Colorado College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Colorado College charges a net price of $33,375/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $133,500. Graduates earn a median $65,222 ten years after entry, $16,862/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7.9 years — a 20-year net return of $203,740, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Colorado College's 7.9-year payback ranks #681 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 47% of them, and #10 of 50 in Colorado.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $33,375/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $133,500 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $65,222 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $16,862/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,257 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 7.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $203,740 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Colorado College's own numbers. Net price $33,375 × 4 years = $133,500 total. Median earnings $65,222 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $16,862 a year of premium. $133,500 ÷ $16,862 = 7.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $203,740. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Colorado College students graduate with?
A median $18,257 in federal loans among completers, or 28% of the $65,222 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Colorado College students graduate?
88% finish their degree. Spread the $133,500 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $151,705 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Colorado College expensive compared with other Colorado colleges?
Its $33,375 net price runs $16,908 above the $16,468 median across the 50 Colorado colleges we profile, or $67,630 more across the full degree.