Adams State University
Adams State University's acceptance rate is 99.2% (2022). Its six-year graduation rate is 32% and its four-year rate is 20% (2024). Overall completion within 150% of normal time is 39%. In-state tuition and fees are $9,824 and out-of-state tuition and fees are $21,944 (2024). Fall enrollment is 2,901 students, and 3,853 enrolled over the full 12-month year (2024). Source: IPEDS.
About
Adams State University is a public university in Alamosa, Colorado, United States. The university's Adams State Grizzlies athletic teams compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 15.5-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 50 Title IV programs, 9 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 41 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing9 · 18.0%
- No Data41 · 82.0%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Higher Learning Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 4
Action history · 3
- Aug 2022Renewal of AccreditationHigher Learning Commission
- Jun 2018Accreditation Reaffirmed: Probation RemovedHigher Learning Commission
- Aug 2014Change in Agency recognitionNational Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation · Music (MUS) - Institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and/or non-degree-granting programs
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 755 students received $4.0M in Pell grants, alongside $18.8M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 905 borrowers who entered repayment, 30 (3.3%) defaulted within three years — above the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Adams State
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 11
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus9
Includes 7 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Data quality: 3 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Adams State vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Adams State selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectAdams State University | 32% | 99.2% | 2,901 | $12,980 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Chicago State University | 15% | 43.3% | 2,238 | $12,335 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 75% | 22.7% | 3,793 | $20,723 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Delta State University | 48% | 100.0% | 2,654 | $13,540 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
East Central University | 34% | 58.1% | 3,377 | $8,683 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | 39% | 91.7% | 5,725 | $4,904 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Framingham State University | 48% | 83.6% | 4,002 | $16,114 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Frostburg State University | 50% | 89.2% | 4,104 | $16,715 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Governors State University | 21% | 48.3% | 4,397 | $12,329 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Minnesota State University Moorhead | 57% | 58.8% | 4,386 | $17,997 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
New Mexico Highlands University | 27% | Open admission | 2,704 | $14,838 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Plymouth State University | 52% | 87.5% | 3,707 | $19,216 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | 44% | 75.3% | 4,732 | $14,027 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Southern Oregon University | 43% | 88.6% | 5,113 | $16,732 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Southwest Minnesota State University | 44% | 62.2% | 8,214 | $15,291 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Sul Ross State University | 30% | 98.7% | 2,384 | $13,286 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
SUNY Polytechnic Institute | 55% | 81.3% | 2,733 | $14,164 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
University of Baltimore | 38% | 78.7% | 3,187 | $13,868 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
University of Houston-Victoria | 26% | 95.9% | 3,586 | $8,109 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
University of Illinois Springfield | 52% | 85.9% | 4,628 | $9,833 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
University of North Texas at Dallas | 42% | 84.5% | 3,794 | $6,420 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Wayne State College | 52% | Open admission | 4,666 | $15,360 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Western New Mexico University | 26% | Open admission | 3,531 | $8,522 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Western Oregon University | 47% | 98.1% | 3,722 | $17,237 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
Westfield State University | 54% | 81.4% | 4,588 | $16,721 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Peer group median | 44% | 84.0% | 3,793 | $14,027 |
Institutions like Adams State
Explore the federal data for institutions in Adams State's comparison group.
- Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsIllinois
Chicago State University
Grad rate15%Admit rate43.3%Enrollment2,238Net price$12,335 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsSouth Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Grad rate75%Admit rate22.7%Enrollment3,793Net price$20,723 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMississippi
Delta State University
Grad rate48%Admit rate100.0%Enrollment2,654Net price$13,540 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsOklahoma
East Central University
Grad rate34%Admit rate58.1%Enrollment3,377Net price$8,683 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew Mexico
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus
Grad rate39%Admit rate91.7%Enrollment5,725Net price$4,904 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMassachusetts
Framingham State University
Grad rate48%Admit rate83.6%Enrollment4,002Net price$16,114 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMaryland
Frostburg State University
Grad rate50%Admit rate89.2%Enrollment4,104Net price$16,715 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsIllinois
Governors State University
Grad rate21%Admit rate48.3%Enrollment4,397Net price$12,329 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMinnesota
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Grad rate57%Admit rate58.8%Enrollment4,386Net price$17,997 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew Mexico
New Mexico Highlands University
Grad rate27%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment2,704Net price$14,838 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew Hampshire
Plymouth State University
Grad rate52%Admit rate87.5%Enrollment3,707Net price$19,216 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsArkansas
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Grad rate44%Admit rate75.3%Enrollment4,732Net price$14,027 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsOregon
Southern Oregon University
Grad rate43%Admit rate88.6%Enrollment5,113Net price$16,732 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMinnesota
Southwest Minnesota State University
Grad rate44%Admit rate62.2%Enrollment8,214Net price$15,291 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsTexas
Sul Ross State University
Grad rate30%Admit rate98.7%Enrollment2,384Net price$13,286 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew York
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Grad rate55%Admit rate81.3%Enrollment2,733Net price$14,164 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMaryland
University of Baltimore
Grad rate38%Admit rate78.7%Enrollment3,187Net price$13,868 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsTexas
University of Houston-Victoria
Grad rate26%Admit rate95.9%Enrollment3,586Net price$8,109 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsIllinois
University of Illinois Springfield
Grad rate52%Admit rate85.9%Enrollment4,628Net price$9,833 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsTexas
University of North Texas at Dallas
Grad rate42%Admit rate84.5%Enrollment3,794Net price$6,420 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNebraska
Wayne State College
Grad rate52%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment4,666Net price$15,360 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew Mexico
Western New Mexico University
Grad rate26%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment3,531Net price$8,522 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsOregon
Western Oregon University
Grad rate47%Admit rate98.1%Enrollment3,722Net price$17,237 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMassachusetts
Westfield State University
Grad rate54%Admit rate81.4%Enrollment4,588Net price$16,721
Adams State Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The mission of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness is to take an active role in advancing the institutional goal to become the university community of choice for diverse groups by providing guidance and service in the fields of research, accreditation, planning, and data management.
Visit IR office page- Dr. Becky Meidinger
Research funding
External research funding from NSF, NIH, HERD, and federal spending sources.
Common Data Set
Adams State's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Source publications
Reports & documents (3)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookFacts and Census Reports - Institutional Effectiveness - Adams State UniversityThe page provides information on the enrollment and demographics of Adams State University through various dashboards and reports. The Office of Institutional Effectiveness compiles data such as enrollment trends, degrees granted, persistence by ethnicity/gender, and admission yield. It serves as a resource for institutional data and is connected to external data resources like IPEDS and CDHE.adams.edu
- Strategic planAdams State Strategic Plan2023Adams State University's Strategic Plan 2025-2030 focuses on providing equitable education and promoting success, especially for underserved communities, as Colorado’s premier Hispanic-Serving Institution. With the vision to transform education into a social good, the plan outlines four pillars: Academics, Students, Human Agency and Infrastructure, and Place - each with defined priorities to enhance educational experiences, personal development, resource management, and community engagement. The plan emphasizes the importance of servingness, innovation, professional development, and data-mindedness to optimize opportunities for students, faculty, and the broader community.adams.edu
Notable alumni of Adams State (35)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Carmen Roybal Arteaga
- Gene Carpenter
- Tony Case
- Connie Claussen
- Robert E. DeNier
- Anthony Drealan
- Ted Egger
- Gary W. Gallagher
- Nino Giarratano
- Sydney Gidabuday
- Grace Padilla
- Jarrell Harrison
Frequently asked questions about Adams State University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Adams State University.
What is the acceptance rate at Adams State University?
What is the graduation rate at Adams State University?
How many students attend Adams State University?
What is the average net price at Adams State University?
What is the yield rate at Adams State University?
Where is Adams State University located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Adams State University?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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