Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Colorado State University Pueblo #674 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,898, placing Colorado State University Pueblo in the 30.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Colorado State University Pueblo #783 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Colorado State University Pueblo #674 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public master's university in Pueblo, Colorado, Colorado State University Pueblo enrolls roughly 3,042 undergraduates. Retention stands at 64.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 39.7%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional public institution. Where Colorado State University Pueblo performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Colorado State University Pueblo #932 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,898, and Colorado State University Pueblo sits in the 67.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio is anchored in health fields, which align with stable, in-demand careers and contribute to the strong earnings trajectory that graduates experience. Access and affordability shape the institution's broader profile. Colorado State University Pueblo serves 28.6% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 40.9% first-generation students, positioning it as an accessible pathway for students from lower-income and first-generation backgrounds. Azimuth ranks Colorado State University Pueblo in the 36.1 percentile for access and the 88.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The combination of strong return on investment paired with meaningful access and affordability makes Colorado State University Pueblo a practical choice for students seeking solid long-term financial outcomes without excessive debt burden.
Colorado State University Pueblo's published cost of attendance is $23,937. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $9,374, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $8,948, middle-income families pay about $10,961, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $15,701, and higher-income families pay roughly $12,858. Azimuth ranks Colorado State University Pueblo #160 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 University Pueblo's aid structure combines federal, state, and institutional funding to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The university participates in federal Pell Grants and Direct Loans, Colorado state aid programs, and institutional scholarships. Most undergraduates receive some form of need-based aid, and the aid office works with families to construct packages that reflect demonstrated financial need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,786; 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 $55,898, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Colorado State University Pueblo is a strong fit for students interested in health professions who seek an affordable public university experience in CO. Its outcomes are especially compelling for first-generation students, who make up 40.9% of undergraduates and benefit from the institution's focus on career-aligned programs. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,898, placing Colorado State University Pueblo in the 30.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $2,210 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 67.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (28.6% of undergraduates) while maintaining a 39.9% completion rate for this cohort. Published cost of attendance is $12,858, with need-based aid available to close the gap for qualifying students. Fit depends on program alignment — Health fields anchor the institution's economic profile. Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong regional outcomes relative to CO's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $37,571.
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 State University Pueblo hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Georgia College & State University Similar quality tier (#19235 ranked) | GA | 78% | $58,140 | #19235 | Compare |
Lewis-Clark State College Similar quality tier in West (#19225 ranked) | ID | 88% | $46,001 | #19225 | Compare |
Frostburg State University Similar quality tier (#19222 ranked) | MD | 89% | $55,493 | #19222 | Compare |
University Of Southern Indiana Similar quality tier (#19214 ranked) | IN | 96% | $47,605 | #19214 | Compare |
Gordon State College Similar quality tier (#20274 ranked) | GA | 86% | $37,871 | #20274 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Colorado State University Pueblo's published cost of attendance is $23,937. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $9,374, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $8,948, middle-income families pay about $10,961, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $15,701, and higher-income families pay roughly $12,858.
Azimuth ranks Colorado State University Pueblo #160 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 University Pueblo's aid structure combines federal, state, and institutional funding to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The university participates in federal Pell Grants and Direct Loans, Colorado state aid programs, and institutional scholarships.
Most undergraduates receive some form of need-based aid, and the aid office works with families to construct packages that reflect demonstrated financial need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,786; 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 $55,898, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 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/).
Construction Management
19 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
139 graduates
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
7 graduates
Business/Managerial Economics
12 graduates
Information Science/Studies
27 graduates
Colorado State University Pueblo's program mix is anchored in health sciences and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional mission as a comprehensive public university serving southern Colorado. Nursing is the largest program with 139 graduates annually, followed by Business/Commerce, General, Kinesiology, Psychology, General, and Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other.
The dominant program family — Health — accounts for a substantial share of the institution's degree output, positioning Colorado State University Pueblo as a pipeline for regional healthcare and allied-health workforce needs. Median earnings four years after enrollment vary across the institution's ranked programs.
Nursing graduates earn $80,676, while Information Science/Studies graduates earn $63,994 and Business/Commerce, General graduates earn $60,401. The largest programs — Nursing with 139 graduates earning $80,676, and Business/Commerce, General with 77 graduates earning $60,401 — anchor the institution's earnings profile and reflect strong regional demand for graduates in these fields.
Many of Colorado State University Pueblo's programs serve high-demand pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes. Health-related programs, including nursing and allied-health specializations, are grad-school-optional pathways where four-year earnings capture both direct-entry and early-career trajectories.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with regional and national workforce demand in healthcare and professional services.
Graduates of Colorado State University Pueblo earn median 4-year earnings of $55,898, placing Colorado State University Pueblo in the 30.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,210 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Colorado State University Pueblo in the 67.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Colorado State University Pueblo #932 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to CO's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $37,571 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential).
The earnings pattern centers on health and applied professional fields. Nursing is the largest program with 139 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $80,676, and Azimuth ranks the program 0.9× the national benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
The Business/Commerce, General program graduates 77 students earning $60,401, while Kinesiology and Psychology, General round out the top programs with 58 and 50 graduates respectively. The concentration in Health — representing a substantial share of the institution's degree output — drives the overall earnings profile and reflects strong regional employer demand in healthcare and related applied fields.
