Head-to-head comparison
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus vs Colorado State University Pueblo: which has better ROI?
Option A Denver, CO
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
- Net price / year
- $11,900
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,270
- Payback
- 3 yrs
Option B Pueblo, CO
Colorado State University Pueblo
- Net price / year
- $10,051
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,563
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $47,600 in 3 years versus 5.6 years at Colorado State University Pueblo, on median earnings of $64,270 vs $55,563 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Colorado State University Pueblo |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,900 | $10,051 |
| Total net cost | $47,600 | $40,204 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,270 | $55,563 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $270,600 | $103,856 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus or Colorado State University Pueblo?
Colorado State University Pueblo, at $10,051 a year after aid versus $11,900 — a gap of $1,849 a year, or $7,396 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 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus or Colorado State University Pueblo graduates earn more?
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus graduates report a median $64,270 ten years after entry, $8,707 more than the $55,563 at Colorado State University Pueblo. 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, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus or Colorado State University Pueblo?
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Colorado State University Pueblo, a difference of $1,000. 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?
46% of students finish at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, against 40% at Colorado State University Pueblo. 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.