Colorado Mesa University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Grand Junction, Colorado. It enrolls 8,143 students (a large 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.
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 Selective). 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 Selective
Outcomes35
Value62
Affordability56
Selectivity34
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 82%, Colorado Mesa University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
82%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
930 – 1160
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Colorado Mesa University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Colorado Mesa 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 $15,103 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,103
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
31%
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)
$9,927
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$25,124
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,209
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,872
Books & Supplies
$1,800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,294
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,294
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,046
Application fee: $40 (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
$10,792
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,920
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,692
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,945
Over $110,000
$20,606
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.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$22,000Medianpercentile
$24,25075%percentile
$36,14090%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 $13,250
↓ $8,750
No Pell $9,250
↓ $12,750
Dependent students $10,750
↓ $11,250
Independent students $14,750
↓ $7,250
Female students $12,000
↓ $10,000
Male students $10,500
↓ $11,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($22,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
30% of full-time students who enrolled at Colorado Mesa University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
30%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
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 Colorado Mesa University earn a median of $45,823 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,823
Earning > $25K
71%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
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
$34,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,600, about 32% 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 ↑
16.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Colorado Mesa University is home to 8,143 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
8,143
Part-Time
15%
First-Generation
39%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 63.0%5,127
Hispanic 20.9%1,701
Other 4.9%399
International 1.5%122
Asian 1.5%121
Black 1.5%119
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Colorado Mesa University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityGrand Junction, Colorado
Housing
Partly residential2,679 beds available
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Colorado Mesa University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
84 distinct programs across
29 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Colorado Mesa University is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,238
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$50M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,187
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
342 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
46
13%
$86,701
Associate Professors
61
18%
$78,487
Assistant Professors
90
26%
$71,757
Instructors
132
39%
$55,022
Lecturers
8
2%
$52,641
No Rank
5
1%
$80,400
Pros & Cons of Colorado Mesa University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Colorado Mesa University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Colorado Mesa University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Colorado Mesa University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Colorado Mesa University.
Is Colorado Mesa University hard to get into?
Colorado Mesa University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 82%.
What is the acceptance rate at Colorado Mesa University?
Colorado Mesa University has an acceptance rate of 82%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Colorado Mesa University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Colorado Mesa University scored between 930 and 1160 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Colorado Mesa University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Colorado Mesa University scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Colorado Mesa University cost?
The average net price after aid at Colorado Mesa University is $15,103 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Colorado Mesa University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,823 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,103 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Colorado Mesa University known for?
Colorado Mesa University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Colorado Mesa University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Colorado Mesa University are $45,823, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Colorado Mesa University accredited?
Yes. Colorado Mesa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Colorado Mesa University?
Colorado Mesa University enrolls 8,143 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Colorado Mesa University?
Colorado Mesa University graduates 30% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Colorado Mesa University a public or private college?
Colorado Mesa University is a Public institution.
Where is Colorado Mesa University located?
Colorado Mesa University is located in Grand Junction, Colorado.
What programs does Colorado Mesa University offer?
Colorado Mesa University offers 84 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Colorado Mesa University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Colorado Mesa University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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