Fort Lewis College
Fort Lewis College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Fort Lewis College at a Glance
Fort Lewis College (FLC) is a public liberal arts college in Durango, Colorado, and the only four-year and graduate studies institution in the Four Corners region. FLC, in various forms, has been a U.S. military fort, an Indian boarding school, and eventually a public college.
1911
115 years old
$38M
$38.1 million (2025)
3,544
3,393 undergrad · 152 grad
247 acres
Identity
Is Fort Lewis College Worth It?
At a value score of 26/100, Fort Lewis College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $46,349 — 14% below average — while paying $17,296/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 39% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Fort Lewis College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Fort Lewis College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CO
Ranked #119 of 146 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 |
| #119 | Fort Lewis College | 26 | $17,296 | $46,349 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Fort Lewis College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 5 in CO.
Best Programs at Fort Lewis College
The highest-earning program at Fort Lewis College is Accounting and Related Services at $40,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Psychology, General at $19,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Accounting and Related Services graduate from Fort Lewis College earns $40,900, while a Psychology, General graduate earns $19,800. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Accounting and Related Services graduates carry $24,250 in median debt vs. $21,872 for Psychology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $17,296/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $40,900 | $40,900 | $24,250 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $35,500 | $35,500 | $20,500 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $33,600 | $33,600 | $16,970 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $30,400 | $30,400 | $18,750 |
| Marketing | $28,300 | $28,300 | $19,700 |
| Chemistry | $27,500 | $27,500 | N/A |
| Anthropology | $26,800 | $26,800 | $19,819 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $25,900 | $25,900 | $20,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $25,400 | $25,400 | N/A |
| Biology, General | $24,900 | $24,900 | $20,616 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,700 | $22,700 | $18,875 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $22,500 | $22,500 | $17,046 |
| Sociology | $20,100 | $20,100 | $17,349 |
| Psychology, General | $19,800 | $19,800 | $21,872 |
Similar Colleges in CO
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Durango, CO
- Student Body
- 3,079 students
- Admission Rate
- 77%
- Graduation Rate
- 39%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $17,296
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $46,349
- Median Student Debt
- $18,389