Colorado Springs, Colorado Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado: median public in-state tuition $11,616 (+110.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $48,054 (-11.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 81.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $11,008 (-17.1% vs U.S.) 50,332 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 12 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 50,332 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $11,616 (+110.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $48,054 (-11.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 81.5% (-6.5 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $20,725 (+107.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $11,008 (-17.1% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $10,555
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 33.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 68.3%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Colorado Springs serve students across Colorado with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 12 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 50,332 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $11,616. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Colorado Springs, Colorado and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Colorado Springs vs Colorado & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, Colorado | $11,616 | $20,725 | $11,008 | 33.8% | 50,332 |
| Colorado (state median) | $5,140 | $12,045 | $11,008 | 48.0% | 256,128 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Colorado Springs, Colorado vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, Colorado | $48,054 | 81.5% | 68.3% | 6.6% | — | 58.5% | 0.58 |
| Colorado (state median) | $53,445 | 87.9% | 72.4% | 4.4% | — | 70.4% | 0.38 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Colorado (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, Colorado | $11,616 | $20,725 | $11,008 | 33.8% | 50,332 | $48,054 | 81.5% |
| Denver | $11,124 | $18,977 | $20,436 | 53.6% | 55,249 | $71,630 | 88.2% |
| Boulder | $26,143 | $27,262 | $19,500 | 55.4% | 40,794 | $49,229 | 77.1% |
| Fort Collins | $13,373 | $21,279 | $14,375 | 66.5% | 25,877 | $60,543 | 90.3% |
| Lakewood | $15,977 | $26,083 | $14,892 | 32.0% | 12,838 | $46,687 | 83.0% |
| Lakewood | $15,977 | $26,083 | $14,892 | 32.0% | 12,838 | $46,687 | 83.0% |
| Lakewood | $15,977 | $26,083 | $14,892 | 32.0% | 12,838 | $46,687 | 83.0% |
| Greeley | $7,337 | $14,612 | $7,917 | 45.4% | 9,246 | $52,231 | 90.2% |
| Grand Junction | $9,927 | $17,160 | $16,384 | 40.6% | 9,220 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 3 colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 87.7%, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 46.9%, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 18.8%, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Top 3 colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 87.4%, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 80.1%, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 77.0%, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Top 2 most selective colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 18.5%, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 97.4%, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Top 3 colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $87,579, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $82,084, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $58,082, Colorado College
Colorado College
Top 3 colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $122,998, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $121,678, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $95,519, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Top 3 colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,611, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $45,766, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $30,406, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Top 3 colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,826, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,312, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $37,998, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Top 3 colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $65,222, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $54,659, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $37,180, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Top 3 colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $176,322, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $108,026, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $93,650, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Top 3 most affordable colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $15,788, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 2, Net Price, $16,745, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
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Rank 3, Net Price, $33,375, Colorado College
Colorado College
Top 3 colleges in Colorado Springs, Colorado by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 93.6%, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 68.3%, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 50.6%, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
In-state tuition: Colorado Springs, Colorado vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Colorado Springs, Colorado median in-state tuition is $11,616, +110.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Colorado Springs, Colorado vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Colorado Springs, Colorado is $11,008 (-17.1% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $10,555.
Median earnings (10 years out): Colorado Springs, Colorado vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Colorado Springs, Colorado center around $48,054 (-11.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Colorado Springs, Colorado vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 81.5% at the median Colorado Springs, Colorado campus (-6.5 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Colorado Springs, Colorado median public in-state tuition is $11,616, about +110.7% vs the national median. Versus the Rocky Mountains region, tuition is +136.5%.
Median graduate debt is $11,008 (-17.1% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Colorado Springs, Colorado are $48,054, about -11.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 81.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-6.5 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 68.3% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 58.5% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Colorado Colorado Springs (87.4%), Colorado College (80.1%), Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs (77.0%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Colorado Springs, Colorado is 33.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Colorado Springs?
This city profile covers 12 campuses in Colorado Springs, Colorado with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Colorado Springs?
Median in-state tuition in Colorado Springs is $11,616 and median net price is $20,725. For Colorado overall, medians are $5,140 and $12,045; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Colorado Springs?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Colorado Springs is $48,054 vs $53,445 for Colorado and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Colorado Springs colleges?
Median completer debt in Colorado Springs is $11,008 vs $11,008 for Colorado and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Colorado Springs?
Top campuses on this page include Colorado College (graduation) and Colorado College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Colorado Springs?
Among 12 campuses in Colorado Springs, Colorado, 3 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include International Salon and Spa Academy, Pikes Peak State College, and Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Church of the Nazarene (1).
Sources & related
- Colorado college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON