For access among nonprofit four-year institutions
For mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Colorado Springs #389 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $62,980 four years after enrollment, placing University of Colorado Springs in the 63.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Colorado Springs sits in the 77.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting outcomes that consistently exceed what similar students earn at comparable institutions. University of Colorado Springs's composite ranking reflects a balance of return, access, and affordability that places it among the stronger-performing institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. Graduates earn median earnings of $62,980 four years after enrollment — and earn about $5,309 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the university's outcomes hold up well against comparable institutions across the country.
Azimuth ranks University of Colorado Springs #389 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Colorado Springs, CO, University of Colorado Springs enrolls roughly 8,697 undergraduates. Retention stands at 68.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 46.9%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Colorado Springs #681 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $62,980, and earn about $5,309 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Colorado Springs in the 77.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Business shapes much of this earnings profile, connecting graduates to regional and national employers in fields with consistent hiring demand. Access and affordability provide additional context for the composite position. University of Colorado Springs sits in the 43.7 percentile for access and the 74.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 27.3% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 31.3% identifying as first-generation students. The institution admits about 97.4% of applicants, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture that keeps the door open to a wide range of students. Mobility sits in the 85.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, shaped by how well graduates from lower-income backgrounds convert their degrees into durable earnings gains.
University of Kentucky's published cost of attendance is $24,595, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $12,065 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,104, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,142. Azimuth ranks University of Colorado Springs #359 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. As a public research university, University of Colorado Springs participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and Kentucky-specific scholarship programs. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay reflects the university's aid reach, particularly for lower-income households — though families should review their specific aid offer carefully, since the net price illusion means published figures can look quite different from individual award letters. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $21,710; 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 $62,980, 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 Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Kentucky is a strong fit for students drawn to business, health, and applied professional fields who want a large public research university experience in Lexington, CO, with a program mix oriented toward stable, in-demand careers. Graduates earn in the 63.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of Colorado Springs sits in the 77.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $5,309 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students prioritizing long-term financial outcomes relative to their investment. The access profile is broad. 27.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.3% are first-generation college students, and University of Colorado Springs sits in the 71.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. The institution admits roughly 97.4% of applicants, making it broadly accessible to most qualified students in CO and the region. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking highly specialized STEM or arts programs may find a narrower fit. Families should also weigh median student debt of $20,000 against expected earnings when modeling long-term affordability.
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
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This is the University Of Colorado Colorado Springs hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Kentucky's published cost of attendance is $24,595, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $12,065 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,104, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,142.
Azimuth ranks University of Colorado Springs #359 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.
As a public research university, University of Colorado Springs participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and Kentucky-specific scholarship programs. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay reflects the university's aid reach, particularly for lower-income households — though families should review their specific aid offer carefully, since the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) means published figures can look quite different from individual award letters.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $21,710; 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 $62,980, 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 [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Colorado Springs earn median 4-year earnings of $62,980, placing the institution in the 63.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,309 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Colorado Springs in the 77.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful lifetime returns relative to CO's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $37,571.
The earnings pattern reflects the university's strong business orientation — Business represents 16% of graduates, while Social Sciences accounts for 8%. Azimuth ranks Business Administration, Management and Operations #136 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with graduates earning $66,553 four years after enrollment — 1.0× the national benchmark for the field. Azimuth ranks Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing #248 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 200 graduates earning $78,904, while Psychology, General ranks #190 nationally with earnings of $48,725.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Carolina University Similar quality tier (#11985 ranked) | NC | 82% | $49,458 | #11985 | Compare |
University Of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Similar quality tier (#11984 ranked) | MA | 91% | $68,804 | #11984 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina Wilmington Similar quality tier (#12004 ranked) | NC | 64% | $54,967 | #12004 | Compare |
University Of North Dakota Similar quality tier (#12006 ranked) | ND | 77% | $63,552 | #12006 | Compare |
Southern University And A & M College Similar quality tier (#12007 ranked) | LA | 35% | $43,371 | #12007 | Compare |
Computer Engineering
11 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
24 graduates
Computer Science
71 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
80 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
200 graduates
University of Colorado Springs's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields, a signature well matched to Colorado Springs' growing defense, technology, and healthcare economy. Business forms the core of the institution's degree output, with additional concentration in health, computing, and social sciences.
Across 34 programs serving roughly 1,984 students annually, the university directs most of its degree volume toward fields with direct workforce entry paths. The highest aggregate return program at University of Colorado Springs is Business Administration, which combines meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings — making it a central driver of the institution's overall financial outcomes.
Among the most popular programs, Business Administration program graduates 328 students with median earnings of $66,553 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #186 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing and Psychology, General follow as the next largest programs by graduate volume, each feeding into stable regional labor markets.
The highest-earning programs at University of Colorado Springs include Computer Science, with graduates earning $97,001 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #139 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mechanical Engineering and Nursing also deliver strong early-career pay, reflecting the institution's depth in applied technical and business-adjacent fields.
The program mix at University of Colorado Springs skews toward direct-to-workforce pathways. Business accounts for 16% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 8% and Engineering at 6%.
These fields align well with employer demand in the Colorado Springs metro, where defense contractors, healthcare systems, and technology firms recruit actively. For context on how these program families align with national labor-market trends, see [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
