University of Colorado Colorado Springs is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It enrolls 8,697 students (a 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
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes24
Value73
Affordability53
Selectivity23
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 97.4%, University of Colorado Colorado Springs is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
97.4%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1010 – 1220
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 26
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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
9.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Colorado Colorado Springs 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 $15,788 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,788
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
34%
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)
$10,149
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$24,336
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,918
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,590
Books & Supplies
$1,800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,488
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,488
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,595
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
$12,065
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,642
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,104
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,388
Over $110,000
$22,142
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.
$3,20410%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$20,000Medianpercentile
$24,04875%percentile
$32,81590%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 $15,000
↓ $5,000
No Pell $11,000
↓ $9,000
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $8,000
Independent students $16,575
↓ $3,425
Female students $13,192
↓ $6,808
Male students $12,500
↓ $7,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,597, less than completers ($20,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
48% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Colorado Colorado Springs graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
48%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Colorado Colorado Springs earn a median of $54,659 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,659
Earning > $25K
80%
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
$43,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$49,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,700, about 25% 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 ↑
11.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Colorado Colorado Springs is home to 8,697 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
8,697
Part-Time
18%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 59.0%5,127
Hispanic 21.1%1,836
Other 8.5%738
Black 5.0%433
Asian 4.0%348
International 0.8%71
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityColorado Springs, Colorado
Housing
Partly residential1,719 beds available
Adult Learners
22%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
79 distinct programs across
20 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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,015
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$82,593
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
472 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
83
18%
$117,985
Associate Professors
83
18%
$95,070
Assistant Professors
103
22%
$82,256
Instructors
179
38%
$60,763
Lecturers
2
0%
$54,290
No Rank
22
5%
$82,783
Pros & Cons of University of Colorado Colorado Springs
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Colorado Colorado Springs tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Colorado Colorado Springs is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
Is University of Colorado Colorado Springs hard to get into?
University of Colorado Colorado Springs has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 97.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Colorado Colorado Springs?
University of Colorado Colorado Springs has an acceptance rate of 97.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of Colorado Colorado Springs?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Colorado Colorado Springs scored between 1010 and 1220 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 University of Colorado Colorado Springs?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Colorado Colorado Springs scored between 20 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Colorado Colorado Springs cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Colorado Colorado Springs is $15,788 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Colorado Colorado Springs worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,659 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,788 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Colorado Colorado Springs known for?
University of Colorado Colorado Springs is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Colorado Colorado Springs graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Colorado Colorado Springs are $54,659, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Colorado Colorado Springs accredited?
Yes. University of Colorado Colorado Springs is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend University of Colorado Colorado Springs?
University of Colorado Colorado Springs enrolls 8,697 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Colorado Colorado Springs?
University of Colorado Colorado Springs graduates 48% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Colorado Colorado Springs a public or private college?
University of Colorado Colorado Springs is a Public institution.
Where is University of Colorado Colorado Springs located?
University of Colorado Colorado Springs is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
What programs does University of Colorado Colorado Springs offer?
University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers 79 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Colorado Colorado Springs?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Colorado Colorado Springs is 15:1, 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.
Psychology
Business Administration
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