Adams State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Adams State University charges a net price of $12,980/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $51,920. Median earnings ten years after entry are $44,372, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Adams State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #23 of 50 Colorado colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $12,980/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $51,920 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $44,372 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$3,988/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $19,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$131,680 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Adams State University's own numbers. Net price $12,980 × 4 years = $51,920 total. Median earnings $44,372 fall $3,988 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $51,920 bill in about 5.2 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Adams State University students graduate with?
A median $19,500 in federal loans among completers, or 44% of the $44,372 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Adams State University students graduate?
39% finish their degree — 61% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $51,920 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $133,128 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Adams State University expensive compared with other Colorado colleges?
Its $12,980 net price runs $3,488 below the $16,468 median across the 50 Colorado colleges we profile, and $13,950 less across the full degree.