Colorado State University Pueblo vs Colorado College: 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 7.9 years at Colorado College, on median earnings of $55,563 vs $65,222 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado State University Pueblo | Colorado College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,051 | $33,375 |
| Total net cost | $40,204 | $133,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,563 | $65,222 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $18,257 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 7.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $103,856 | $203,740 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colorado State University Pueblo or Colorado College?
Colorado State University Pueblo, at $10,051 a year after aid versus $33,375 — a gap of $23,324 a year, or $93,296 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 Pueblo or Colorado College graduates earn more?
Colorado College graduates report a median $65,222 ten years after entry, $9,659 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 Pueblo or Colorado College?
Colorado College: its completers carry a median $18,257 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Colorado State University Pueblo, a difference of $3,243. 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 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.