Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado · Public · 88.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 69/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Colorado State University-Fort Collins scores 69 (Fair Value), a middling result that reflects real tension between a respected state flagship reputation and financial outcomes that don't fully support the $21,279 net price. Median 6-year earnings of $39,900 and an 8.8-year payback period are uninspiring for a research university of CSU's size and profile. The 66.5% completion rate is adequate. In-state tuition of $13,373 is higher than many peer public universities, and net price of $21,279 pushes the value calculation into Fair rather than Strong territory. The program mix at CSU is extremely broad - from veterinary sciences to engineering to liberal arts - and outcomes vary dramatically by major.
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,373/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,783/yr |
| Average net price | $21,279/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $85,116 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,543 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $212 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 66.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 25,538 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $13,373/year ($34,783/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,279/year, or roughly $85,116 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $13,259/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,763/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $20,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $212 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $60,543 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.50, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $13,259 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,460 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,905 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,927 |
| $110,001+ | $29,763 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket (0-$30,000) pays $13,259 per year at CSU - higher than at many peer public universities and a significant cost for Pell-eligible families. With median 6-year earnings of $39,900 and an 8.8-year payback, the financial case for low-income students depends heavily on program selection. Engineering and CS graduates see strong returns; liberal arts and biology students should weigh options carefully.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $15,905 per year, and the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $21,927. These prices are within the normal range for Colorado public universities. Middle-income families should compare CSU's net price against CU-Boulder's, as the two institutions serve similar markets with somewhat different earnings profiles.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $29,763 per year, or about $119,052 over four years. At an 8.8-year payback, full-pay attendance at CSU produces a reasonable but not exceptional return for most majors. Engineering and computer science justify the cost; music, liberal arts, and some natural science programs are harder to defend at full pay.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Colorado State University-Fort Collins with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $79,256 | B |
| Biology | $60,981 | C |
| Psychology | $54,268 | C |
| Genetics | $44,226 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $60,835 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering | $94,260 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $114,076 | B+ |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $94,921 | B+ |
| Sociology | $57,300 | C |
| International Relations | $67,873 | C+ |
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.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences is CSU's strongest major for earnings: 200 graduates, $78,856 year-one, $114,076 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.295 (ROI grade B+) reflects median debt of $23,250 against year-one earnings near $79k. The Denver-Boulder tech corridor - Oracle, Amazon Web Services, IBM, and a growing startup ecosystem - absorbs CSU CS graduates at competitive salaries. Year-four earnings of $114k reflect meaningful career progression in a hot market.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering graduates 201 students with $60,720 year-one and $94,260 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.431 (ROI grade B) reflects median debt of $26,184 - above average for an in-state public university, which signals significant non-tuition borrowing or extended time-to-degree. Year-four earnings near $94k reflect mid-career mechanical engineering salaries in Colorado's aerospace, defense, and clean energy sectors.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 679 students - the largest program - with $54,846 year-one and $79,256 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.382 (ROI grade B) reflects median debt of $20,967. Year-four earnings of $79k are competitive for a Colorado regional business market that includes Denver's corporate base and Fort Collins' growing professional services sector. This is a solid program that justifies CSU's cost for business students.
Biology
Biology graduates 330 students - the third largest program - with $32,958 year-one and $60,981 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.698 (ROI grade C) reflects median debt of $23,009 against modest early earnings. The year-four trajectory to $60k reflects pre-med, graduate school, and healthcare career paths, but many biology graduates who do not pursue advanced degrees face constrained early-career finances. At CSU's net price, biology is a fair-value choice for students with clear graduate school or medical school intent.
Genetics
Genetics is the fourth-largest program at 234 graduates with $27,741 year-one and $44,226 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.901 (ROI grade D) is severe: median debt of $25,000 against $27k year-one earnings creates real financial pressure. Most genetics graduates pursue graduate or medical school; those who do not face a difficult early-career earnings situation. This program's volume (234 graduates) is unusually large, and the weak year-one outcome likely reflects the high share of students in graduate education rather than employment.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Colorado State University-Fort Collins’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 88.5% |
| Enrollment | 25,538 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,801 |
At 88.5% acceptance, CSU is accessible to virtually all Colorado applicants with standard high school preparation. The high acceptance rate reflects the land-grant mission of broad access rather than a low-selectivity weakness. Test data is not currently reported; students with solid GPAs should expect admission. The challenge is completing the degree (66.5% rate) and selecting programs with earnings that justify the net price.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
CSU's peers include Adams State University, CU Denver/Anschutz, University of Kentucky, University of Oregon, and UT San Antonio. At ROI 69, CSU scores below what many Colorado families would expect from a flagship public university. Its earnings premium subscore of 67 and 8.8-year payback reflect the gap between cost and outcomes. University of Oregon and University of Kentucky share similar profiles. CSU's strongest advantage is its Fort Collins setting and agriculture/natural resources identity, which drives outcomes for that specific student population.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins (this school) | 69 | $21,279 | $60,543 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 76 | $11,900 | $64,270 |
| University of Kentucky | 69 | $18,851 | $59,025 |
| University of Oregon | 68 | $22,182 | $61,324 |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | 68 | $10,836 | $57,131 |
| Adams State University | 29 | $12,980 | $44,372 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Colorado State University-Fort Collins side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
CSU admits 88.5% of applicants with no published test score data for recent cohorts. Enrollment of 25,538 makes it a large research university. With 21.1% Pell recipients, it serves a predominantly middle- and upper-income Colorado student body. CSU fits students who want a full land-grant university experience - agricultural sciences, engineering, natural resources, business - in a college town setting. Fort Collins is a strong quality-of-life location. Students focused solely on earnings optimization may find the net price too high relative to outcomes; Colorado residents should compare carefully with CU-Boulder and other in-state options.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Colorado State University-Fort Collins is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $21,279 a year after aid ($85,116 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $60,543 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
Median debt of $20,000 against $60,543 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.