University of Colorado Boulder
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want a major research university experience. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $59,700 within 10 years.
About This School
University of Colorado Boulder is a public institution located in Boulder, Colorado with approximately 31,939 undergraduate students enrolled. University of Colorado Boulder has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 78%. The average net price after financial aid is $25,346 per year. The graduation rate is 74%, and the typical graduate earns $59,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university in Boulder, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1876, five months before Colorado became a state, it is the flagship university of the University of Colorado system. CU Boulder is a member of the Association of American Universities, is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and has been referred to as a Public Ivy.
A flagship Public Ivy with strong research credentials and surprisingly manageable debt — median borrowing is just $13,000 at graduation — this is a solid option for students who want a big university experience at a reasonable cost. The 75% graduation rate is worth watching, though, meaning roughly 1 in 4 students who start here don't finish, so self-motivated students with a clear plan will get far more out of it than those still figuring things out. If you thrive in a large, active campus environment and can stay on track academically, the value here is hard to argue with.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 16% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
University of Colorado Boulder graduates earn most above the national rate in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($86,441 vs $68,257 nationally), and most below it in Economics ($73,319 vs $82,686).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,201 | $86,441 | $68,257 | +$18,184 |
| Psychology, General | 585 | $56,867 | $50,706 | +$6,161 |
| Computer Science | 483 | $121,952 | $107,009 | +$14,943 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 411 | $74,779 | $63,560 | +$11,219 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 351 | $71,444 | $62,172 | +$9,272 |
| Political Science and Government | 281 | $69,651 | $63,293 | +$6,358 |
| Economics | 272 | $73,319 | $82,686 | −$9,367 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 262 | $93,073 | $92,135 | +$938 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 218 | $116,350 | $98,207 | +$18,143 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 206 | $63,337 | $55,012 | +$8,325 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 201 | $66,623 | $56,359 | +$10,264 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 194 | $53,429 | $48,842 | +$4,587 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (31,939 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
University of Colorado Boulder
Regent Drive at Broadway
Boulder, CO 80309-0017
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
University of Colorado Boulder is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of Colorado Boulder?
University of Colorado Boulder has an acceptance rate of 78%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is University of Colorado Boulder hard to get into?
Not especially. University of Colorado Boulder has an acceptance rate of 78%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does University of Colorado Boulder cost?
The average net price at University of Colorado Boulder is about $25,346 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at University of Colorado Boulder?
University of Colorado Boulder has a graduation rate of 74%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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