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Climate Science Degree in Denver, CO — Salary & ROI 2026

Climate Science degree analysis for Denver, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$92K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$134K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

2.2 yrs

in Denver

Cost of Living

128

index (100 = avg)

Climate Science in Denver, CO Overview

Denver is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 74,098. Public tuition averages $11,380/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Climate Science has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Climate Modeling and Data Analysis skills. The adjusted starting salary in Denver is approximately $92,160.

Category

STEM

Local Colleges

31

Public Tuition

$11,380/yr

Private Tuition

$49,039/yr

Room & Board

$14,960/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$8,823/yr

Unemployment

5.8%

Graduation Rate

65%

Climate Science Salary in Denver (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Denver's cost of living index of 128 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$92,160(+$20,160 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$134,400(+$29,400 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$179,200(+$39,200 vs national)

Note: National average Climate Science salary: $72,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Denver adjustment factor: 1.28x based on the local cost of living index.

Climate Science ROI Calculator for Denver

Estimate your return on investment for a Climate Science degree using local Denver tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $49,039

Denver avg aid: $8,823/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$105,360

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$47,360

vs HS diploma in Denver

ROI Payback Period

2.2 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Denver

$22,640

Lifetime earnings premium ($128,000) minus total education cost ($105,360)

Student Loan Payoff for Climate Science in Denver

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$105,360
Monthly Payment$1,196
Total Interest$38,201
% of Monthly Income16%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$105,360
Monthly Payment$2,061
Total Interest$18,329
Interest Savings$19,872

Colleges in Denver for Climate Science

University of Colorado Denver

public

$11,380/yr

$45,520 total

University of Denver

private

$56,268/yr

$225,072 total

Regis University

private

$41,810/yr

$167,240 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Community College of Denver

$4,419/yr

Top Employers for Climate Science in Denver

Denver offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Climate Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:

NOAANASAEPAClimate Analytics

Key Denver Hiring Sectors for STEM

Tech companies

Research labs

Government agencies

Startups

Consulting firms

Common Climate Science Job Titles

Climate ScientistEnvironmental AnalystResearch Scientist

Climate Science Degree in Denver — FAQ

Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.

Explore More

Compare Climate Science ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Denver.

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