Colorado State University-Fort Collins vs Colorado State University Pueblo: which has better ROI?
Colorado State University Pueblo has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $40,204 in 5.6 years versus 7 years at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, on median earnings of $55,563 vs $60,543 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Colorado State University Pueblo |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,279 | $10,051 |
| Total net cost | $85,116 | $40,204 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,543 | $55,563 |
| Median debt | $20,000 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 7 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $158,544 | $103,856 |
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 State University Pueblo?
Colorado State University Pueblo, at $10,051 a year after aid versus $21,279 — a gap of $11,228 a year, or $44,912 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 State University Pueblo graduates earn more?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates report a median $60,543 ten years after entry, $4,980 more than the $55,563 at Colorado State University Pueblo. 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 State University Pueblo?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Colorado State University Pueblo, a difference of $1,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, against 40% at Colorado State University Pueblo. 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.