Students at the University of Colorado Denver achieve exceptional financial outcomes, particularly those from low-income backgrounds who earn among the highest amounts nationally compared with similar students elsewhere.
The university consistently delivers earnings beyond expectations, with graduates earning more than $10,000 above what similar students achieve at comparable institutions.
Azimuth ranks the University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus among the top public universities nationwide for overall value, reflecting its strong combination of academic quality and long-term financial outcomes. What distinguishes UC Denver is its focus on professional and health sciences programs that translate directly into career success, with graduates earning a median of $64,270 ten years after enrollment and achieving earnings that exceed expectations by more than $10,000 compared with similar students at other institutions.
The university serves a diverse student body, with about 26% receiving Pell Grants and 38% being first-generation college students, yet maintains strong graduation rates and exceptional earnings outcomes for low-income students. As a "Selective Achievers" institution, UC Denver combines solid access with outstanding mobility outcomes, particularly for students from lower-income backgrounds who earn a median of $71,800 ten years out.
Located in Denver with strong connections to the Anschutz Medical Campus, the university leverages its urban setting and health sciences focus to provide students with extensive internship opportunities, clinical experiences, and direct pathways into Colorado's growing healthcare, technology, and business sectors. This combination of professional focus, urban advantages, and strong financial outcomes makes UC Denver a standout choice for students seeking practical, career-oriented education.
The University of Colorado Denver's program portfolio reflects its strategic focus on professional and pre-professional fields that align directly with regional workforce needs. Business Administration leads in both scale and aggregate return, graduating 459 students annually with solid mid-career earnings of $46,910, making it a cornerstone program that combines accessibility with reliable financial outcomes. Adult Health Nursing represents the university's health sciences strength, graduating 300 students who earn $59,547 early in their careers and enter Colorado's robust healthcare job market with strong employment prospects.
Engineering programs deliver the highest individual earnings, with Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduates earning $69,338 and benefiting from Denver's growing technology sector. The university's connection to the Anschutz Medical Campus creates particularly strong pathways in health sciences, while its urban Denver location provides extensive internship and employment opportunities across multiple industries.
What distinguishes UC Denver's program mix is its practical, career-oriented approach that emphasizes direct pathways to employment in high-demand fields. The concentration in health sciences, engineering, and business reflects regional economic strengths and creates multiple routes to strong financial outcomes. This alignment between academic programs and workforce needs helps explain why UC Denver graduates consistently achieve earnings beyond expectations and maintain such strong long-term financial trajectories across diverse fields of study.
Graduates of the University of Colorado Denver achieve strong long-term financial outcomes that consistently exceed expectations. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $64,270, with the university delivering earnings beyond expectations of more than $10,000 compared with similar students at other institutions. This substantial earnings advantage places UC Denver in the top 30% nationally for return on investment, reflecting the practical, career-focused nature of its academic programs.
The university's program mix drives much of this financial success. Business Administration graduates 459 students annually and serves as the highest aggregate return program, combining strong enrollment with solid mid-career earnings of $46,910. Adult Health Nursing, the largest program with 300 graduates, produces strong early-career earnings of $59,547 and leads directly into Colorado's robust healthcare job market. Electrical and Electronics Engineering delivers the highest individual earnings at $69,338, demonstrating the premium that technical programs command in Denver's growing technology sector.
UC Denver's strength lies in its concentration of professional and pre-professional programs that align closely with regional employer needs. The university's connection to the Anschutz Medical Campus creates particularly strong pathways in health sciences, while its engineering and business programs benefit from Denver's diverse economy. This focus on practical, career-oriented education helps explain why graduates consistently outperform earnings expectations and achieve financial outcomes that rank among the best for public universities.
The University of Colorado Denver maintains reasonable affordability across income levels, with net prices that align closely with national averages for public research universities. Low-income students pay about $16,135 annually after aid, while middle-income families see costs around $19,871 per year, and higher-income students face net prices of approximately $23,355. These figures reflect a transparent, predictable pricing structure that helps families plan effectively for the full cost of a degree.
The university's aid strategy appears well-calibrated to support students without creating excessive debt burdens. Most graduates leave with manageable federal loan debt of about $20,500, a reasonable level given the strong earnings outcomes that UC Denver delivers. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $19,883, indicating that many families choose to contribute directly to their students' education costs rather than relying solely on student borrowing.
What makes UC Denver particularly sustainable from a financial perspective is how well graduates can service their debt after graduation. With median earnings of $64,270 ten years out and strong early-career trajectory in professional fields, most borrowers can comfortably handle standard repayment schedules. The university's 0% federal loan default rate underscores this financial sustainability, suggesting that the combination of reasonable debt levels and strong post-graduation earnings creates a manageable financial pathway for most students.
University Of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
