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Colorado Mesa University
Most applicants get into Colorado Mesa University — 82% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Colorado Mesa University sits in Grand Junction proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $96,708 four years out. Faculty pay averages $92,964 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 8,143 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 78.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 930 and 1180 — below the CO middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Colorado Mesa University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 930–1180 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Colorado Mesa University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 470 | 540 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 460 | 520 | 580 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Colorado Mesa University received 10,631 applications and admitted 8,653 (81.4%), with 1,806 enrolling.
How Colorado Mesa University compares
| Colorado Mesa University | Colorado median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 82% | 86.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,927 | $12,750 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $45,823 | $53,445 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Colorado Mesa University's median earnings are $45,823 — below the Colorado benchmark of $53,445. Weigh that against the $9,927 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Colorado Mesa University prices by residency: $9,927 in-state versus $25,124 out-of-state — a $15,197 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Colorado Mesa University enrolls 8,143 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Colorado Mesa University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
40.6% graduate within six years. Roughly 59% don't — ask a Colorado Mesa University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Colorado Mesa University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $96,708 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $81,319 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $74,932 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $72,815 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $71,577 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $69,297 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,708 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $57,897 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $54,717 |
| Psychology, General | $54,321 |
| Social Work | $50,441 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $50,384 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $49,348 |
| Biology, General | $45,737 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $44,651 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $43,733 |
| Sociology | $42,701 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $32,144 |
Median earnings for these 18 Colorado Mesa University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $45,823 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 20 additional Colorado Mesa University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Colorado Mesa University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 930–1180 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 82% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Colorado Mesa University's acceptance rate?
81.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 8,653 admitted from 10,631 applicants.
How much does Colorado Mesa University cost?
In-state tuition is $9,927; out-of-state students pay $25,124. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Colorado Mesa University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $45,823 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Colorado
- Fort Lewis College — 77.3% admitted
- University of Denver — 77.8% admitted
- Colorado School of Mines — 60.7% admitted
- University of Colorado Boulder — 78.1% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.