Overview
Enrollment
| Location | Grand Junction, Colorado |
| Online | mesastate.edu |
| School Type | Public 4 Year |
| Setting | Small City |
| Size | Mid-size |
| Status | Non-profit |
| On Campus Housing | Yes |
| Level of Study | Undergrad/Graduate |
Located in Grand Junction, Colorado, along the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Mesa University serves as the primary higher education institution for western Colorado. The 86-acre campus combines modern academic facilities with traditional red-brick architecture, situated in a high-desert environment approximately 250 miles west of Denver. Originally established in 1925 as a junior college, CMU has evolved into a comprehensive public university offering technical certificates, associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. The university maintains a strong focus on professional and technical programs, including notable offerings in healthcare, engineering, business, and outdoor recreation industry studies. Campus housing accommodates both first-year and returning students across multiple residence halls and apartment complexes, while the institution competes in NCAA Division II athletics as the Mavericks.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
Colorado Mesa is rated within the lower 37% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 4 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for Colorado Mesa University within the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#856 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#327 in Best Public Colleges in the U.S.
#12 in Best Colleges in Colorado
#9 in Best Public Colleges in Colorado
#25 in Best Value Colleges in Colorado
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 930/1180 |
| ACT | 19/26 |
| GPA | 3.28 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | - |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
| Application Fee | $40 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Colorado Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,800 |
| Other Fees | $1,120 |
| Room and Board | $11,760 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $3,275 |
| Total One Year Cost | $26,547 |
Out of State Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,800 |
| Other Fees | $1,120 |
| Room and Board | $11,760 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $3,275 |
| Total One Year Cost | $41,147 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Health Professions | 26% |
| Business | 17% |
| Liberal Arts and Humanities | 9% |
| Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies | 7% |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting | 5% |
Other Colleges to Consider
Students considering Colorado Mesa are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=127556 IPEDS survey data for Colorado Mesa University.
Current students may use the Colorado Mesa University GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2025