Colorado State vs. Colorado Mesa

Colorado State University Fort Collins and Colorado Mesa University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Colorado State University Fort Collins
Colorado Mesa University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Colorado Mesa (82% admitted vs 88.5%). Typical SAT 1050 vs 1190.
  • Cheaper after aid: Colorado Mesa. Average net price is $15,590 vs $21,011 at Colorado State.
  • Graduation: Colorado State 64% vs Colorado Mesa 25%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Colorado State $51,800 vs Colorado Mesa $40,000 (median).
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Key differences

Colorado State University Fort Collins Colorado Mesa University
Acceptance rate
Colorado Mesa more selective
Colorado State88.5%
Colorado Mesa82%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Colorado State higher
Colorado State1080-1290
Colorado Mesa930-1160
Average net price
Colorado Mesa $5,421 less
Colorado State$21,011
Colorado Mesa$15,590
In-state tuition
Colorado Mesa $3,446 less
Colorado State$13,373
Colorado Mesa$9,927
Out-of-state tuition
Colorado Mesa $9,659 less
Colorado State$34,783
Colorado Mesa$25,124
Graduation rate
Colorado State +39 pts
Colorado State64%
Colorado Mesa25%
Median earnings (10 years)
Colorado State +$11,800
Colorado State$51,800
Colorado Mesa$40,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Colorado State 38,465
  • Colorado Mesa 12,465
  • Admitted
  • Colorado State 34,057
  • Colorado Mesa 10,225
  • Acceptance rate
  • Colorado State 88.5%
  • Colorado Mesa 82%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Colorado State 16.1%
  • Colorado Mesa 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colorado State 1190
  • Colorado Mesa 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colorado State 26
  • Colorado Mesa 21
  • Average high school GPA
  • Colorado State 3.68
  • Colorado Mesa 3.28
  • Typical high school grades
  • Colorado State A-
  • Colorado Mesa B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Colorado State Challenging
  • Colorado Mesa Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Colorado State
  • Colorado Mesa
  • SAT range
  • Colorado State 1080-1290
  • Colorado Mesa 930-1160
  • ACT range
  • Colorado State 23-29
  • Colorado Mesa 18-24
  • Submit test scores
  • Colorado State Test optional
  • Colorado Mesa Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Colorado State Jul 1, 2027
  • Colorado Mesa
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Colorado State $13,373
  • Colorado Mesa $9,927
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Colorado State $34,783
  • Colorado Mesa $25,124
  • Room & board
  • Colorado State $16,817
  • Colorado Mesa $12,209
  • Average net price
  • Colorado State $21,011
  • Colorado Mesa $15,590
  • Average grant aid
  • Colorado State $10,160
  • Colorado Mesa $8,285
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Colorado State 69%
  • Colorado Mesa 84%
  • Graduation rate
  • Colorado State 64%
  • Colorado Mesa 25%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Colorado State $51,800
  • Colorado Mesa $40,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Colorado State 69%
  • Colorado Mesa 48%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Colorado State $21,004
  • Colorado Mesa $21,750
  • Median loan payment
  • Colorado State $217
  • Colorado Mesa $224
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Colorado State 17:1
  • Colorado Mesa 18:1
  • Popular majors
  • Colorado State
    • Business (15%)
    • Work and Family Studies (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Colorado Mesa
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Location
  • Colorado State Fort Collins, CO
  • Colorado Mesa Grand Junction, CO
  • Setting
  • Colorado State Midsize City
  • Colorado Mesa Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colorado State 34,096
  • Colorado Mesa 9,785
  • Type
  • Colorado State Public 4 Year
  • Colorado Mesa Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Colorado State #354
  • Colorado Mesa #908

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado State University Fort Collins in Fort Collins, CO with Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than Colorado Mesa based on total student enrollment (34,096 students vs. 9,785 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is located in Fort Collins, CO (Midsize City setting); Colorado Mesa University is in Grand Junction, CO (Small City setting).
  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Colorado Mesa University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colorado State University Fort Collins 17:1; Colorado Mesa University 18:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado Mesa University are 27.4% lower than at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($12,209 vs. $16,817).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.4% higher at Colorado State than at Colorado Mesa University (about $9,659 more per year; $34,783 vs. $25,124).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colorado Mesa University than at Colorado State University Fort Collins (84% vs. 69%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 22.6% larger than aid received by Colorado Mesa University students ($10,160 vs. $8,285).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Colorado State than at Colorado Mesa (26 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Colorado State and Colorado Mesa.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colorado State Jul 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Colorado State average a 3.68 high school GPA, 0.4 higher than at Colorado Mesa (3.28).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Colorado State vs. 23.1% at Colorado Mesa.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates have a $746 lower median loan debt than Colorado Mesa graduates ($21,004 vs. $21,750).
  • Among borrowers, Colorado State graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colorado Mesa graduates ($217 vs. $224).
  • More Colorado State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado Mesa students, three years after graduation (69% vs. 48%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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