Colorado State University-Fort Collins is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Fort Collins, Colorado. It enrolls 25,538 students (a very 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
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes73
Value56
Affordability33
Selectivity46
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 88.5%, Colorado State University-Fort Collins is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
88.5%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Colorado State University-Fort Collins is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
8.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Colorado State University-Fort Collins 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 $21,279 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,279
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
32%
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)
$13,373
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$34,783
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,817
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,785
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,294
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,294
Total Cost of Attendance
$31,642
Application fee: $50 (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
$13,259
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,460
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,905
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,927
Over $110,000
$29,763
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.
$3,75010%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$20,000Medianpercentile
$25,53575%percentile
$31,75090%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 $16,337
↓ $3,663
No Pell $13,056
↓ $6,944
Dependent students $14,250
↓ $5,750
Independent students $16,516
↓ $3,484
Female students $14,998
↓ $5,002
Male students $14,474
↓ $5,526
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($20,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
64% of full-time students who enrolled at Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
64%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
85%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Colorado State University-Fort Collins earn a median of $60,543 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$60,543
Earning > $25K
84%
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
$45,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$52,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$52,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$54,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,600, about 27% 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 ↑
12.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 85% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Colorado State University-Fort Collins is home to 25,538 students, a sprawling student community.
Total Enrolled
25,538
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 69.6%17,769
Hispanic 16.0%4,096
Other 5.7%1,463
Asian 2.9%743
Black 2.7%682
International 2.3%595
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Colorado State University-Fort Collins. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityFort Collins, Colorado
Housing
Partly residential8,361 beds available
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Colorado State University-Fort Collins offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
209 distinct programs across
27 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 State University-Fort Collins is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$17,816
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$599M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$106,101
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
1,536 instructional faculty across 4 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
492
32%
$149,986
Associate Professors
428
28%
$107,870
Assistant Professors
371
24%
$91,469
Instructors
245
16%
$67,155
Pros & Cons of Colorado State University-Fort Collins
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Colorado State University-Fort Collins tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Wide variety of programs and student life
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Large institutional setting can feel impersonal
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Colorado State University-Fort Collins is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who want a large campus with breadth and variety.
Frequently Asked Questions about Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Colorado State University-Fort Collins.
Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins hard to get into?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 88.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins has an acceptance rate of 88.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Colorado State University-Fort Collins cost?
The average net price after aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins is $21,279 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $60,543 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,279 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Colorado State University-Fort Collins known for?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Biology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Colorado State University-Fort Collins are $60,543, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins accredited?
Yes. Colorado State University-Fort Collins is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins enrolls 25,538 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates 64% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins a public or private college?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins is a Public institution.
Where is Colorado State University-Fort Collins located?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins is located in Fort Collins, Colorado.
What programs does Colorado State University-Fort Collins offer?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins offers 209 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Biology, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Colorado State University-Fort Collins is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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