Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo, Colorado · Public · 94.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 64/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Colorado State University Pueblo scores 64 (Fair Value) on CampusROI. Net price of $10,051 makes CSU Pueblo a genuine access option for Colorado residents. Earnings of $39,100 at six years and a 10yr figure of $55,563 suggest modest but real career trajectories. The 39.7% completion rate is the critical failure point: fewer than four in ten enrollees finish within normal time, meaning the majority of students incur debt without a degree. This fundamentally limits who benefits from the low net price. Registered Nursing (110 graduates, $71,714 year-one, $80,676 year-four, B grade) is the dominant strong program. Engineering (9 graduates, $76,059 year-one, B grade) and Construction Management (19 graduates, $67,044 year-one, $91,816 year-four, B grade) also perform well. Below those, most programs range from C to F grades.
How Colorado State University Pueblo scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate39.7% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Colorado State University Pueblo
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,720/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,944/yr |
| Average net price | $10,051/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $40,204 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,563 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,042 |
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: $9,720/year ($17,944/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $10,051/year, or roughly $40,204 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 $9,374/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $12,858/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,500, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,100) and comes to 0.55, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $9,374 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,948 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,961 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,701 |
| $110,001+ | $12,858 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $9,374 per year - $37,496 over four years. Against $39,100 average 6-year earnings, the cost structure is workable for students who complete. The critical risk is the 39.7% completion rate: most students in this income bracket who enroll will not finish, paying years of net price without a degree. Low-income students should evaluate academic preparation and support resources carefully before treating CSU Pueblo's low price as a safe financial bet.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $10,961 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $15,701. At these price points, even moderate-earning programs produce reasonable financial returns for students who complete. The 10-year earnings figure of $55,563 against $40,000-$63,000 in total four-year cost suggests a 5-7 year breakeven for completing students.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $12,858 per year - a surprisingly low figure for the highest income bracket, lower than the 75001-110000 bracket. This unusual inversion suggests aid structure anomalies or data quirks. At $51,432 total four-year cost, higher-income families get exceptional price. The financial case is strongest for nursing and construction management graduates.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Colorado State University Pueblo with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $80,676 | B |
| Business Administration and Management | $60,401 | C |
| Social Work | $58,449 | D |
| Psychology | $45,974 | D |
| Information Science | $63,994 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $52,746 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $43,508 | C |
| Construction Management | $91,816 | B |
| Biology | $58,607 | C |
| Sociology | $48,962 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is CSU Pueblo's anchor program at 110 graduates: $71,714 year-one and $80,676 year-four, with median debt of $27,562 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.384 (ROI grade B). Colorado's nursing market, particularly in the Pueblo and Colorado Springs corridor, provides stable employment. Year-one earnings above $71,000 make this program's debt burden manageable. Nursing is the clearest financial case for enrolling at CSU Pueblo and the primary driver of the institution's moderate ROI score.
Construction Management
Construction Management (19 graduates) earns $67,044 year-one and $91,816 year-four with median debt of $24,750 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.369 (ROI grade B). Colorado's booming construction and real estate development sector drives strong demand for construction managers. The year-four figure above $91,000 reflects the career advancement trajectory in project management. Small graduate volume limits confidence in these figures, but the B-grade outcome is consistent with the industry's compensation profile.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration (54 graduates) earns $43,067 year-one and $60,401 year-four with median debt of $25,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.580 (ROI grade C). Year-one earnings above $43,000 against $25,000 median debt is manageable but not comfortable. The four-year trajectory to $60,401 is moderate.
Information Science
Information Science (31 graduates) earns $44,712 year-one and $63,994 year-four with median debt of $23,800 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.532 (ROI grade C+). IS graduates access entry-level tech and data roles in the Colorado market.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 68.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 55.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 60.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Colorado State University Pueblo’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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 | 94.9% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-26 |
| Enrollment | 3,042 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,216 |
At 94.9% admission, CSU Pueblo is effectively open-access. ACT 19-26 reflects a broad academic preparation range. No SAT data is available. The relevant evaluation factors are not admission probability but completion likelihood and program fit. Academic support, financial planning, and clear career goals are more important predictors of success at this institution than test scores or selectivity.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University Pueblo (this school) | 64 | $10,051 | $55,563 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 76 | $11,900 | $64,270 |
| University of Arkansas Grantham | 69 | $8,370 | $63,496 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington | 63 | $18,071 | $63,435 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 60 | $24,558 | $63,435 |
| Adams State University | 29 | $12,980 | $44,372 |
Who Thrives Here
CSU Pueblo admits 94.9% of applicants with ACT mid-range of 19-26 (no SAT data). Enrollment is 3,042, reflecting a regional public university serving southern Colorado. Pell rate of 28.6% indicates significant low-income student representation. Students who complete degrees in nursing or construction management have clear regional and statewide employment pipelines. The completion rate risk is the primary institutional concern - incoming students should assess academic preparation and support resources carefully.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Colorado State University Pueblo is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $10,051 a year after aid ($40,204 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $55,563 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 39.7% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 68.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $21,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Colorado State University Pueblo: Common Questions
Is Colorado State University Pueblo worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Colorado State University Pueblo is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 64/100 on our ROI scale. At $10,051 a year after aid ($40,204 over four years) against $55,563 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Colorado State University Pueblo cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $10,051 a year, or roughly $40,204 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Colorado State University Pueblo graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,563 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,763 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Colorado State University Pueblo?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.8 years for Colorado State University Pueblo. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Colorado State University Pueblo graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,500, against average earnings of $39,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Colorado State University Pueblo?
The six-year graduation rate is 39.7%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.