At $15,331/yr net price, Colorado Mesa University graduates earn $45,823/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $11,823/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $15,331 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $61,324 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,823/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$11,823/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 41.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $22,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,547/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,755/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,061/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,182/yr |
| $110,001+ | $20,288/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Engineering Technologies. | Bachelor | $63,997 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $60,746 | $22,250 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $59,485 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Associate | $58,673 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $54,644 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Bachelor | $47,260 | $21,300 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $47,260 | $22,080 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor | $47,260 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $46,087 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $43,798 |
The Risk Factor
41.5% of students at Colorado Mesa University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Colorado Mesa University gives you a mixed financial return. At $45,823 median earnings ten years out, the payoff is modest, and a 41.5% graduation rate means you have a real chance of paying for time here without finishing. That combination is the core risk: leave without a degree and you carry the debt with none of the earnings bump.
Your major decides everything. Construction Engineering Technologies clears $63,997, and nursing lands close to $61,000 on debt of about $22,250 that its graduates can actually service. Those are the two programs that clearly pay off, and both feed directly into Grand Junction's healthcare and construction demand. Computer sciences, mechanical engineering technology, and allied health all cluster at $47,260, meaning a computing degree here earns roughly $17,000 less per year than construction tech. That gap is the difference between a strong choice and a break-even one.
The specific risk is that most fields outside the top two land near or below the $45,823 school median. If you pick a program that isn't listed among the top earners, expect earnings that make $22,000 in debt feel heavy.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $11,500, and the cost barely moves between those two brackets. Above $110,000, you pay roughly $20,300, nearly double. Middle-income families at $48,000 to $75,000 sit at $15,061 with less cushion.
This school fits you if you're targeting nursing, construction tech, or health fields and you'll finish. If you're undecided, uncertain you'll graduate, or drawn to lower-earning programs, the 41.5% completion rate and flat mid-tier earnings make the math harder. Enroll with a specific high-earning major in mind, or look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Colorado Mesa University worth the money?
Colorado Mesa University offers decent value with a relatively low net price of $15,331 and moderate debt levels around $22,000. However, the 41% graduation rate means many students leave without a degree, which significantly hurts ROI for those who don't finish.
What are the highest paying majors at Colorado Mesa University?
Construction engineering technologies and nursing programs at Colorado Mesa University lead earnings at around $60,000-64,000 annually. Business and criminal justice graduates earn in the mid-50s, which is reasonable given the school's affordable tuition.
How much debt do Colorado Mesa University graduates have?
Colorado Mesa University graduates typically leave with $22,000 in debt, which is manageable compared to national averages. The low tuition helps keep borrowing reasonable, but students need to actually graduate to make the investment worthwhile.
Do Colorado Mesa University graduates get good jobs?
Colorado Mesa University graduates earn an average of $45,823 ten years after enrollment, which is modest but reflects the school's regional focus and affordable cost. Nursing and construction technology graduates see significantly higher earnings than the overall average.