Colorado Mountain College
Colorado Mountain College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Colorado Mountain College at a Glance
Colorado Mountain College (CMC) is a public community college with multiple campuses in western Colorado, and headquartered in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
1967
59 years old
14,000
4,904 undergrad
Identity
Is Colorado Mountain College Worth It?
At a value score of 38/100, Colorado Mountain College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $44,127 — 18% below average — while paying $7,813/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 27% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 3 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $9,000 is manageable at just 20% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Colorado Mountain College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Colorado Mountain College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CO
Ranked #100 of 210 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chipola College | 100 | $1,133 | $37,378 |
| #2 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #3 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #4 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #5 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #6 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #100 | Colorado Mountain College | 38 | $7,813 | $44,127 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Colorado Mountain College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in CO.
Best Programs at Colorado Mountain College
The highest-earning program at Colorado Mountain College is Business Administration, Management and Operations at $36,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Sustainability Studies at $21,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Business Administration, Management and Operations graduate from Colorado Mountain College earns $36,600, while a Sustainability Studies graduate earns $21,100. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations graduates carry $11,500 in median debt vs. $17,957 for Sustainability Studies.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $7,813/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $36,600 | $36,600 | $11,500 |
| Sustainability Studies | $21,100 | $21,100 | $17,957 |
Similar Colleges in CO
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Glenwood Springs, CO
- Student Body
- 2,816 students
- Graduation Rate
- 27%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $7,813
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $44,127
- Median Student Debt
- $9,000