Colorado State vs. Nebraska

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

Colorado State University Fort Collins
University of Nebraska Lincoln

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Nebraska (87.5% admitted vs 88.5%). Typical SAT 1210 vs 1190.
  • Cheaper after aid: Nebraska. Average net price is $18,322 vs $21,011 at Colorado State.
  • Graduation: Colorado State 64% vs Nebraska 67%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Colorado State $51,800 vs Nebraska $49,600 (median).
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Key differences

Colorado State University Fort Collins University of Nebraska Lincoln
Acceptance rate
Nebraska more selective
Colorado State88.5%
Nebraska87.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Nebraska higher
Colorado State1080-1290
Nebraska1098-1330
Average net price
Nebraska $2,689 less
Colorado State$21,011
Nebraska$18,322
In-state tuition
Nebraska $2,939 less
Colorado State$13,373
Nebraska$10,434
Out-of-state tuition
Nebraska $6,199 less
Colorado State$34,783
Nebraska$28,584
Graduation rate
Nebraska +3 pts
Colorado State64%
Nebraska67%
Median earnings (10 years)
Colorado State +$2,200
Colorado State$51,800
Nebraska$49,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Colorado State 38,465
  • Nebraska 17,841
  • Admitted
  • Colorado State 34,057
  • Nebraska 15,609
  • Acceptance rate
  • Colorado State 88.5%
  • Nebraska 87.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Colorado State 16.1%
  • Nebraska 29.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colorado State 1190
  • Nebraska 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colorado State 26
  • Nebraska 25
  • Average high school GPA
  • Colorado State 3.68
  • Nebraska 3.63
  • Typical high school grades
  • Colorado State A-
  • Nebraska A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Colorado State Challenging
  • Nebraska Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • Colorado State
  • Nebraska
  • SAT range
  • Colorado State 1080-1290
  • Nebraska 1098-1330
  • ACT range
  • Colorado State 23-29
  • Nebraska 22-28
  • Submit test scores
  • Colorado State Test optional
  • Nebraska Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Colorado State Jul 1, 2027
  • Nebraska May 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Colorado State $13,373
  • Nebraska $10,434
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Colorado State $34,783
  • Nebraska $28,584
  • Room & board
  • Colorado State $16,817
  • Nebraska $14,120
  • Average net price
  • Colorado State $21,011
  • Nebraska $18,322
  • Average grant aid
  • Colorado State $10,160
  • Nebraska $10,541
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Colorado State 69%
  • Nebraska 94%
  • Graduation rate
  • Colorado State 64%
  • Nebraska 67%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Colorado State $51,800
  • Nebraska $49,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Colorado State 69%
  • Nebraska 73%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Colorado State $21,004
  • Nebraska $21,700
  • Median loan payment
  • Colorado State $217
  • Nebraska $224
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Colorado State 17:1
  • Nebraska 17:1
  • Popular majors
  • Colorado State
    • Business (15%)
    • Work and Family Studies (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Nebraska
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Agriculture (7%)
  • Location
  • Colorado State Fort Collins, CO
  • Nebraska Lincoln, NE
  • Setting
  • Colorado State Midsize City
  • Nebraska Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colorado State 34,096
  • Nebraska 24,393
  • Type
  • Colorado State Public 4 Year
  • Nebraska Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Colorado State #354
  • Nebraska #380

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado State University Fort Collins in Fort Collins, CO with University of Nebraska Lincoln in Lincoln, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than Nebraska based on total student enrollment (34,096 students vs. 24,393 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is located in Fort Collins, CO (Midsize City setting); University of Nebraska Lincoln is in Lincoln, NE (Large City setting).
  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Nebraska Lincoln is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colorado State University Fort Collins 17:1; University of Nebraska Lincoln 17:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nebraska Lincoln are 16% lower than at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($14,120 vs. $16,817).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.7% higher at Colorado State than at University of Nebraska Lincoln (about $6,199 more per year; $34,783 vs. $28,584).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Nebraska Lincoln than at Colorado State University Fort Collins (94% vs. 69%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska Lincoln students is 3.8% larger than aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students ($10,541 vs. $10,160).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Colorado State than at Nebraska (26 vs. 25, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Colorado State and Nebraska.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colorado State Jul 1, 2027; Nebraska May 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Colorado State average a 3.68 high school GPA, 0.05 higher than at Nebraska (3.63).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Colorado State vs. 29.8% at Nebraska.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates have a $696 lower median loan debt than Nebraska graduates ($21,004 vs. $21,700).
  • Among borrowers, Colorado State graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nebraska graduates ($217 vs. $224).
  • More Nebraska graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado State students, three years after graduation (73% vs. 69%).

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

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