University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, Colorado · Public · 74.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 76/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus scores 76 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, an urban public research university in Denver. The earnings premium of 61.5% is strong - graduates earn significantly more than comparable workers without degrees. Average 6-year earnings of $48,700 and a 6.4-year payback period are competitive for a public institution at $11,900 net price. The completion rate of 46.2% is the most significant drag on the score: fewer than half of enrollees complete a degree. The repayment rate at year 7 is 73.9%. Electrical Engineering tops year-one earnings at $78,878, Nursing produces 267 graduates at $75,503 year-one, and Computer Science (98 graduates) earns $75,137 at year one with $112,754 at year four. Business Administration has the largest single cohort at 431 graduates, earning $52,428 year-one. The program list spans from F-grade Drama/Theatre ($19,966 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.377) to A-grade results in specialized engineering. Denver's tech, healthcare, and energy economy creates strong demand for STEM and nursing graduates. In-state tuition of $10,383 and net price of $11,900 make the cost structure genuinely attractive for students who complete.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus scores in the top 17% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,383/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,391/yr |
| Average net price | $11,900/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $47,600 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,270 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 46.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 10,519 |
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: $10,383/year ($29,391/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 $11,900/year, or roughly $47,600 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 $6,743/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,475/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,500, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,700) and comes to 0.42, 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 | $6,743 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,472 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,834 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,232 |
| $110,001+ | $22,475 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students in the 0-30000 bracket pay $6,743 per year - $26,972 over four years. At this cost, even programs with moderate earnings produce strong ROI for students who complete. Nursing graduates at this income level are paying $26,972 for a credential yielding $75,503 year-one earnings - an exceptional return. The completion rate risk is the primary caveat.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $10,834 per year - $43,336 over four years. This is competitive public pricing for an urban campus with Denver labor market access. STEM and nursing graduates at this cost will see payback periods well under 5 years. Business and social science graduates face longer timelines but still benefit from a cost-efficient foundation.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $22,475 per year - $89,900 over four years. At out-of-state ($29,391 tuition) the cost rises significantly. Program selection remains the pivotal variable - STEM and nursing at $89,900 total is a strong investment; humanities or fine arts at the same cost is a weaker one.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $75,142 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $84,950 | B |
| Biology | $58,231 | C |
| Psychology | $52,990 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $62,882 | C |
| Economics | $71,385 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $112,754 | B+ |
| Music | $46,532 | D |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $43,953 | C+ |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $49,842 | D |
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 the highest-volume high-earning program: 267 graduates, $75,503 year-one and $84,950 year-four. Debt-to-earnings of 0.404 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $30,500 is elevated. The Anschutz Medical Campus component creates strong clinical placement access. This is the program with the best combination of volume and favorable outcomes at UC Denver.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer Science had 98 graduates at $75,137 year-one and $112,754 year-four. Debt-to-earnings of 0.279 (ROI grade B+). The year-four trajectory to $112k reflects strong absorption into Denver's growing tech sector (Amazon, Google, Palantir and others have Denver-area presences). This program delivers among the best ROI in the institution's portfolio.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering had 36 graduates at $78,878 year-one and $110,754 year-four. Debt-to-earnings of 0.437 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $34,500 is higher than ideal, but the earnings trajectory justifies it. Denver's aerospace and defense contractors provide strong placement pathways for EE graduates from Anschutz.
Economics
Economics had 132 graduates at $56,201 year-one and $71,385 year-four. Debt-to-earnings of 0.410 (ROI grade B). This is a solid outcome for economics at a public urban university - year-one earnings above $56k reflect Denver's finance, consulting, and government policy job market. The four-year figure of $71,385 is consistent with mid-level analyst and consulting roles.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program at 431 graduates, $52,428 year-one and $75,142 year-four. Debt-to-earnings of 0.439 (ROI grade B). Year-one earnings of $52,428 are solid for a large public business program and reflect Denver's growing commercial base. The four-year trajectory to $75k is competitive. Median debt of $23,000 is manageable at these earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus’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 | 74.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-32 |
| Enrollment | 10,519 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,152 |
The 74.7% admission rate and ACT 23-32 range reflect a moderately accessible public institution. The wide ACT range suggests the institution serves a broad academic spectrum. Engineering and nursing programs likely have higher internal standards than the institutional average. Denver's urban setting attracts transfer students and working adults; students not yet certain of their program should consider starting at a community college to reduce completion risk.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (this school) | 76 | $11,900 | $64,270 |
| University of North Dakota | 77 | $18,551 | $63,552 |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | 76 | $16,210 | $60,378 |
| University of Nevada-Reno | 75 | $15,927 | $60,614 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 59 | $15,788 | $54,659 |
| Adams State University | 29 | $12,980 | $44,372 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UC Denver/Anschutz enrolls 10,519 students as an urban commuter and residential campus. Admission rate is 74.7%, with SAT Math 490-600 and Reading 490-620 mid-ranges; ACT 23-32. Students who thrive in an urban environment with direct access to Denver's employers - particularly in healthcare, tech, and engineering - are well-suited. The 46.2% completion rate is a structural challenge; students who plan to commute part-time while working should assess their four-year completion path carefully.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus pays off. You'd pay about $11,900 a year after aid ($47,600 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $64,270 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 46.2% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 70.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $20,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, 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.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus: Common Questions
Is University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus pays off. It scores 76/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $11,900 a year after aid ($47,600 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $64,270 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.4 years to earn back.
How much does University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus 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 $11,900 a year, or roughly $47,600 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 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $64,270 ten years after enrolling, roughly $22,470 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 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus?
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 6.4 years for University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,500, against average earnings of $48,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42. 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 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 46.2%. 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.