Student Outcomes
- Graduation Rate (4-year)
- 45.7%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 47.4%
- Retention Rate
- 71.5%
- Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
- $64,270
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $20,500
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 60.1%
- Estimated Monthly Loan Payment
- $217/mo
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences. | Doctoral | $234,763 | $226,707 |
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies. | Master | $122,038 | |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $118,790 | $167,617 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $115,339 | $65,649 |
| Dentistry. | Doctoral | $113,531 | $242,379 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Doctoral | $90,501 | $95,980 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $89,184 | $56,311 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $88,879 | $42,744 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Master | $83,546 | $23,376 |
| Civil Engineering. | Master | $79,284 | |
| Information Science/Studies. | Master | $77,401 | $32,000 |
| Engineering, General. | Master | $75,204 | |
| Economics. | Master | $74,576 | |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $69,338 | $29,014 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $67,660 | $35,080 |
Outcomes Overview
CU Denver graduates enter the workforce with a median debt of $20,500 and earn $53,987 in their first year after graduation. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 sits comfortably below the federal recommendation of 0.40. Monthly loan payments of $217 consume just 4.8% of typical graduate income, well under the 10% threshold for manageable debt. The 94.4% employment rate reflects strong demand for the university's health sciences graduates. Alumni commonly enter nursing, pharmacy, medicine, and public health careers in Colorado's growing healthcare sector. The Anschutz Medical Campus connection provides direct pipelines into Denver Health and University of Colorado Hospital systems. Despite the modest 47% six-year graduation rate, graduates who complete programs enjoy strong financial outcomes and career prospects in stable, well-paying fields. Strong return on investment.