Colorado Mesa University

Colorado Mesa University's published cost of attendance is $24,046. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $10,792, middle-income families pay around $14,692, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,606.

Azimuth ranks Colorado Mesa University #378 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public regional university, Colorado Mesa's pricing reflects the tuition structure typical of Colorado's public higher-education system, with need-based aid reshaping the headline cost across income levels.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,879; 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 $58,601, median federal debt of $22,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $249 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 Mesa University earn median 4-year earnings of $58,601, placing the institution in the 38.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Colorado Mesa University sits in the 62.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Colorado Mesa University #836 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Colorado Mesa's concentration in business and applied fields.

Business Administration is the largest program with 188 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $69,297, representing 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Nursing program graduates 157 students with median 4-year earnings of $81,319, and the The Kinesiology program graduates 131 students with median 4-year earnings of $49,348.

Criminal Justice and Biology, General round out the top programs, with median 4-year earnings of $58,708 and $45,737 respectively. This program mix — anchored in Business — supports consistent outcomes across Colorado Mesa's degree portfolio.

Colorado Mesa University's program mix is anchored in business, engineering, and applied health fields—a portfolio aligned with regional workforce demand in western Colorado. Business Administration is the largest program with 188 graduates annually, followed by Nursing, Kinesiology, Criminal Justice, and Biology, General.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,085 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market needs. The earnings pattern reflects Colorado Mesa's applied-professional orientation.

Artificial Intelligence graduates earn median earnings of $96,708 four years after enrollment, with Nursing graduates earning $81,319 and Business Administration graduates earning $69,297. Criminal Justice and Communication and Media Studies round out the highest-earning programs, with graduates earning $58,708 and $54,717 respectively.

These outcomes cluster in fields where employers actively recruit in the Mountain West region—particularly in business, health sciences, and technical trades. The institution's program concentration in Business (representing 19% of graduates), Arts (4%), and other STEM fields (3%) positions Colorado Mesa as a direct-to-workforce institution where most graduates enter stable, regionally-rooted careers in healthcare, business operations, and skilled trades.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with labor-market demand in Colorado and neighboring states.