Colorado College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Colorado Springs, Colorado · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026

Admission at a glance

Common Data Set 2025-2026

  • Test-optional
  • Early Decision
  • Early Decision II
  • Early Action
8,822
Applicants
1,949
Admitted22%
510
Enrolled
26%
Yield rate

Selectivity

Highly selective22% admitted
AccessibleHighly selective
Median SAT
1340
Mid 50: 1240–1430
In-state tuition
$75,702
per year, before aid (CDS 2025-2026)
Net price (avg)
$33,375
after aid, what families pay

Ranked #34 (tie) in National Liberal Arts Colleges; Economics #161 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027

Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Colorado College (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.

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Quick answer

Colorado College is a private nonprofit university in Colorado Springs, Colorado that admits about 22% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $33,375 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Economics, Political Science and Government and Natural Resources Conservation and Research, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 86% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 13.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

Colorado College is a private institution located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Colorado College admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 22%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1340. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $33,375 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Colorado College?

68% of enrolled students at Colorado College had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.93, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
44.4%
3.75–3.99
23.2%
3.50–3.74
18.9%
3.25–3.49
9.7%
3.00–3.24
3.1%
2.50–2.99
0.7%
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Colorado College.

What does Colorado College weight in admissions?

Colorado College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

Important

5
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Extracurricular activities

Considered

13
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Interview
  • Talent/ability
  • Character/personal qualities
  • First generation status
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience
  • Level of applicant's interest

How Colorado College reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

SAT and ACT scores Colorado College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 590–730. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1240
50th percentile1340
75th percentile1430
% submitting SAT28%
ACT Composite
25th percentile28
50th percentile32
75th percentile34
% submitting ACT12%
Current testing policy
  • • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Test-optional for all applicants, incl. homeschool; scores used only if they help.
  • • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Colorado College's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class58.1%
Top 25% of class86.3%
Top 50% of class97.4%
% submitting class rank22.6%

How much does Colorado College actually cost?

Published tuition is $70,734 for in-state students and $70,734 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,020 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $33,375 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants.

In-state tuition$75,702
Room and board—
Average net price (after aid)$33,375
Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need100%
Average need-based grant$65,911
Average merit award, no financial need37 first-year students received one$9,466
Graduates who borrowed31%
Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed$24,659
Financial aid formsFAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list
Application fee$0

Application deadlines and early decision data for Colorado College

Regular admission
Regular deadline1/15
Notification date3/12
Reply deadline5/1
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadlineNovember 1
Offers Early Decision IIYes
ED II deadlineJanuary 15
ED acceptance rate (all rounds)36%
Offers Early ActionYes
EA deadlineNovember 1

Will my child graduate from Colorado College?

These predict outcomes at Colorado College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Freshman retention
93%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
74.21%
finished on time
6-year graduation
86.17%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at Colorado College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Colorado College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Political Science and Government and Natural Resources Conservation and Research. Across all programs, Colorado College confers roughly 294 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $84,600 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Economics60$84,600
Political Science and Government51n/a
Natural Resources Conservation and Research43n/a
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other33n/a
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology31n/a
Psychology, General28n/a
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences24n/a
Neurobiology and Neurosciences24n/a
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is Colorado College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Colorado College disclosed 28 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 13.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 7 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Total offenses
28
13.9 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
7
3.48 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
10
4.97 per 1,000
Burglary
6
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 2,014 enrolled.

What is campus life like at Colorado College?

About 76% of undergraduates at Colorado College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 12% of men join a fraternity and 14% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Live on campus
76%
of undergraduates
Classes under 20 students
75%
of course sections
Classes of 100 or more
0%
of course sections
In fraternities
12%
of men
In sororities
14%
of women
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Colorado College.

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Common questions parents ask about Colorado College

What GPA do I need for Colorado College?

68% of enrolled students at Colorado College had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.93, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What SAT or ACT score does Colorado College typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 590–730. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33.

How much does Colorado College actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Colorado College after grants and scholarships is $33,375 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $70,734. Budget against the net figure.

Is Colorado College realistic for my child?

Colorado College admits 22% of applicants, so 590–730 SAT Math is target range and below 590 is a reach. Then check the $33,375 average net price against what your family can carry.

What is the acceptance rate at Colorado College?

Colorado College accepts about 22% of applicants out of roughly 8,822 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.

Is Colorado College test-optional?

Yes. Colorado College is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.

What is the graduation rate at Colorado College?

About 86% of students at Colorado College graduate within six years, and 74% finish in four years. 93% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Colorado College?

Colorado College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 36%, compared with its overall rate of 22%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.

Is Colorado College a public or private school, and where is it located?

Colorado College is a private nonprofit institution located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

What are the most popular majors at Colorado College?

The largest undergraduate majors at Colorado College by annual graduates are Economics, Political Science and Government and Natural Resources Conservation and Research. The school awards about 294 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is Colorado College safe? What is its campus crime rate?

Colorado College reported 28 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 13.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.

What is campus life like at Colorado College?

At Colorado College, 76% of undergraduates live on campus, 12% of men are in fraternities, 14% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Colorado College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers