Solid graduate outcomes with earnings above the peer average.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
University of Colorado Boulder graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their early and mid-career periods. Median earnings increase from $54,939 at six years to $64,625 at eight years and reach $69,738 at ten years, representing 26.9% growth between six and ten years post-graduation.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings exceed the peer average, indicating above-typical outcomes for this institution type.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $19,500 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
University of Colorado Boulder graduates carry median debt of $19,500, slightly below the peer median of $20,000, indicating controlled borrowing relative to similar institutions. Debt ranges from $5,500 at the 25th percentile to $25,000 at the 75th percentile, showing variation in student borrowing patterns.
University of Colorado Boulder demonstrates strong return on educational investment, ranking at the 85th percentile nationally with well above average performance. Graduates earn $1,593 beyond expectations compared to students with similar demographics at other institutions, placing the university at the 62.2nd percentile for earnings uplift in the above average tier.
Approximately 24.1% of University of Colorado Boulder graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both i...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
High-earning programs drive University of Colorado Boulder's strong return performance, with Computer Science leading at $104,284 followed by Aerospace Engineering at $92,144 and Mechanical Engineering at $82,040. These technical programs serve substantial student populations while maintaining strong earning power.
Business Administration produces $74,824 for the institution's largest cohort of 1,080 graduates, demonstrating scale alongside solid outcomes. Liberal arts programs like Psychology generate more moderate earnings at $51,637, reflecting different career preparation approaches.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Graduate earnings show meaningful variation reflecting program diversity and career path differences. The spread from $43,748 at the 25th percentile to $103,315 at the 75th percentile creates a 2.4:1 ratio, indicating substantial upside potential for students in high-earning fields.
