Otero College Tuition, Completion & Outcomes (2026)
Otero College is a public certificate and vocational school in La Junta, Colorado, enrolling about 619 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $11,103 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $4,576. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $39,018 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $4,576
- 2024 Average Net Price: $11,103 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 619 73.5% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 38.10%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 51.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 3.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,220
- Room & Board: $9,280 annual estimate
Otero College: what the data shows
Common questions about Otero College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Otero College?
Otero College is located in La Junta, CO (ZIP 81050).
NCES locale classification: Town remote.
Is Otero College public or private?
Otero College is a Public institution.
How much does Otero College cost?
Published tuition: $4,576 in-state, $7,286 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $11,103.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $9,735 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,817 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $11,499 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $15,257 |
| $110,001+ | $16,207 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $18,304.
How big is Otero College?
Total enrollment: 619 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,220 students.
About 74% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Otero College?
150%-time completion rate: 38.10%.
First-year retention: 43.7%.
What do graduates of Otero College earn?
Median earnings: $34,087 six years after entry; $39,018 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $10,250.
38.17% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Otero College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (83 completions)
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide (34 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Police Science (28 completions)
- Welding Technology/Welder (27 completions)
- Agricultural Business and Management, General (26 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (22 completions)
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training (17 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other (15 completions)
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General (12 completions)
- General Studies (12 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Otero College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 38.10%; median earnings $39,018 at 10 years; net price $11,103. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$4,576
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Otero College was $4,576.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$11,103
2024 Value
In 2024 Otero College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $11,103.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$44,412 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$11,103 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$18,304 4-Year In-State Tuition
$29,144 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$9,280 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,642 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$15,498 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$61,992 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Otero College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
38.17% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
16.87% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Otero College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Otero College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $3,860 | $6,979 | $10,667 |
| 2014 | $4,033 | $6,990 | $10,394 |
| 2015 | $3,412 | $5,642 | $10,112 |
| 2016 | $3,569 | $5,909 | $10,424 |
| 2017 | $3,856 | $6,169 | $10,912 |
| 2018 | $3,975 | $6,358 | $10,679 |
| 2019 | $3,986 | $6,369 | $10,774 |
| 2020 | $4,100 | $6,556 | $10,221 |
| 2021 | $4,107 | $6,563 | $11,980 |
| 2022 | $4,226 | $6,730 | $11,740 |
| 2023 | $4,418 | $7,048 | $11,329 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Otero College reported total enrollment of about 619 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 42% male and 58% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (42.6%), White (39.1%), and Non-Resident Alien (9.2%). About 38.17% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 51.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
73.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Otero College in 2024 is 619 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,220 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
43.7%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 42.6%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
35.71% 100% Completion Time
38.10% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 35.71% of students graduating from Otero College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 54% male / 46% female
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 15% male / 85% female
- Criminal Justice/Police Science: 82% male / 18% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Otero College.
Return on Investment
$10,250 Median Student Debt
$39,018 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
26.27% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
778.55% Return on Investment
2.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Otero College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 18 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 83 completions
2. Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 34 completions
3. Criminal Justice/Police Science: 28 completions
4. Welding Technology/Welder: 27 completions
5. Agricultural Business and Management, General: 26 completions
6. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 22 completions
7. Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 17 completions
8. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other: 15 completions
9. Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 12 completions
Most popular programs at Otero College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Otero College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Otero College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $5,813
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $9,634
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Otero College is a public institution located in La Junta, CO, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide, Criminal Justice/Police Science. Enrollment is approximately 619 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (42.6%), White (39.1%), Non-Resident Alien (9.2%). The 150%-time completion rate is 38.10%. Approximately 38.17% of students receive Pell Grants. About 51.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Location
La Junta, CO 81050
Region: Rocky Mountains
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 38.10% graduation rate at Otero College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Otero College located?
Otero College is located in La Junta, CO.
How much does Otero College cost?
Reported tuition is $4,576 and average net price is $11,103 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,280 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Otero College?
Otero College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,220 students, Hispanic or Latino (42.6%), White (39.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Otero College?
About 51.0% of students at Otero College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Otero College earn?
Median earnings are $34,087 six years after entry and $39,018 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Otero College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 38.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Otero College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $10,250.
Is Otero College public or private?
Otero College is a public institution located in La Junta, CO.
Is Otero College an HBCU?
No. Otero College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Otero College a tribal college?
No. Otero College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Otero College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Otero College reports 42.6% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Otero College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Otero College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Colorado college costs
- Colorado colleges by ROI
- Colorado trade schools profile
- Rocky Mountains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Colorado
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.