B
Good
Score: 63/100
Overall (traditional)
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
4-Year
Public
📍 Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
33,500
Total Enrollment
67%
Graduation Rate
85%
Retention Rate
17.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
90%
Acceptance Rate
$19,828
Avg Net Price
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$60,543
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$49,748
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$20,000
Median debt at graduation
66.5%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
26
Median ACT
21.1%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 33% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 55th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CO wage index 1.14). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $78,856 | $114,076 | +23% | #69 of 459 | #88 | $21,569 |
| Information Science/Studies | $67,827 | $102,765 | +20% | #14 of 148 | #21 | $23,869 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $78,038 | $99,172 | -1% | #124 of 258 | #216 | $25,176 |
| Fire Protection | — | $98,019 | +13% | #5 of 19 | #10 | — |
| Chemical Engineering | $62,468 | $97,271 | -1% | #76 of 158 | #116 | $20,549 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $78,423 | $94,921 | +1% | #17 of 43 | #36 | $23,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $60,720 | $94,260 | +2% | #101 of 318 | #230 | $25,708 |
| Civil Engineering | $73,326 | $88,001 | +2% | #76 of 233 | #169 | $25,000 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $66,109 | $82,005 | +1% | #21 of 46 | #31 | $26,747 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $54,846 | $79,256 | +16% | #152 of 1176 | #259 | $19,500 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $41,158 | $71,631 | +19% | #14 of 138 | #32 | $22,250 |
| Chemistry | $42,660 | $71,615 | +10% | #65 of 209 | #95 | $16,500 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $38,484 | $70,343 | +7% | #34 of 110 | #51 | $21,500 |
| Economics | $48,462 | $69,934 | -15% | #274 of 368 | #301 | $21,500 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $39,701 | $69,269 | +11% | #14 of 49 | #32 | $20,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $36,324 | $67,873 | +7% | #155 of 565 | #217 | $18,500 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $51,005 | $66,984 | +15% | #4 of 12 | #4 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | — | $65,940 | +28% | #41 of 299 | #64 | — |
| Forestry | $37,539 | $62,919 | +7% | #13 of 31 | #19 | $22,073 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $41,688 | $62,556 | +10% | #34 of 137 | #56 | $18,500 |
| Interior Architecture | $45,774 | $61,894 | +3% | #8 of 17 | #12 | $21,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $38,731 | $61,434 | +9% | #135 of 660 | #225 | $20,500 |
| Biology | $32,958 | $60,981 | +7% | #305 of 841 | #464 | $21,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $35,326 | $60,835 | +11% | #107 of 610 | #236 | $20,500 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $32,785 | $59,528 | -1% | #29 of 53 | #39 | $22,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $51,292 | $58,983 | -11% | #56 of 77 | #67 | $20,500 |
| Soil Sciences | $46,287 | $57,671 | -7% | #5 of 6 | #6 | $16,500 |
| Sociology | $37,335 | $57,300 | +9% | #120 of 462 | #197 | $19,746 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $34,852 | $57,184 | -1% | #30 of 57 | #42 | $19,563 |
| Biotechnology | $40,141 | $55,981 | -17% | #13 of 13 | #13 | $18,386 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | — | $55,647 | +11% | #25 of 90 | #37 | $15,479 |
| Social Work | $38,134 | $54,720 | +6% | #140 of 420 | #293 | $18,950 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $35,322 | $54,370 | +11% | #14 of 62 | #24 | $19,500 |
| Psychology | $37,121 | $54,268 | +7% | #287 of 1027 | #481 | $21,000 |
| Animal Sciences | $36,111 | $53,934 | +9% | #14 of 78 | #37 | $21,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $36,214 | $53,597 | +10% | #32 of 172 | #70 | $20,425 |
| Journalism | $36,352 | $53,528 | -5% | #109 of 187 | #147 | $21,000 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $33,161 | $52,971 | +5% | #16 of 55 | #33 | $19,250 |
| Public Health | $52,540 | — | — | — | — | — |
| History | $36,272 | $52,144 | +3% | #207 of 459 | #286 | $21,500 |
| Physics | $51,927 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $34,540 | $51,830 | -2% | #255 of 476 | #356 | $22,996 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $34,346 | $50,330 | -9% | #189 of 265 | #230 | $14,000 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $28,919 | $48,973 | -18% | #71 of 87 | #73 | $19,296 |
| Mathematics | $47,835 | — | — | — | — | $15,679 |
| English Language and Literature | $27,549 | $46,154 | -5% | #375 of 576 | #456 | $19,500 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $27,741 | $44,226 | +0% | #25 of 52 | #37 | $23,875 |
| Anthropology | $27,178 | $43,129 | -8% | #126 of 188 | #160 | $21,500 |
| Plant Sciences | $36,980 | $42,034 | -26% | #42 of 44 | #42 | $17,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $30,143 | $41,309 | +-0% | #217 of 423 | #296 | $20,500 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
🏆 Where Colorado State University-Fort Collins Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $10,299 | $31,055 |
| Room | $6,830 | |
| Board | $8,310 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $32,439 | $53,294 |
Financial Aid
74%
Receive Any Aid
19%
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Take Out Loans
$19,828
Avg Net Price
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,333 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,654 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,611 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,048 |
| $110,001+ | $28,684 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Business Administration and Management, General
775 grads/yr
Psychology, General
359 grads/yr
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other
282 grads/yr
Computer and Information Sciences, General
267 grads/yr
Biomedical Sciences, General
236 grads/yr
Business Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
225 grads/yr
Mechanical Engineering
225 grads/yr
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
211 grads/yr
General Studies
205 grads/yr
Exercise Science and Kinesiology
204 grads/yr
Social Work
151 grads/yr
Veterinary Medicine
148 grads/yr
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
148 grads/yr
Sociology, General
147 grads/yr
Political Science and Government, General
135 grads/yr
Journalism
133 grads/yr
Zoology/Animal Biology
132 grads/yr
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
130 grads/yr
Wildlife Biology
127 grads/yr
Fine/Studio Arts, General
122 grads/yr
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Colorado State University-Fort Collins's top programs commonly pursue.
Chief executives
$206k/yr
309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr
20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr
221,900 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr
619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr
1,333,700 jobs
Training and development managers
$127k/yr
46,400 jobs
Industrial production managers
$121k/yr
241,900 jobs
Administrative services managers
$108k/yr
271,200 jobs
Student Demographics
33,500
Total Students
55%
Women
89%
Traditional Age (18-24)
2%
Off-Campus Renters
👥 Race & Ethnicity
White
68%
Hispanic
14%
Black
3%
Asian
3%
Two or More
5%
Non-Resident
5%
🏠 Living Arrangements
On Campus
92%
Off-Campus (Renters)
2%
With Family
6%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~771 students need off-campus housing
💻 Learning Mode
In-Person
64%
Hybrid (Some Online)
22%
Fully Online
13%
📊 Age Distribution
18-24 (Traditional)
89%
25-64 (Adult)
10%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins has an acceptance rate of 90%.
This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
Tuition at Colorado State University-Fort Collins is
$10,299 for in-state students
and $31,055 for out-of-state students
.
However, the average net price after financial aid is $19,828.
What is the graduation rate at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
The graduation rate at Colorado State University-Fort Collins is 67%.
This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins a good school?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins has a Repit College Score of 63/100 (Grade: B).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
- Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins has a total enrollment of 33,500 students.
Most students (89%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
Yes! Approximately 2% of students at Colorado State University-Fort Collins live off-campus (not with family).
That's roughly 771 students who need rental housing near campus.
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Colorado State University-Fort Collins — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology