
Pueblo, COpubliccsupueblo.edu
Admit rate has ranged 93%–100% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Colorado State University Pueblo is a public university with an open-door admissions policy and a 98% acceptance rate, offering accessible education with small class sizes and a focus on health sciences, engineering, and interdisciplinary programs. While graduation rates lag behind national averages, the school provides affordable tuition and a tight-knit campus community in southern Colorado.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
CSU Pueblo is one of the least selective public universities in Colorado, with a 98% acceptance rate for first-year applicants. The school operates with an open admission policy for in-state students, though some programs and out-of-state applicants face selective criteria. Test scores (SAT/ACT) are not required for general admission but may be considered for scholarships. Mid-50% ranges for admitted students who do submit scores are SAT 870–1100 and ACT 19–25, with about 31% of enrollees holding a GPA of 3.75+. Transfer students must meet similar benchmarks, with priority given to those completing associate degrees.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
With a 20:1 student-faculty ratio and 65% of classes under 20 students, CSU Pueblo emphasizes accessible, small-scale instruction. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and fully online programs, including unique 3+2 accelerated degree options. Standout departments include:
Graduate programs require a minimum 3.0 GPA and 30+ credit hours, with residency requirements capping transfer credits at 6. Faculty are nationally recognized, particularly in applied fields like education and natural resources.
Campus culture leans toward the quiet and community-oriented, with some students describing social scenes as clique-driven but friendly. Over 50 student organizations exist, ranging from academic clubs to cultural groups, with a strong emphasis on health and wellness integration into campus life. The university promotes a "well-being model" that ties student success to physical and mental health support. While not a party school, Pueblo’s location near the Rocky Mountains provides outdoor recreation opportunities, and the ThunderWolves athletics (NCAA Division II) draw modest school spirit.
Graduation rates are a notable weakness: just 38% of students graduate within 6 years, placing CSU Pueblo in the bottom 20% nationally. Outcomes show stark disparities—male students graduate at only 31%, while white women (the highest-performing demographic) reach 46%. The university has launched an $11M "student success" initiative aiming to boost rates to 70%, with current efforts earning Carnegie recognition for access and outcomes. Post-graduation, alumni typically enter regional workforce sectors like healthcare, education, and public service.
Tuition is among Colorado’s most affordable: $9,720 annually for in-state students and $17,944 for out-of-state. The average net price after aid drops to $19,049, with typical aid packages including $11,130 in grants/scholarships. The university meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for eligible students through combinations of federal, state, and institutional aid. Work-study and loan options are widely available, and the school actively promotes its Net Price Calculator to help families estimate costs.
CSU Pueblo carves a niche as a high-access, low-cost regional university with particular strengths in:
While graduation rates lag, the school serves a high percentage of first-gen and Pell-eligible students, and its small classes foster mentorship. For Coloradans seeking an affordable, no-frills education with strong ties to southern CO employers, it’s a pragmatic choice.