Published cost of attendance is $86,921. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $9,217, middle-income families pay around $12,568, higher-income families pay approximately $44,141.
Select your family income to see your estimated cost
Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $86,921 |
| Tuition and Fees | $70,734 |
| Room and Board | $16,020 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,240 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$53,546 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $33,375 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $9,217 |
| $30–48k | $15,477 |
| $48–75k | $12,568 |
| $75–110k | $24,129 |
| $110k+ | $44,141 |
Published cost of attendance is $86,921. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $9,217, middle-income families pay around $12,568, higher-income families pay approximately $44,141. Azimuth ranks Colorado College #1152 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 19.2 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,257; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $35,663. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,959, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $206 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt is well below typical first-year earnings — generally considered very manageable.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of Colorado College earn median 4-year earnings of $56,959, placing Colorado College in the 31.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Colorado College #636 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings trajectory reflects strong outcomes across the institution's social-sciences-anchored curriculum, where graduates move into stable professional and analytical roles that support sustained income growth through the early and mid-career years. The program mix centers on Social Sciences, which represents a significant share of degrees and drives much of the institution's earnings profile. Economics is the largest program with 60 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $122,998, performing at 1.5× the national benchmark for the field. Political Science and Natural Resources Conservation and Research also enroll substantial cohorts and contribute to the institution's consistent earnings outcomes. Interdisciplinary Studies and Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology round out the top programs, each supporting graduates into professional pathways aligned with the broader social-sciences signature. This concentrated program portfolio, combined with Colorado College's liberal arts foundation and emphasis on analytical thinking, translates into earnings that reflect both the quality of preparation and the labor-market demand for graduates in these fields.
