Otero College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in La Junta, Colorado. It enrolls 619 students (a small, tight-knit 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 (2-Year). 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
56/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes23
Value48
Affordability51
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Otero College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Otero 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 $11,103 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,103
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
17%
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)
$4,576
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$7,286
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,280
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,537
Books & Supplies
$1,642
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,444
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,020
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
$9,735
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,817
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,499
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,257
Over $110,000
$16,207
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.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,49625%percentile
$10,250Medianpercentile
$9,50075%percentile
$13,49690%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 $6,146
↓ $4,104
No Pell $5,600
↓ $4,650
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $4,750
Independent students $7,688
↓ $2,562
Female students $6,500
↓ $3,750
Male students $5,500
↓ $4,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
29% of full-time students who enrolled at Otero College graduate within six years, and 51% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
29%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
51%
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 Otero College earn a median of $39,018 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,018
Earning > $25K
65%
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
$25,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$38,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$25,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$34,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,400, about 33% 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 ↑
15.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 58% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Otero College is home to 619 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
619
Part-Time
26%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 42.7%264
White 39.1%242
International 9.2%57
Black 4.0%25
Other 3.7%23
Asian 0.5%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Otero College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteLa Junta, Colorado
Housing
Mostly residential380 beds on campus
Adult Learners
25%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Otero College offers
a varied set of programs:
12 distinct programs across
6 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 Otero College is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,511
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$889,379
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$52,479
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
29 instructional faculty across 1 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
No Rank
29
100%
$52,479
Pros & Cons of Otero College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Otero College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Otero College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Otero College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Otero College.
Is Otero College hard to get into?
Otero College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Otero College?
Otero College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Otero College cost?
The average net price after aid at Otero College is $11,103 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Otero College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,018 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,103 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Otero College known for?
Otero College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Otero College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Otero College are $39,018, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Otero College accredited?
Yes. Otero College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Otero College?
Otero College enrolls 619 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Otero College?
Otero College graduates 29% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Otero College a public or private college?
Otero College is a Public institution.
Where is Otero College located?
Otero College is located in La Junta, Colorado.
What programs does Otero College offer?
Otero College offers 12 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Otero College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Otero College is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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