Colorado State vs. UNM

Should I go to Colorado State University Fort Collins or University of New Mexico Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado State or UNM 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

CU Boulder CU Denver NMSU MSU OSU UCCS UO Texas Tech DU Colorado School of Mines University of Northern Colorado Nebraska
Colorado State University Fort Collins vs. University of New Mexico Main Campus comparison
Colorado State University Fort Collins University of New Mexico Main Campus College 3 College 4
Colorado State University Fort Collins University of New Mexico Main Campus
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Colorado State UNM
Location Fort Collins, CO Albuquerque, NM
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 33,403 21,953
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #359 #658
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colostate.edu unm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado State UNM
Tuition (In State) $10,218 $6,803
Tuition (Out of State) $30,078 $25,138
Room & Board $13,728 $10,916
Avg Net Price $16,926 $10,633
Avg Grant Aid $10,727 $9,280
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 97%

Admission

Colorado State UNM
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,122 12,639
Admitted 30,066 12,142
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 96.1%
Enrolled % 18.5% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 17/25
SAT Range 1080/1290 1030/1250
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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Colorado State UNM
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

Colorado State UNM
Graduation Rate 64% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,800 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,004 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $217 $201

Diversity

Colorado State UNM
% Men 45% 42%
% Women 55% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 74% 35%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 47%
% Native American 1% 6%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Colorado State UNM
% In-State 59% 80%
% Out-of-State 40% 18%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than than UNM based on total student enrollment (33,403 students vs. 21,953 students)

Colorado State vs. UNM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado State or UNM?

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is 50.2% more expensive to attend than UNM for in-state tuition ($10,218.00 vs. $6,803.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.7% higher at Colorado State than University of New Mexico Main Campus ($30,078.00 vs. $25,138.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of New Mexico Main Campus than Colorado State ($10,633 vs. $16,926)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of New Mexico Main Campus are 25.8% lower than costs at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($10,916 vs. $13,728)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of New Mexico Main Campus than Colorado State University Fort Collins (97% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 15.6% larger than aid received University of New Mexico Main Campus ($10,727 vs. $9,280)

Colorado State vs. UNM Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Colorado State University Fort Collins (1145) is 105 points higher than at UNM (1040)
  • Incoming Colorado State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UNM (22)
  • Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at UNM (3.42)
  • UNM has a higher acceptance rate (96.1%) than Colorado State (90.8%)

Colorado State vs. UNM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado State or UNM? 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 UNM and Colorado State.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado State is higher than University of New Mexico Main Campus (64% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn on average $9,100 more per year than UNM graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $42,700)
  • University of New Mexico Main Campus students graduate with a $1,504 lower median federal student loan debt than Colorado State graduates. ($19,500 vs. $21,004)
  • UNM graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Colorado State graduates. ($201 vs. $217)
  • More Colorado State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNM students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 47%)

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