Colorado College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It enrolls 2,014 students (a mid-sized 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
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes94
Value18
Affordability9
Selectivity91
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 18.5%, Colorado College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
18.5%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1230 – 1460
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
29 – 33
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 College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Colorado College 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 $33,375 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$33,375
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
14%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
26%
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
$70,734
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,020
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,020
Books & Supplies
$1,240
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,030
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,030
Total Cost of Attendance
$86,921
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
$9,217
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,477
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,568
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,129
Over $110,000
$44,141
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,00025%percentile
$18,257Medianpercentile
$24,41875%percentile
$28,59190%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 $12,491
↓ $5,766
No Pell $14,739
↓ $3,518
Female students $14,898
↓ $3,359
Male students $12,382
↓ $5,875
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,045, less than completers ($18,257), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
85% of full-time students who enrolled at Colorado College graduate within six years, and 94% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
85%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
94%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Colorado College earn a median of $65,222 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$65,222
Earning > $25K
81%
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
$45,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$53,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,100, about 18% 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.
Stable ↑
3.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Colorado College is home to 2,014 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,014
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
18%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 68.0%1,369
Hispanic 10.8%218
Other 7.3%147
International 5.1%103
Asian 5.0%100
Black 2.3%47
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Colorado College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityColorado Springs, Colorado
Housing
Strongly residential1,766 beds for 2,014 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Colorado College offers
a varied set of programs:
37 distinct programs across
16 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 College is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.2B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$110,759
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
225 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
60
27%
$149,779
Associate Professors
72
32%
$113,300
Assistant Professors
81
36%
$84,586
Instructors
2
1%
$76,292
Lecturers
8
4%
$75,753
No Rank
2
1%
$83,250
Pros & Cons of Colorado College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Colorado College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Colorado College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students seeking a highly selective peer group.
Frequently Asked Questions about Colorado College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Colorado College.
Is Colorado College hard to get into?
Colorado College is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 18.5%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Colorado College?
Colorado College has an acceptance rate of 18.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Colorado College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Colorado College scored between 1230 and 1460 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 College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Colorado College scored between 29 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Colorado College cost?
The average net price after aid at Colorado College is $33,375 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Colorado College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $65,222 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $33,375 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Colorado College known for?
Colorado College is best known for its programs in Economics, Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Political Science. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Colorado College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Colorado College are $65,222, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Colorado College accredited?
Yes. Colorado College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Colorado College?
Colorado College enrolls 2,014 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Colorado College?
Colorado College graduates 85% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Colorado College a public or private college?
Colorado College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Colorado College located?
Colorado College is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
What programs does Colorado College offer?
Colorado College offers 37 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Political Science.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Colorado College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Colorado College is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Colorado
Other colleges in Colorado share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Mechanical Engineering
Computer Science
Chemical Engineering
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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