Colorado State vs. UNC Charlotte

Deciding between Colorado State University Fort Collins and University of North Carolina at Charlotte? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Colorado State University Fort Collins
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colorado State Fort Collins, CO
  • UNC Charlotte Charlotte, NC
  • Setting
  • Colorado State Midsize City
  • UNC Charlotte Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colorado State 34,096
  • UNC Charlotte 31,091
  • Type
  • Colorado State Public 4 Year
  • UNC Charlotte Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colorado State #354
  • UNC Charlotte #529
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colorado State -
  • UNC Charlotte -
  • Status
  • Colorado State Non-profit
  • UNC Charlotte Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colorado State
  • UNC Charlotte
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colorado State $13,373
  • UNC Charlotte $7,239
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colorado State $34,783
  • UNC Charlotte $22,492
  • Room & Board
  • Colorado State $16,817
  • UNC Charlotte $14,458
  • Average Net Price
  • Colorado State $21,011
  • UNC Charlotte $15,045
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colorado State $10,160
  • UNC Charlotte $7,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colorado State 69%
  • UNC Charlotte 60%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colorado State 38,465
  • UNC Charlotte 23,887
  • Admitted
  • Colorado State 34,057
  • UNC Charlotte 19,015
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colorado State 88.5%
  • UNC Charlotte 79.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Colorado State 16.1%
  • UNC Charlotte 24.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colorado State 1190
  • UNC Charlotte 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colorado State 26
  • UNC Charlotte 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colorado State 3.68
  • UNC Charlotte 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colorado State B+
  • UNC Charlotte B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colorado State Challenging
  • UNC Charlotte Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colorado State
  • UNC Charlotte
  • ACT Range
  • Colorado State 23/29
  • UNC Charlotte 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • Colorado State 1080/1290
  • UNC Charlotte 1140/1330
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colorado State Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • UNC Charlotte Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Colorado State Jul 1, 2027
  • UNC Charlotte Jun 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colorado State 17:1
  • UNC Charlotte 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colorado State
    • Business (15%)
    • Work and Family Studies (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • UNC Charlotte
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colorado State 64%
  • UNC Charlotte 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colorado State $51,800
  • UNC Charlotte $48,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colorado State 69%
  • UNC Charlotte 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colorado State $21,004
  • UNC Charlotte $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colorado State $217
  • UNC Charlotte $237
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colorado State 42%
  • UNC Charlotte 39%
  • % Women
  • Colorado State 58%
  • UNC Charlotte 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colorado State Low
  • UNC Charlotte High
  • HBCU
  • Colorado State No
  • UNC Charlotte No
  • % White
  • Colorado State 74%
  • UNC Charlotte 60%
  • % Asian
  • Colorado State 2%
  • UNC Charlotte 6%
  • % Black
  • Colorado State 2%
  • UNC Charlotte 17%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colorado State 11%
  • UNC Charlotte 9%
  • % Native American
  • Colorado State 1%
  • UNC Charlotte 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colorado State 0%
  • UNC Charlotte 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colorado State 2%
  • UNC Charlotte 4%
  • % International
  • Colorado State 3%
  • UNC Charlotte 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colorado State 4%
  • UNC Charlotte 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colorado State 69%
  • UNC Charlotte 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colorado State 30%
  • UNC Charlotte 9%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Colorado State Yes
  • UNC Charlotte Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Colorado State No
  • UNC Charlotte No
  • Meal Plan
  • Colorado State Yes
  • UNC Charlotte Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Colorado State No
  • UNC Charlotte Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Colorado State Yes
  • UNC Charlotte No

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado State University Fort Collins in Fort Collins, CO with University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Charlotte, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than UNC Charlotte based on total student enrollment (34,096 students vs. 31,091 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is located in Fort Collins, CO (Midsize City setting); University of North Carolina at Charlotte is in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting).
  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colorado State University Fort Collins 17:1; University of North Carolina at Charlotte 21:1.

Colorado State vs. UNC Charlotte Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado State or UNC Charlotte? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Charlotte than Colorado State ($15,045 vs. $21,011).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Charlotte are 14% lower than at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($14,458 vs. $16,817).
  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is 84.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Charlotte (about $6,134 more per year; $13,373.00 vs. $7,239.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.6% higher at Colorado State than at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (about $12,291 more per year; $34,783.00 vs. $22,492.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colorado State University Fort Collins than at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (69% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 27.5% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Charlotte students ($10,160 vs. $7,966).

Colorado State vs. UNC Charlotte Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado State or UNC Charlotte? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UNC Charlotte and Colorado State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (1240) is 50 points higher than at Colorado State (1190).
  • Incoming Colorado State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at UNC Charlotte).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colorado State University Fort Collins 1080/1290; University of North Carolina at Charlotte 1140/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colorado State University Fort Collins 23/29; University of North Carolina at Charlotte 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colorado State - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); UNC Charlotte - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colorado State Jul 1, 2027; UNC Charlotte Jun 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at UNC Charlotte (3.57).
  • Colorado State has a higher acceptance rate (88.5%) than UNC Charlotte (79.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Colorado State vs. 24.5% at UNC Charlotte.

Colorado State vs. UNC Charlotte Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colorado State and UNC Charlotte? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than University of North Carolina at Charlotte's (53%).
  • Graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than UNC Charlotte graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $48,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates have a $1,996 lower median loan debt than UNC Charlotte graduates ($21,004 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, Colorado State graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UNC Charlotte graduates ($217 vs. $237).
  • More Colorado State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Charlotte students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.