Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Colorado Christian University #845 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Colorado Christian University in the 62.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Colorado Christian University #770 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Colorado Christian University's composite ranking reflects strong outcomes across access, mobility, and affordability working together. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, supported by a program mix anchored in business and applied fields. ---
Azimuth ranks Colorado Christian University #845 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Lakewood, Colorado, Colorado Christian University enrolls roughly 5,549 undergraduates. Retention is 83.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 64.4%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a faith-based institution serving a regional student population. Colorado Christian University performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Colorado Christian University #770 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Colorado Christian University in the 62.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This earnings advantage reflects the university's concentration in Business, which accounts for a substantial share of degrees and connects graduates to stable career pathways with solid mid-career pay. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Colorado Christian University enrolls 37.5% Pell-eligible students and 44.9% first-generation undergraduates, positioning the institution in the 83.6 percentile for access and the 17.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's mobility outcomes — how well low-income and first-generation graduates fare economically — place it in the 27.7 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families evaluating Colorado Christian University, the value proposition centers on the earnings trajectory for graduates in business and related fields, balanced against the institution's private tuition structure and limited Pell enrollment.
Colorado Christian University's published cost of attendance is $54,242. Net price by income band varies meaningfully across the income spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $26,010, middle-income families pay around $27,203, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,274. Azimuth ranks Colorado Christian University #1183 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between sticker price and net price reflects Colorado Christian's need-based aid structure. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $28,312, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,576, median federal debt of $28,312 projects to a monthly payment of about $320 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Colorado Christian University is a strong fit for students drawn to business and related fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in Lakewood, CO. The earnings case is strong. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,576, placing Colorado Christian University in the 38.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Colorado Christian University in the 62.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. For admitted Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 37.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 44.9% are first-generation — that structure can meaningfully close the gap between the $33,274 published cost and what families actually pay. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix favors Business and related fields, and the earnings trajectory reflects Colorado's regional labor market. Students whose interests align with those areas will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in the state.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Colorado Christian University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Colorado Christian University's published cost of attendance is $54,242. Net price by income band varies meaningfully across the income spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $26,010, middle-income families pay around $27,203, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,274.
Azimuth ranks Colorado Christian University #1183 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between sticker price and net price reflects Colorado Christian's need-based aid structure.
Families apply using the FAFSA, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $28,312, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,576, median federal debt of $28,312 projects to a monthly payment of about $320 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Colorado Christian University earn median 4-year earnings of $58,576, placing Colorado Christian University in the 38.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Colorado Christian University in the 62.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Colorado Christian University #770 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect earnings that grow steadily through the early career years, with graduates building toward stronger mid-career compensation across the institution's program portfolio.
The earnings pattern centers on Business, which anchors the institution's economic profile. Business Administration is the largest program with 128 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $72,519, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
The Nursing program graduates 100 students earning $87,990, while Psychology, General with 88 graduates earns $54,887. Clinical, Counseling and Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology and Bible/Biblical Studies round out the top five, each contributing to a diversified earnings landscape where most programs deliver outcomes aligned with or above their national peer benchmarks.
The concentration in Business and related professional fields supports consistent, predictable financial outcomes for graduates entering stable career pathways.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
26 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
100 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
128 graduates
Human Resources Management and Services
29 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
38 graduates
Colorado Christian University's program mix centers on Business and professional fields aligned with workforce demand. The largest programs by enrollment are Business Administration with 128 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $72,519, followed by Nursing with 100 graduates, Psychology, General with 88 graduates, Clinical, Counseling and Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology with 87 graduates, and Bible/Biblical Studies with 62 graduates.
Across 24 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 834 students annually. The institution's highest-earning programs reflect strength in applied professional fields.
Nursing leads with median 4-year earnings of $87,990 from 100 graduates, followed by Business Administration at $72,519 with 128 graduates, Accounting at $64,060, Health Administration at $60,115, and Psychology, General at $54,887. This earnings distribution reflects Colorado Christian University's positioning as a private nonprofit institution where Business represents a substantial share of degree output and drives the institution's overall earnings profile.
The program portfolio balances direct-to-workforce and graduate-school-dependent pathways. Business and professional-management fields typically lead to immediate labor-market entry with earnings reflecting early-career outcomes in corporate and nonprofit sectors.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Colorado Christian University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends in the Denver-Boulder corridor and beyond.
