Est. Earnings (1yr)
$59,490
Est. from national median (153 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,185
Est. from national median (112 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 suggests a manageable financial path, though the estimated first-year salary of $59,490 falls noticeably short of what similar programs across Colorado typically produce. With the state median at $67,206, comparable MIS programs appear to deliver about $8,000 more in starting earnings—a gap worth investigating. Colorado State University Global's graduates earn around $74,960, showing what's possible in this field within the state, though Metro State's outcomes land closer to what peer programs nationally suggest for this credential.

The estimated $23,185 in debt sits slightly below national norms for MIS bachelor's programs, which is positive. Still, the earnings lag means Colorado Mesa graduates could face a longer runway to financial stability than peers at other state schools. MIS programs generally lead to solid tech-adjacent careers, but location matters—Grand Junction's smaller job market may influence both starting salaries and career progression compared to Front Range opportunities.

For families weighing this investment, the moderate debt paired with below-state-average earnings creates uncertainty. If your student plans to stay in western Colorado or values the smaller campus environment, this could work. But if maximizing early career earnings matters most, programs closer to Denver or online options with stronger salary outcomes deserve consideration before committing.

Where Colorado Mesa University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all management information systems and services bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Colorado

Management Information Systems and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Colorado (6 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction$9,712$59,490*$23,185*
Colorado State University GlobalDenver$8,400$74,960*$89,876$24,234*0.32
Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver$10,780$59,451*$72,945$26,482*0.45
National Median$59,490*$24,000*0.40
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with management information systems and services graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Colorado Mesa University, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 153 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.