University Of Northern Colorado

University of Northern Colorado's published cost of attendance is $29,254. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $12,695, middle-income families pay around $16,038, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,306.

Azimuth ranks University of Northern Colorado #462 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.

Financial aid at Northern Colorado is need-based, with aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional programs. The institution meets a portion of demonstrated financial need for admitted students, with aid packages combining grants, loans, and work-study opportunities.

Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid amounts. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,470, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,566; 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 $56,930, median federal debt of $20,470 projects to a monthly payment of about $231 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 Northern Colorado earn median 4-year earnings of $56,930, placing University of Northern Colorado in the 31.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Northern Colorado in the 54.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks University of Northern Colorado #883 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects University of Northern Colorado's concentration in health and applied fields.

Nursing is the largest program with 178 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $83,712, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 172 students with median 4-year earnings of $49,455, at 1.0x benchmark.

Teacher Education and Business Administration round out the top programs, with 164 and 149 graduates respectively earning $45,008 and $74,278 four years after enrollment. These outcomes align with University of Northern Colorado's dominant focus on Health fields, which consistently deliver stable career pathways and earnings that support long-term financial security for graduates.

University of Northern Colorado's program mix centers on Health fields, reflecting the institution's regional mission and workforce alignment. Nursing is the largest program with 178 graduates earning a median $83,712 four years after enrollment, followed by Psychology, General, Teacher Education, Business Administration, and Kinesiology.

Across ranked programs serving roughly 1,852 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in applied health and education pathways. The highest-earning programs at University of Northern Colorado reflect the institution's health-focused identity.

Nursing leads with graduates earning a median $83,712 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $74,278, Criminal Justice at $55,282, and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General at $54,921. These earnings patterns align with regional labor-market demand for health professionals and educators in Colorado's Front Range corridor.

The program portfolio reflects a regional public university's positioning in workforce preparation. Health-related fields, including nursing and allied health specializations, represent direct-to-workforce pathways where median four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market entry and stable employment demand.

Education programs similarly serve a defined regional need for teachers and school administrators. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with Colorado's employment landscape and long-term wage trends.