At $20,332/yr net price, Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates earn $60,543/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $26,543/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $20,332 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $81,328 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,543/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$26,543/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.1 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 66.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $20,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,333/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,654/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,611/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,048/yr |
| $110,001+ | $28,684/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General. | Master | $94,915 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Master | $94,408 | |
| Information Science/Studies. | Master | $83,546 | $20,962 |
| Fire Protection. | Bachelor | $81,333 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $80,301 | $42,118 |
| Engineering, General. | Master | $76,460 | |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor | $75,706 | |
| Veterinary Medicine. | Doctoral | $74,845 | $185,720 |
| Psychology, General. | Doctoral | $74,576 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $73,070 | $21,569 |
The Risk Factor
66.9% of students at Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 33% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Colorado State University-Fort Collins gives you a solid financial return with low risk. A median debt of $20,000 against median earnings of $60,543 ten years out means most graduates carry less than a third of their annual pay in loans. The 66.9% graduation rate and near-85% retention mean you have a good chance of finishing and turning that tuition into a degree, which is where the return actually comes from.
The payoff concentrates in engineering and computing. Computer engineering, computer and information sciences, and electrical engineering all clear $70,000 after ten years, and fire protection tops the list at $81,333. If one of these is your major, you land well above the school's overall median and cover your debt fast. Electrical engineering carries the highest debt among these programs at $25,176, but the earnings justify it. Outside these fields, the data here doesn't show program-level outcomes, so treat the $60,543 school-wide median as your realistic benchmark for other majors.
The main financial risk is the one in three students who don't graduate within the tracked window. Debt without a degree is the worst outcome, and it's a real possibility here.
Net price scales sharply with income. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $11,500 a year. That jumps to $23,048 in the $75,000-$110,000 band and $28,684 above $110,000. Lower- and middle-income families get the strongest deal. higher earners pay close to sticker and should weigh that against in-state public alternatives.
This school fits you if you're targeting engineering or computing, or if your family income keeps net price near $11,500. If you're paying the top tier for a major outside the high-earning programs, run the numbers carefully before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins worth the cost for most students?
CSU-Fort Collins offers decent value with graduates earning $60,543 after 10 years and typical debt of $20,000. The 67% graduation rate is concerning, meaning one-third of students don't finish their degree.
What are the best paying majors at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
Business and computer science graduates earn around $94,000 annually, making them the strongest ROI programs. Fire protection also pays well at $81,333, while other majors may struggle to justify the cost.
How much debt do Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates typically have?
The median debt is $20,000, which is manageable compared to the $60,543 average earnings. However, this only applies to the 67% of students who actually graduate.
Does Colorado State University-Fort Collins provide good financial aid?
With a net price of $20,332 per year, CSU-Fort Collins costs less than many state universities. The 91% acceptance rate means most students can get in, but aid quality varies significantly by family income.