Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, Colorado · Public · 82.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 33/100 · Poor Value
Colorado Mesa University scores 33 out of 100 on ROI -- a Poor Value tier rating that mostly reflects weak completion. CMU's 40.6% completion rate is the dominant drag: more than half of entering students do not finish in six years, and that single fact pulls every other metric. Median earnings six years after entry are $34,200, climbing to $45,823 at year ten -- modest. Median debt is a relatively contained $22,000, but the debt-to-earnings ratio still lands at 0.643. Payback period is 18.5 years. In-state tuition is $9,927 with a $15,103 net price (four-year total ~$60,412), so the absolute cost is reasonable for a public regional. Repayment rate of 71.3% is OK but not great. The earnings premium of 0.179 says graduates do out-earn high-school peers, but only modestly. CMU's strongest tracks (nursing, CIS, allied health) post genuinely good ROI numbers; the school average is dragged down by the long tail of liberal-arts programs combined with the low completion rate.
The data raises concerns about Colorado Mesa University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score33/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period18.5 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Colorado Mesa University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,927/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,124/yr |
| Average net price | $15,103/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $60,412 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,823 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $233 |
| Estimated payback period | 18.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 40.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 8,143 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Colorado Mesa University is $9,927/year ($25,124/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 $15,103/year, or roughly $60,412 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $10,792/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,606/year.
The median graduate leaves with $22,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $233 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $45,823 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.64 - 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 | $10,792 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,920 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,692 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,945 |
| $110,001+ | $20,606 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $10,792 net annually -- one of the more affordable low-income net prices in the dataset, well below the $15,103 average. Pell + state aid are doing real work here. Four-year exposure of about $43,000 against $34,200 median earnings is workable, especially in nursing or CIS. CMU is a credible affordability play at this income tier.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $14,692, and $75,001-$110,000 pays $16,945. Four-year cost runs $59,000-$68,000. For middle-income families this is a competitive in-state public price, but the earnings outcomes mean students should target one of the high-ROI majors. Drifting into a low-earning track at this price point produces tight repayment math.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $20,606 net per year -- four-year cost approaches $82,000. At that price, CMU's average outcomes don't justify the spend; flagship University of Colorado Boulder or Colorado State will deliver better ROI on similar dollars. CMU at high-income only makes sense for students specifically committed to a strong CMU program (nursing, CIS) or to its location.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Colorado Mesa University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,297 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $81,319 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $49,348 | D |
| Biology | $45,737 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,708 | C |
| Psychology | $54,321 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $96,708 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $44,651 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $54,717 | D |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $50,384 | - |
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 CMU's flagship ROI program: 146 graduates per cohort, $69,631 first-year earnings rising to $81,319 by year four, $27,000 median debt, and a 0.388 debt-to-earnings ratio earning a B grade. Western Colorado healthcare demand absorbs graduates well; St. Mary's Medical Center in Grand Junction is a major employer. For ROI-focused students this is the clearest reason to choose CMU.
Computer and Information Sciences
CIS posts $65,284 first-year earnings climbing to $96,708 by year four -- a strong upward trajectory -- with $25,000 median debt and a 0.383 debt-to-earnings ratio for a B grade. Forty-three graduates. The four-year earnings figure here is the highest at CMU and competitive with Front Range tech salaries despite the Western Slope location. Remote-work flexibility likely contributes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business admin is CMU's largest program at 201 graduates: $46,316 first-year earnings, $69,297 by year four, $21,000 median debt, and a 0.453 ratio for a C+ grade. Earnings outcomes are middling for first year but ramp meaningfully. The low debt load helps the ROI math. For students who can't break into nursing or CIS but want a credentialed track, this is a defensible pick.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology produces 123 graduates -- a major program -- with $31,253 first-year earnings rising to $49,348 by year four. $25,900 in median debt produces a 0.829 ratio and a D grade. The structural ROI problem with kinesiology is well-known: it's a feeder major for graduate-level professions (PT, OT, athletic training) and bachelor's-only outcomes are weak. Students entering this major need a clear graduate-school plan.
Biology
Biology produces 82 graduates with $32,565 first-year earnings rising to $45,737 by year four, $27,774 median debt, and a 0.853 debt-to-earnings ratio for a D grade. Same structural pattern as kinesiology: bachelor's biology is a pre-health feeder, and ROI numbers for those who don't continue to graduate or professional school are weak. Students should commit to the medical or graduate-school pathway from day one or pivot to applied biology tracks.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 54.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 63.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 82.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-590 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 8,143 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,747 |
Admission rate is 82.03% -- broadly accessible. SAT mid-50% bands sit at 450-570 Math and 480-590 Reading; ACT composite spans 18-24. These bands are below national medians, consistent with the open-access profile. The 40.6% completion rate maps to that prep distribution. Students arriving in the upper half of CMU's mid-50% range are statistically far more likely to complete and capture the ROI of the strong programs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
CMU's peers include Adams State University, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Arkansas State University, Morgan State University, and Idaho State University. CU Denver typically posts substantially higher ROI thanks to graduate-program earnings pull and stronger completion. Adams State runs a similar regional-public, low-completion profile. Arkansas State and Idaho State are very comparable mid-pack regional publics. Morgan State, an HBCU, has different demographic dynamics. Within this peer set CMU sits middle-of-pack on cost but lags on completion.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Mesa University (this school) | 33 | $15,103 | $45,823 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 76 | $11,900 | $64,270 |
| Idaho State University | 38 | $12,193 | $45,608 |
| Morgan State University | 34 | $14,985 | $50,698 |
| Arkansas State University | 33 | $12,366 | $42,617 |
| Adams State University | 29 | $12,980 | $44,372 |
Who Thrives Here
CMU fits western Colorado students who want an in-state public option close to home, particularly those targeting nursing, CIS, allied health, or business. Pell rate is 28.09% -- middle-class skew with meaningful working-class enrollment. Total enrollment of 8,143 supports a real campus experience. Students drawn to outdoor-recreation programs (Grand Junction sits near Colorado National Monument and the Western Slope) get cultural value here. The clear failure mode: students entering undecided, drifting into a humanities major, and not completing -- that path produces poor ROI outcomes.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Colorado Mesa University. With a net cost of $15,103 per year and median graduate earnings of only $45,823 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 18.5 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 40.6% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $22,000 against $45,823 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.