Finance and Financial Management Services at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs

Something unusual happens with this program's earnings trajectory. Based on comparable finance bachelor's programs nationally, first-year graduates typically earn around $53,590—but by year four, Colorado Tech graduates report $43,593. That's a $10,000 decline when most careers show growth. Whether this reflects graduates changing fields, regional job market challenges, or simply a quirk of who responded to the survey four years out, it suggests earnings expectations may not follow the typical upward path parents assume.

The estimated $31,000 debt load sits above both national and Colorado medians for finance programs, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 remains manageable if those first-year earnings hold. For context, other Colorado finance programs like University of Denver and Metro State produce similar starting salaries with lower debt burdens around $25,000. With 68% of students receiving Pell grants, Colorado Tech serves a population that may be particularly sensitive to taking on above-average debt for what appears to be uncertain earnings progression.

The clearest concern is that backward earnings slide from year one to year four. If you're considering this program, you need to understand why graduates' incomes appear to decline rather than grow—and whether the specific career services, employer connections, or regional focus might explain outcomes different from typical finance degree holders.