University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus vs Colorado State University Pueblo: which has better ROI?
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $47,600 in 3 years versus 5.6 years at Colorado State University Pueblo, on median earnings of $64,270 vs $55,563 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Colorado State University Pueblo |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,900 | $10,051 |
| Total net cost | $47,600 | $40,204 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,270 | $55,563 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $270,600 | $103,856 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus or Colorado State University Pueblo?
Colorado State University Pueblo, at $10,051 a year after aid versus $11,900 — a gap of $1,849 a year, or $7,396 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus or Colorado State University Pueblo graduates earn more?
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus graduates report a median $64,270 ten years after entry, $8,707 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, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus or Colorado State University Pueblo?
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Colorado State University Pueblo, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
46% of students finish at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, 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.