Cost of college in Colorado
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Colorado averages $10,418 a year, or $16,729 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $56,702 and owe about $17,655. The net price pays back in about 4.5 years.
How Colorado compares to the US
Colorado ranks #23 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #22 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #25 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Colorado | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $10,418 | $9,518 | +$900 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $28,065 | $23,652 | +$4,413 |
| Net price after aid | $16,729 | $13,788 | +$2,941 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $56,702 | $56,427 | +$275 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,655 | $17,856 | -$201 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Colorado pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Colorado costs about $66,916 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 4.5 years from the roughly $14,902-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #25 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Colorado list about $52,198 in tuition and net out to about $30,610 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Colorado?
At a public 4-year college in Colorado, in-state tuition and fees average about $10,418 a year and out-of-state runs about $28,065. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $16,729. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Colorado earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Colorado's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $56,702 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $17,655 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Colorado?
A public 4-year degree in Colorado costs about $66,916 over four years at net price and recoups in about 4.5 years from the roughly $14,902-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.