Colorado State University-Fort Collins lists a published cost of attendance of $31,642, but need-based aid shifts what families actually pay across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $13,259, while middle-income families pay around $15,905, and higher-income families pay approximately $29,763.
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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) | $31,642 |
| Tuition and Fees | $34,783 |
| Room and Board | $16,817 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,200 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$10,363 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $21,279 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $13,259 |
| $30–48k | $14,460 |
| $48–75k | $15,905 |
| $75–110k | $21,927 |
| $110k+ | $29,763 |
Colorado State University-Fort Collins lists a published cost of attendance of $31,642, but need-based aid shifts what families actually pay across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $13,259, while middle-income families pay around $15,905, and higher-income families pay approximately $29,763. Azimuth ranks Colorado State University-Fort Collins #700 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 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. Colorado State participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the gap between sticker price and net price is meaningful for lower-income families — a pattern worth examining carefully, since published costs and actual costs can differ substantially. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and both Pell Grants and institutional scholarships contribute to reducing out-of-pocket costs for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $36,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $67,911, median federal debt of $20,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $226 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of Colorado State University-Fort Collins earn median earnings of $67,911 four years after enrollment, placing Colorado State University-Fort Collins in the 71.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $2,823 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 69.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to CO's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $37,571 (the state median earnings of working adults without a college credential). While institution-level earnings track CO's regional labor market, specific programs deliver materially stronger outcomes. Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #38 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions , with graduates earning median earnings of $114,076 — 1.24x the national benchmark for the field. Business Administration is the largest program with 651 graduates earning median earnings of $79,256, and Azimuth ranks it #54 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Biology, General program graduates 318 students with median earnings of $60,981, ranking #137 nationally. The degree mix leans toward Biological Sciences, which accounts for 13% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 10% and Social Sciences at 9% — a composition that helps explain why median earnings cluster closer to applied-science and life-science salary bands rather than higher-paying engineering or computing fields.
