Colorado College vs. Colorado Mesa

Should I go to Colorado College or Colorado Mesa University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado College or Colorado Mesa 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 Mesa University comparison
Colorado College Colorado Mesa University College 3 College 4
Colorado College Colorado Mesa University
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Overview

Colorado College Colorado Mesa
Location Colorado Springs, CO Grand Junction, CO
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 2,203 8,905
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #80 #886
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website coloradocollege.edu mesastate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado College Colorado Mesa
Tuition (In State) $64,554 $8,261
Tuition (Out of State) $64,554 $21,983
Room & Board $14,376 $11,522
Avg Net Price $33,178 $15,085
Avg Grant Aid $46,160 $9,209
% Receiving Grant Aid 54% 87%

Admission

Colorado College Colorado Mesa
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,846 9,810
Admitted 1,279 8,021
Acceptance Rate 16.3% 81.8%
Enrolled % 41.8% 21.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.28
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Exceptional Easy
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 29/33 18/25
SAT Range 1260/1480 930/1180
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, 2024

Academics

Colorado College Colorado Mesa
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Health Professions (26%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

Outcomes

Colorado College Colorado Mesa
Graduation Rate 88% 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $21,750
Median Loan Payment $211 $224

Diversity

Colorado College Colorado Mesa
% Men 44% 47%
% Women 56% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 70%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 9% 17%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 9% 4%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Colorado College Colorado Mesa
% In-State 19% 83%
% Out-of-State 77% 16%

Campus

Colorado College Colorado Mesa
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 Mesa University is larger than than Colorado College based on total student enrollment (8,905 students vs. 2,203 students)

Colorado College vs. Colorado Mesa Cost Comparison

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

  • Colorado College is 681.4% more expensive to attend than Colorado Mesa for in-state tuition ($64,554.00 vs. $8,261.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 193.7% higher at Colorado College than Colorado Mesa University ($64,554.00 vs. $21,983.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado Mesa University than Colorado College ($15,085 vs. $33,178)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado Mesa University are 24.8% lower than costs at Colorado College ($11,522 vs. $14,376)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Colorado Mesa University than Colorado College (87% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado College students is 401.2% larger than aid received Colorado Mesa University ($46,160 vs. $9,209)

Colorado College vs. Colorado Mesa Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Colorado College students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Colorado Mesa (3.28)
  • Colorado Mesa has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than Colorado College (16.3%)

Colorado College vs. Colorado Mesa Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado College or Colorado Mesa? 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 Mesa and Colorado College.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado College is higher than Colorado Mesa University (88% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Colorado College earn on average $6,000 more per year than Colorado Mesa graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $40,000)
  • Colorado College students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Colorado Mesa graduates. ($20,500 vs. $21,750)
  • Colorado College graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Colorado Mesa graduates. ($211 vs. $224)
  • More Colorado College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado Mesa students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 48%)

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