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University of Colorado Colorado Springs — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Colorado Springs, CO · 8,697 students

The verdict

University of Colorado Colorado Springs charges a net price of $15,788/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $63,152. Graduates earn a median $54,659 ten years after entry, $6,299/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 10 years — a 20-year net return of $62,828, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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University of Colorado Colorado Springs's 10-year payback ranks #793 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 38% of them, and #11 of 50 in Colorado.

Better ROI than 38% of US colleges#793 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$15,788
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$54,659
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
10 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
97%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
University of Colorado Colorado Springs: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$15,788/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$63,152our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$54,659Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$6,299/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$20,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback10 yrsour math
20-year net return$62,828our math

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

The arithmetic, on University of Colorado Colorado Springs's own numbers. Net price $15,788 × 4 years = $63,152 total. Median earnings $54,659 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $6,299 a year of premium. $63,152 ÷ $6,299 = 10 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $62,828. 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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs students graduate with?

A median $20,000 in federal loans among completers, or 37% of the $54,659 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of University of Colorado Colorado Springs students graduate?

47% finish their degree — 53% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $63,152 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $134,366 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is University of Colorado Colorado Springs expensive compared with other Colorado colleges?

Its $15,788 net price runs $680 below the $16,468 median across the 50 Colorado colleges we profile, and $2,718 less across the full degree.

University of Colorado Colorado Springs: frequently asked questions

Is University of Colorado Colorado Springs worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. University of Colorado Colorado Springs charges $15,788/yr after aid ($63,152 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $54,659 ten years out — $6,299/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 10 years and returns $62,828 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a University of Colorado Colorado Springs degree take to pay off?
About 10 years. We divide the $63,152 four-year net cost by the $6,299/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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $15,788/yr — about $63,152 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does University of Colorado Colorado Springs compare to other Colorado colleges?
It ranks #11 of 50 Colorado colleges we track by payback. Its $54,659 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $15,788 net price is below the national median of $16,902.