | - |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $41,809 | C |
| Psychology | $37,943 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $78,402 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is ASU's strongest program with 14 graduates earning a $70,926 first-year median, climbing to $78,402 by year four. Median debt of $31,000 produces a 0.437 debt-to-earnings ratio and B grade. The Colorado nursing market is healthy and absorbs ASU graduates into rural hospital systems with starting wages well above regional medians. This is the institution's clearest value-delivery program.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is the largest program with 75 graduates. First-year earnings of $40,181 climb to $51,111 by year four. Median debt of $23,624 produces a 0.588 ratio and C grade. Outcomes are middle-of-the-pack for rural-public business programs; graduates entering the limited regional employer base in the San Luis Valley face geographic earnings constraints regardless of program quality.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 32 students with $30,045 first-year earnings, $44,701 four-year out. Median debt of $21,451 produces a 0.714 ratio and D grade. Bachelor's-only kinesiology outcomes are constrained without graduate-level credentials in PT/OT/AT; ASU's kinesiology serves as feeder for those graduate programs. Students should plan accordingly and consider cumulative borrowing.
Sociology
Sociology graduates 27 students with first-year earnings of $46,948 -- unusually strong for the discipline, suggesting graduates land in human services or social work roles with solid wages. Median debt of $29,441 produces a 0.627 ratio and C grade. The four-year out earnings figure is not reported in current data.
Biology
Biology graduates 22 students with four-year out earnings of $56,467. Median debt and ratio are not reported. As at most universities, biology serves as a pre-health pipeline; outcomes for students who continue to medical, PA, or pharmacy school are the relevant value driver, not the bachelor's-only data.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 58.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 60.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 48.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 50.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 1,250 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,123 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, which is unusual for a public university but consistent with ASU's open-access mission and small size. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are also absent. The combination of likely open admission and a 39% completion rate signals significant academic readiness gaps; ASU admits many students who arrive without strong preparation, and the support structures are not closing that gap for the majority.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among ASU's peers, Sul Ross State University in west Texas is the closest direct comparison -- another small, rural, HSI public with similar mission and similarly modest completion. The University of Maine at Farmington and the University of Montana Western are small rural publics with somewhat better completion. The two Colorado peers (CU Denver-Anschutz and CU Colorado Springs) are larger, more selective urban institutions with substantially stronger ROI scores -- not direct comparators despite the in-state link. ASU's score of 29 is at the lower end of the rural-public peer cluster, primarily due to weak completion and earnings.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams State University (this school) | 29 | $12,980 | $44,372 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 76 | $11,900 | $64,270 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 59 | $15,788 | $54,659 |
| Sul Ross State University | 31 | $13,286 | $41,871 |
| University of Maine at Farmington | 29 | $16,857 | $44,433 |
| The University of Montana-Western | 27 | $16,558 | $43,229 |
Who Thrives Here
ASU enrolls 1,250 students with a Pell Grant rate of 37.8% -- a moderately high-need student body for a public regional. The fit case here is a Colorado resident or out-of-state student attracted to the rural high-altitude setting, accessing a Hispanic-Serving Institution with strong wraparound support, and either pursuing nursing or planning to combine an ASU degree with graduate study. Education and human services are mission-aligned strengths. The 39% completion rate and rural earnings ceiling make ASU a difficult value play for students focused on financial outcomes alone.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Adams State University. With a net cost of $12,980 per year and median graduate earnings of only $44,372 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 20.5 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 39.4% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $19,500 against $44,372 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.