Public Graduate Good 63/100

Adams State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Alamosa, Colorado

About Adams State University

Adams State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Alamosa, Colorado. It enrolls 1,250 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
27.7%
Net Price
$12,980
Median Earnings (10yr)
$44,372
Enrollment
1,250
Student : Faculty
14:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 43
Value 53
Affordability 48
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Adams State University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Adams State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

99.1%201999.9%202099.8%202199.2%2022

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Adams State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,980 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$12,980
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
33%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$9,824
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$21,944
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,820
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,785
Books & Supplies
$2,920
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,790
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,294
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,352

Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $9,947
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $10,392
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $11,921
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $15,787
  • Over $110,000
    $20,274

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,750
10% percentile
$5,500
25% percentile
$19,500
Median percentile
$23,500
75% percentile
$33,747
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,640 ↓ $6,860
No Pell $9,000 ↓ $10,500
Dependent students $11,000 ↓ $8,500
Independent students $14,181 ↓ $5,319
Female students $12,000 ↓ $7,500
Male students $11,746 ↓ $7,754
Pell recipients: 17.9% (3,493 students)No Pell: 12.8% (2,487 students)Dependent students: 15.6% (3,040 students)Independent students: 20.1% (3,919 students)Female students: 17.0% (3,316 students)Male students: 16.6% (3,246 students)Overall Median$19,500
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($19,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

28% of full-time students who enrolled at Adams State University graduate within six years, and 53% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
28%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
53%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Adams State University earn a median of $44,372 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,372
Earning > $25K
73%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$37,000$39,000$41,000$43,000$45,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$32,200

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$45,000

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$32,600

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$41,000

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$43,500

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $12,800, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 20.7 pts across 6 years
58.6%1yr60.3%3yr68.8%5yr79.3%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Adams State University is home to 1,250 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
1,250
Part-Time
27%
First-Generation
42%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 41.0% 513
Hispanic 33.4% 418
Black 9.1% 114
Other 7.6% 95
Asian 1.2% 15
International 0.6% 7
White: 41.0% (513 students)Hispanic: 33.4% (418 students)Black: 9.1% (114 students)Other: 7.6% (95 students)Asian: 1.2% (15 students)International: 0.6% (7 students)Total1,250

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Adams State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Town: Remote Alamosa, Colorado
Housing
Strongly residential 950 beds for 1,250 students
Adult Learners
15% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Adams State University offers a varied set of programs: 32 distinct programs across 15 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

3 Programs
2 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
3 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Adams State University is 14:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$19,898
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$62,673
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,675
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

109 instructional faculty across 6 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 27 25% $85,500
Associate Professors 13 12% $67,662
Assistant Professors 48 44% $58,186
Instructors 3 3% $44,744
Lecturers 3 3% $47,400
No Rank 15 14% $45,543

Pros & Cons of Adams State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Adams State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Reasonable class sizes
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
Best for: Based on the data, Adams State University is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Adams State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Adams State University.

How much does Adams State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Adams State University is $12,980 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Adams State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,372 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,980 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Adams State University known for?
Adams State University is best known for its programs in Counseling Psychology, Liberal Arts, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Adams State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Adams State University are $44,372, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Adams State University accredited?
Yes. Adams State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Adams State University?
Adams State University enrolls 1,250 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Adams State University?
Adams State University graduates 28% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Adams State University a public or private college?
Adams State University is a Public institution.
Where is Adams State University located?
Adams State University is located in Alamosa, Colorado.
What programs does Adams State University offer?
Adams State University offers 32 distinct programs. The most popular include Counseling Psychology, Liberal Arts, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Adams State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Adams State University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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