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Downtown Fort Collins ColoradoPhoto: Citycommunications at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
Colleges in and near Fort Collins

Fort Collins is a college town: 20 of every 100 residents are students

Colorado State University-Fort Collins (29,003 students on campus) and IBMC College (306) are inside the city. Across Colorado, 6 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town20% of residents are studentsColorado State University-Fort Collins

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Fort Collins. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
29,309 students on campus
Nearest college
1.2 mi
IBMC College
Residents in college
20%
Above CO (6%)
Nearest community college
18.5 mi
Aims · $2,258 tuition
Nearest public university
2 mi
Colorado State University-Fort Collins · $13,373 in-state
Students on campus in Fort Collins
29,309
next to 171,500 residents

What stands out about college in Fort Collins

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town20 of every 100 Fort Collins residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Colorado.A university in Fort CollinsColorado State University-Fort Collins has 29,003 students on campus in Fort Collins, 67% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Colorado State University-Fort CollinsLiving in Colorado, Colorado State University-Fort Collins charges $13,373 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $34,783. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 18.5 miles awayAims Community College in Greeley: tuition and fees $2,258 a year for Colorado residents.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in Fort Collins

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

20 of every 100 Fort Collins residents are in college (CO: 6).

29,309students on campus at Fort Collins’ 2 colleges, next to 171,500 residents (dorm students count as residents)
26,822college students live in Fort Collins households rather than dorms
30.9median age · CO 37.7
51%of residents are women · CO 49% (±0.5 points)
48%of homes rented · CO 34%
$1,690median rent · 4% below the state
Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO
Cost of living$1,690/mo median rentDSafetyCrime reported to the FBIC−HealthCDC estimatesAJobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundA−HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change Fort Collins’ other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income A−

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 16.0% of Fort Collins residents are below the poverty line, 8.3% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 2 points either way). 53% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living D

The Cost grade counts the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent, leaving it out only where students are a quarter of residents or more. Here they are 20%, so student incomes still weigh on that figure.

Health A

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Fort Collins’ median age is 30.9 (Colorado 37.7), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety C−

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Fort Collins

One private college within 1.2 miles, and one public college within 2 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miColorado State University-Fort CollinsIBMC CollegeFort Collins
University or collegeCommunity college
IBMC CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 306 on campus · In Fort Collins$35knet price86%graduate$34kearningsColorado State University-Fort CollinsUniversity or college · Public · 29,003 on campus · In Fort Collins89%admitted$21knet price67%graduate$61kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Fort Collins’ median household income ($85,070) falls.

Colorado State University-Fort CollinsIn Fort Collins · sticker $31,642$21,927a year
IBMC CollegeIn Fort Collins · sticker $37,025$36,109a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Fort Collins: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →IBMC CollegeColorado State University-Fort Collins
Colorado State University-Fort Collins67% graduate$61k earnings$20k typical debt
IBMC College86% graduate$34k earnings$9k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Fort Collins

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Fort Collins’ 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 15%Biology 14%Engineering 8%Social sciences 7%Psychology 7%Agriculture 6%Everything else 42%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and OperationsColorado State University-Fort Collins · 679 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralColorado State University-Fort Collins · 330 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralColorado State University-Fort Collins · 284 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Zoology/Animal BiologyColorado State University-Fort Collins · 234 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessColorado State University-Fort Collins · 217 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Mechanical EngineeringColorado State University-Fort Collins · 201 graduates a year
$94k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralColorado State University-Fort Collins · 200 graduates a year
$114k4 yrs out
Construction Engineering Technology/TechnicianColorado State University-Fort Collins · 165 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Fort Collins

Is Fort Collins a college town?

Yes. 20 of every 100 Fort Collins residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 6 across Colorado. Colorado State University-Fort Collins has 29,003 students on campus, next to 171,500 residents.

What colleges are in Fort Collins?

Colorado State University-Fort Collins and IBMC College are inside the city. Aims Community College is 18.5 miles away in Greeley.

Why is Fort Collins’ poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 16.0% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 8.3% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 2 points).

What is the closest community college to Fort Collins, and what does it cost?

Aims Community College in Greeley, 18.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,258 a year for Colorado residents; the federal net price, $11,463, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

Colorado State University-Fort Collins admitted 89% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Fort Collins. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →