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Colorado State University Pueblo — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Pueblo, CO · 3,042 students

The verdict

Colorado State University Pueblo charges a net price of $10,051/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $40,204. Graduates earn a median $55,563 ten years after entry, $7,203/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.6 years — a 20-year net return of $103,856, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Colorado State University Pueblo's 5.6-year payback ranks #484 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 62% of them, and #6 of 50 in Colorado.

Better ROI than 62% of US colleges#484 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$10,051
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$55,563
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
5.6 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
95%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Colorado State University Pueblo: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$10,051/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$40,204our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$55,563Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$7,203/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$21,500Scorecard, 2026
Payback5.6 yrsour math
20-year net return$103,856our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Colorado State University Pueblo's own numbers. Net price $10,051 × 4 years = $40,204 total. Median earnings $55,563 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $7,203 a year of premium. $40,204 ÷ $7,203 = 5.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $103,856. 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 State University Pueblo students graduate with?

A median $21,500 in federal loans among completers, or 39% of the $55,563 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Colorado State University Pueblo students graduate?

40% finish their degree — 60% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $40,204 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $100,510 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Colorado State University Pueblo expensive compared with other Colorado colleges?

Its $10,051 net price runs $6,417 below the $16,468 median across the 50 Colorado colleges we profile, and $25,666 less across the full degree.

Colorado State University Pueblo: frequently asked questions

Is Colorado State University Pueblo worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Colorado State University Pueblo charges $10,051/yr after aid ($40,204 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $55,563 ten years out — $7,203/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 5.6 years and returns $103,856 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Colorado State University Pueblo degree take to pay off?
About 5.6 years. We divide the $40,204 four-year net cost by the $7,203/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Colorado State University Pueblo cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $10,051/yr — about $40,204 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Colorado State University Pueblo compare to other Colorado colleges?
It ranks #6 of 50 Colorado colleges we track by payback. Its $55,563 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $10,051 net price is below the national median of $16,902.