Head-to-head comparison
Colorado State University-Fort Collins vs Colorado Christian University: which has better ROI?
Option A Fort Collins, CO
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
- Net price / year
- $21,279
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,543
- Payback
- 7 yrs
Option B Lakewood, CO
Colorado Christian University
- Net price / year
- $29,500
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,416
- Payback
- 57.4 yrs
Colorado State University-Fort Collins has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $85,116 in 7 years versus 57.4 years at Colorado Christian University, on median earnings of $60,543 vs $50,416 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Colorado Christian University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,279 | $29,500 |
| Total net cost | $85,116 | $118,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,543 | $50,416 |
| Median debt | $20,000 | $28,312 |
| Payback | 7 yrs | 57.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $158,544 | -$76,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Colorado State University-Fort Collins or Colorado Christian University?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins, at $21,279 a year after aid versus $29,500 — a gap of $8,221 a year, or $32,884 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Colorado State University-Fort Collins or Colorado Christian University graduates earn more?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates report a median $60,543 ten years after entry, $10,127 more than the $50,416 at Colorado Christian University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Colorado State University-Fort Collins or Colorado Christian University?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $28,312 at Colorado Christian University, a difference of $8,312. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, against 64% at Colorado Christian University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.