Regis University
Denver, Colorado · Private Nonprofit · 86.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 81/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Regis University scores 81 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 5.8-year payback period and $54,100 average 6-year earnings against a net price of $18,397. The Jesuit university in Denver enrolls 2,627 students and has a 61% completion rate - the weakest link in its ROI profile. Median debt of $25,000 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.462, which is manageable but not low. Registered Nursing is the anchor program with 279 graduates and $76,736 median year-one earnings, providing a strong labor market floor for the institution.
Regis University scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Regis University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $46,340/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $46,340/yr |
| Average net price | $18,397/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $73,588 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $72,105 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $54,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,627 |
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: $46,340/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,397/year, or roughly $73,588 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 $13,713/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,572/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($54,100) and comes to 0.46, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $13,713 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,553 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,006 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,295 |
| $110,001+ | $28,572 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $13,713 net price per year at Regis. At that level, 4-year total cost is around $55,000, and with $54,100 average 6-year earnings, payback is manageable for students who complete degrees, particularly in nursing or CS.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-48,000 bracket pays $12,553 - actually lower than the lowest bracket, a notable step-down in the aid formula. The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $16,006. Middle-income students get meaningful aid at Regis.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $28,572 per year - about $114,000 over four years. Against $54,100 average 6-year earnings, the full-pay case is viable for students entering nursing or CS but stretched for business or communication graduates.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Regis University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $87,862 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $81,628 | C+ |
| Computer Science | $114,098 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $46,341 | - |
| Accounting | $73,054 | C |
| Biology | $55,356 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $91,631 | - |
| Human Resources Management | $87,109 | - |
| Political Science and Government | $63,255 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $75,857 | 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 the clear anchor at Regis: 279 graduates, $76,736 median earnings at year one, $87,862 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.383 (ROI grade B). Nurses in Colorado's Front Range metro command reliable salaries, and the year-one figure reflects immediate licensure value. This program is the strongest financial case for attending Regis.
Computer Science
Computer Science (33 graduates) earns $75,501 at year one and $114,098 at year four - strong numbers for a regional private university. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.402 earns a B grade. The four-year trajectory to $114k reflects the Denver tech market, which has deepened with remote-work migration.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration earns $66,739 at year one and $75,857 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.488 (ROI grade C+). The year-four figure is moderate for a business degree, and the C+ grade reflects debt load outpacing earnings growth. Graduate volume is listed at zero in Scorecard data, suggesting this designation may aggregate with other business programs.
Accounting
Accounting (22 graduates) earns $58,811 year one and $73,054 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.572 (ROI grade C).
Communication and Media Studies
Communication and Media Studies (28 graduates) earns $46,341 at year four with no year-one data available. No debt or ROI grade data is reported, making a full assessment difficult. At $46k four-year earnings against a $25,000+ typical debt load, the ROI case is weak compared to nursing or CS graduates from the same institution.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Regis University’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 | 86.5% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-29 |
| Enrollment | 2,627 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,318 |
At 86.5% acceptance, Regis is not selective and admits the broad majority of applicants. ACT composite 22-29 reflects the middle half; no SAT data is reported. Admission is accessible, but completion is the harder gate - the 61% graduation rate means that earning a degree here requires follow-through rather than admission.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Regis's net price is $18,397 and its payback period is 5.8 years.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regis University (this school) | 81 | $18,397 | $72,105 |
| Molloy University | 82 | $24,347 | $77,789 |
| Saint Mary's College of California | 81 | $30,378 | $78,812 |
| Western New England University | 75 | $27,290 | $73,157 |
| Colorado College | 70 | $33,375 | $65,222 |
| Colorado Christian University | 34 | $29,500 | $50,416 |
Who Thrives Here
Regis fits students seeking a mid-size Jesuit liberal arts experience in Denver with strong health sciences and business programs at a below-market net price. With an 86.5% acceptance rate and ACT composite range of 22-29, Regis draws broadly rather than selectively. The 61% completion rate is a real concern - nearly 4 in 10 students who enroll do not finish - so prospective students should evaluate their own persistence likelihood honestly. Pell grant rate of 31.8% signals moderate access for lower-income students.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Regis University pays off. You'd pay about $18,397 a year after aid ($73,588 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $72,105 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $54,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, 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.
Regis University: Common Questions
Is Regis University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Regis University pays off. It scores 81/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $18,397 a year after aid ($73,588 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $72,105 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.8 years to earn back.
How much does Regis University 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 $18,397 a year, or roughly $73,588 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 Regis University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $72,105 ten years after enrolling, roughly $30,305 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 Regis University?
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 5.8 years for Regis University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Regis University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $54,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. 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 Regis University?
The six-year graduation rate is 61.0%. 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.