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Colorado Springs, CO · Private University

Is University of Colorado Colorado Springs Worth It?

ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data

Strong ROIRanked #1766 of 3,472 schools by ROI

Key Numbers

10-Year Earnings

$54,659

median, 10 years after enrollment

In-State Tuition

$9,712

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$20,492

per year

Total 4-Year Cost

$81,968

tuition only (4 years)

ROI Ratio

2.67x

earnings ÷ annual tuition

Payback Period

4.2 yrs

years to recoup total cost

Graduation Rate

45.3%

6-year graduation rate

Median Debt

$20,000

at graduation

Avg Net Price

$16,431

after aid & scholarships

Earnings vs. Annual Cost

10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition

Median Earnings (10yr)$54,659
Annual Tuition$20,492
National Median Earnings$45,000

University of Colorado Colorado Springs graduates earn $9,659 more than the national median of workers with any education level.

What You'd Actually Pay

Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income

Under $30,000$11,562/yr
$30,000 – $48,000$11,986/yr
$48,000 – $75,000$14,717/yr
$75,000 – $110,000$20,289/yr
Over $110,000$21,830/yr

Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.

Highest-Earning Majors

Top programs at University of Colorado Colorado Springs ranked by graduate earnings

1
Computer Science.$93,266

81 graduates

2
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.$86,483

39 graduates

3
Computer Engineering.$82,084

23 graduates

4
Mechanical Engineering.$70,270

120 graduates

5
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.$69,329

289 graduates

Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.

ROI by Major at University of Colorado Colorado Springs

All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.

Your major matters more than your school

At University of Colorado Colorado Springs, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Science: $93,266) and the lowest (Visual and Performing Arts, General: $23,949) is $69,317/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.

MajorEarningsROI
Computer ScienceBest ROI$93,2664.5x
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering$86,4834.2x
Computer Engineering(1yr data)$82,0844.0x
Mechanical Engineering$70,2703.4x
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$69,3293.4x
Mathematics$65,7763.2x
Computer Software and Media Applications(1yr data)$62,0183.0x
Economics$56,9612.8x
Business Administration, Management and Operations$55,0292.7x
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$54,3882.6x
Political Science and Government$51,1842.5x
Criminal Justice and Corrections$47,8152.3x
Biology, General$46,8942.3x
Communication and Media Studies$42,4062.1x
Geography and Cartography$41,9642.0x
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods(1yr data)$40,1982.0x
Sociology$39,1021.9x
History$38,6261.9x
Psychology, General$37,3621.8x
Philosophy$36,4361.8x
English Language and Literature, General$35,7151.7x
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences(1yr data)$32,6291.6x
Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralLowest$23,9491.2x

Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.

The Bottom Line

University of Colorado Colorado Springs stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $54,659 10 years after starting, $9,659 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 4.2 years, faster than most colleges.

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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.