Colorado State University-Fort Collins vs Colorado College: which has better ROI?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $85,116 in 7 years versus 7.9 years at Colorado College, on median earnings of $60,543 vs $65,222 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Colorado College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,279 | $33,375 |
| Total net cost | $85,116 | $133,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,543 | $65,222 |
| Median debt | $20,000 | $18,257 |
| Payback | 7 yrs | 7.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $158,544 | $203,740 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colorado State University-Fort Collins or Colorado College?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins, at $21,279 a year after aid versus $33,375 — a gap of $12,096 a year, or $48,384 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Colorado State University-Fort Collins or Colorado College graduates earn more?
Colorado College graduates report a median $65,222 ten years after entry, $4,679 more than the $60,543 at Colorado State University-Fort Collins. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Colorado State University-Fort Collins or Colorado College?
Colorado College: its completers carry a median $18,257 in federal loans versus $20,000 at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, a difference of $1,743. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
88% of students finish at Colorado College, against 67% at Colorado State University-Fort Collins. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.