Colorado College vs. Colorado State

Should I go to Colorado College or Colorado State University Fort Collins? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado College or Colorado State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colorado College vs. Colorado State University Fort Collins comparison
Colorado College Colorado State University Fort Collins College 3 College 4
Colorado College Colorado State University Fort Collins
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Overview

Colorado College Colorado State
Location Colorado Springs, CO Fort Collins, CO
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 2,203 33,403
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #80 #359
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website coloradocollege.edu colostate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado College Colorado State
Tuition (In State) $64,554 $10,218
Tuition (Out of State) $64,554 $30,078
Room & Board $14,376 $13,728
Avg Net Price $33,178 $16,926
Avg Grant Aid $46,160 $10,727
% Receiving Grant Aid 54% 74%

Admission

Colorado College Colorado State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,846 33,122
Admitted 1,279 30,066
Acceptance Rate 16.3% 90.8%
Enrolled % 41.8% 18.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Challenging
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 29/33 23/29
SAT Range 1260/1480 1080/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Colorado College Colorado State
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Colorado College Colorado State
Graduation Rate 88% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $51,800
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $21,004
Median Loan Payment $211 $217

Diversity

Colorado College Colorado State
% Men 44% 45%
% Women 56% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 74%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 9% 11%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 9% 2%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

Colorado College Colorado State
% In-State 19% 59%
% Out-of-State 77% 40%

Campus

Colorado College Colorado State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than than Colorado College based on total student enrollment (33,403 students vs. 2,203 students)

Colorado College vs. Colorado State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado College or Colorado State?

  • Colorado College is 531.8% more expensive to attend than Colorado State for in-state tuition ($64,554.00 vs. $10,218.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 114.6% higher at Colorado College than Colorado State University Fort Collins ($64,554.00 vs. $30,078.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado State University Fort Collins than Colorado College ($16,926 vs. $33,178)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado State University Fort Collins are 4.7% lower than costs at Colorado College ($13,728 vs. $14,376)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Colorado State University Fort Collins than Colorado College (74% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado College students is 330.3% larger than aid received Colorado State University Fort Collins ($46,160 vs. $10,727)

Colorado College vs. Colorado State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado College or Colorado State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Colorado State or Colorado College .

  • Accepted freshman Colorado College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Colorado State (3.68)
  • Colorado State has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than Colorado College (16.3%)

Colorado College vs. Colorado State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado College or Colorado State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Colorado State and Colorado College.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado College is higher than Colorado State University Fort Collins (88% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn on average $5,800 more per year than Colorado College graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $46,000)
  • Colorado College students graduate with a $504 lower median federal student loan debt than Colorado State graduates. ($20,500 vs. $21,004)
  • Colorado College graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Colorado State graduates. ($211 vs. $217)
  • More Colorado College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado State students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/