The State of Colorado today released “Colorado Rises: Maximizing Value for Students and our State,” the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s annual return on investment report.
The report details four key factors in determining the ROI in higher education, including price, debt, choice and value.
The report states that “given low state investment—Colorado ranks 47th in the nation for state appropriations for postsecondary education—institutions have worked hard to keep in-state tuition costs close to the national average.”
“We appreciate Gov. Polis and the Colorado Department of Higher Education for focusing on the ROI of a college degree,” said Chancellor Philip DiStefano. “In addition to offering one of the highest graduation and job placement rates in the state, we remain committed to ensuring affordability for Colorado students by consistently increasing scholarships and financial aid while keeping tuition stable.”
In the spring of 2019, the University of Colorado Board of Regents voted to approve tuition and fees for the 2019–20 academic year, which includes a zero percent tuition increase and slight reduction in mandatory fees for incoming Colorado resident freshman and transfer students on the CU Boulder campus.
At the time, Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Kelly Fox said every year, the university looks for opportunities to offer additional savings for Colorado students and families.
“CU Boulder wants Colorado’s students to earn their degrees and launch their careers here at home,” Fox said. “Colorado residents get to invest in a CU Boulder education knowing tuition rates will not increase for four years, thanks to the undergraduate Colorado resident tuition guarantee.”
The report concludes that earning a postsecondary degree is beneficial to individuals and to society as a whole. Increased earnings potential, higher social mobility, increased civic engagement and a reduced likelihood of involvement with the criminal justice system are all positive outcomes achieved through investment in postsecondary education and continued efforts to reduce barriers to postsecondary success.
