Landscape Architecture at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State's landscape architecture program carries estimated debt of about $26,000—right at the national median for this field—against first-year earnings that also track with national norms around $53,000. By year four, earnings climb to nearly $60,000, suggesting steady professional progression. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 means graduates are looking at roughly half a year's salary in debt, which falls into manageable territory for many families.

What's worth noting is that this is Colorado's only landscape architecture bachelor's program, which could mean strong regional placement but also limited in-state alternatives for comparison. The earnings trajectory from year one to year four shows healthy growth in a field where professional licensure and project experience typically drive compensation upward. Similar programs nationally produce fairly consistent outcomes, suggesting this is a profession with relatively stable entry points regardless of location.

The practical takeaway: if your child is committed to landscape architecture and wants to stay in Colorado, this program appears financially viable with debt that shouldn't overwhelm typical early-career salaries. The caveat is that these figures are drawn from peer programs nationally rather than actual CSU graduate outcomes, so there's uncertainty about how this specific program performs. Still, the consistency across landscape architecture programs nationally suggests the field itself has reasonably predictable economics.