Colorado State vs. University of Nevada-Reno

Should I go to Colorado State University Fort Collins or University of Nevada Reno? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado State or University of Nevada-Reno 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 State University Fort Collins vs. University of Nevada Reno comparison
Colorado State University Fort Collins University of Nevada Reno College 3 College 4
Colorado State University Fort Collins University of Nevada Reno
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Overview

Colorado State University of Nevada-Reno
Location Fort Collins, CO Reno, NV
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 33,403 20,945
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #359 #443
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colostate.edu unr.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado State University of Nevada-Reno
Tuition (In State) $10,218 $8,133
Tuition (Out of State) $30,078 $24,687
Room & Board $13,728 $13,796
Avg Net Price $16,926 $16,670
Avg Grant Aid $10,727 $7,829
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 92%

Admission

Colorado State University of Nevada-Reno
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,122 9,398
Admitted 30,066 8,047
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 85.6%
Enrolled % 18.5% 41%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 20/26
SAT Range 1080/1290 1060/1270
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2025 Apr 7, 2025

Academics

Colorado State University of Nevada-Reno
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Colorado State University of Nevada-Reno
Graduation Rate 64% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,800 $53,400
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,004 $18,801
Median Loan Payment $217 $194

Diversity

Colorado State University of Nevada-Reno
% Men 45% 46%
% Women 55% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 60%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 19%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 6%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Colorado State University of Nevada-Reno
% In-State 59% 76%
% Out-of-State 40% 23%

Campus

Colorado State University of Nevada-Reno
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 University of Nevada-Reno based on total student enrollment (33,403 students vs. 20,945 students)

Colorado State vs. University of Nevada-Reno Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado State or University of Nevada-Reno?

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is 25.6% more expensive to attend than University of Nevada-Reno for in-state tuition ($10,218.00 vs. $8,133.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.8% higher at Colorado State than University of Nevada Reno ($30,078.00 vs. $24,687.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nevada Reno than Colorado State ($16,670 vs. $16,926)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado State University Fort Collins are 0.5% lower than costs at University of Nevada Reno ($13,728 vs. $13,796)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nevada Reno than Colorado State University Fort Collins (92% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 37% larger than aid received University of Nevada Reno ($10,727 vs. $7,829)

Colorado State vs. University of Nevada-Reno Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Colorado State University Fort Collins (1145) is 61 points higher than at University of Nevada-Reno (1084)
  • Incoming Colorado State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at University of Nevada-Reno (24)
  • Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at University of Nevada-Reno (3.4)
  • Colorado State has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than University of Nevada-Reno (85.6%)

Colorado State vs. University of Nevada-Reno Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado State or University of Nevada-Reno? 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 University of Nevada-Reno and Colorado State.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado State is higher than University of Nevada Reno (64% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from University of Nevada Reno earn on average $1,600 more per year than Colorado State graduates after ten years. ($53,400 vs. $51,800)
  • University of Nevada Reno students graduate with a $2,203 lower median federal student loan debt than Colorado State graduates. ($18,801 vs. $21,004)
  • University of Nevada-Reno graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Colorado State graduates. ($194 vs. $217)
  • More Colorado State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Nevada-Reno students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 64%)

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