Head-to-head comparison
Colorado State University-Fort Collins vs Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology: 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 Broomfield, CO
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
- Net price / year
- $30,065
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,093
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $60,130 in 5.6 years versus 7 years at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, on median earnings of $59,093 vs $60,543 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,279 | $30,065 |
| Total net cost | $85,116 | $60,130 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,543 | $59,093 |
| Median debt | $20,000 | $19,188 |
| Payback | 7 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $158,544 | $154,530 |
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 Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins, at $21,279 a year after aid versus $30,065 — a gap of $8,786 a year, or $24,986 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 Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology graduates earn more?
Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates report a median $60,543 ten years after entry, $1,450 more than the $59,093 at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. 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 Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology?
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology: its completers carry a median $19,188 in federal loans versus $20,000 at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, a difference of $812. 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 63% at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. 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.