University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado · Public, a midsize city · 31,939 undergraduates
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Is it hard to get into CU Boulder?
The middle half of admitted students scored in these ranges: a quarter scored lower, a quarter higher. Fall 2024 admissions, from the College Scorecard.
Acceptance rate
78.1%
56,069 applied
SAT, middle half
1240 to 1430
Reading plus math, out of 1600
ACT, middle half
29 to 33
Composite, out of 36
Test scores this year
Optional: considered if sent
16% of admitted students enrolled
- What they look at
- High school GPARequired
- Class rankConsidered
- Courses takenRequired
- College-prep programRequired
- RecommendationsRequired
- EssayRequired
How much does CU Boulder cost?
Sticker prices and what students actually paid after grants, by family income. A year means tuition, fees, room, board, books and other costs.
Tuition and fees, Colorado residents
$17,513
Tuition and fees, out of state
$47,142
A full year, sticker price
$37,189
Living on campus
Average price after grants
$23,708
Students who got federal aid
What a year cost, by family income
| Family income | Average paid after grants |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $13,403 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $13,558 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $16,684 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $21,719 |
| Over $110,000 | $34,026 |
- Room and board on campus
- $19,838 a year; $18,684 off campus
- Books and supplies
- $1,200 a year
- The school's own grants
- 53% of full-time first-years get one, averaging $8,391
Tuition over the years
Tuition and fees for a year, as reported to the federal government.
How much do CU Boulder students borrow?
Federal student loans only, for students who borrowed.
Typical debt at graduation
$18,500
About $210 a month over ten years
Students who borrow
26%
Get a Pell Grant
17.1%
Federal grant for lower-income families
Over 25 when they start
5%
What do CU Boulder graduates earn?
Typical yearly pay of everyone who started here with federal aid, whatever they studied and whether or not they finished.
Six years after starting
$62,700
Ten years after starting
$77,574
Middle half: $50,513 to $115,414
Best-paid program, five years out
$132,192
Computer Science
Lowest-paid program, five years out
$45,033
Fine and Studio Arts
Do CU Boulder students finish?
Of the students who started full time, first time.
Back for second year
90.1%
Graduate in six years
74.3%
The four-year figure is for a later, smaller group, so it is not shown
After eight years
74% graduated
16% transferred, 1% still enrolled
Who goes to CU Boulder?
Women
47.3%
First in their family at college
20.4%
Part-time
9.6%
Students per teacher
19
- Background
- White 67%, Hispanic 14%, Black 2%, Asian 6%, Two or more 7%, International 3%
- Housing
- Campus housing, 7,550 beds
What do CU Boulder graduates earn, by program?
Every bachelor's program the school awards, with what its graduates earn and owe. The government hides pay for small programs, so some rows have no figure.
Computer science
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 869 | $88,113 | $132,192 | $19,500 |
| Information Science/Studies | 97 | $69,271 | Hidden | $21,500 |
Engineering
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 424 | $80,376 | $124,696 | $22,750 |
| Architectural Engineering | 61 | $74,539 | $87,835 | Hidden |
| Biochemical Engineering | 110 | $71,933 | $93,329 | $22,750 |
| Biological/Biosystems Engineering | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 68 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Chemical Engineering | 87 | $77,317 | $104,576 | $15,000 |
| Civil Engineering | 119 | $75,607 | $91,401 | $12,500 |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | 108 | $87,681 | Hidden | $14,450 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 67 | $81,616 | $109,133 | $21,500 |
| Engineering Physics | 52 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | 130 | $40,573 | Hidden | $17,536 |
| Engineering, General | 60 | Hidden | Hidden | $21,875 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 102 | $68,398 | $86,358 | $17,504 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 545 | $76,354 | $98,220 | $15,000 |
Business and commerce
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 2,348 | $64,841 | $93,489 | $18,400 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Health sciences and kinesiology
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 125 | $34,412 | $57,541 | $15,946 |
| Public Health | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Life sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 132 | $49,275 | $75,662 | $17,849 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 279 | $39,411 | $66,126 | $19,498 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 369 | $38,421 | $59,682 | $18,625 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 397 | $45,812 | $69,983 | $15,050 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 280 | $39,261 | $77,876 | $19,875 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 688 | $41,693 | $78,262 | $19,500 |
Math and physical sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Mathematics | 77 | $79,383 | Hidden | Hidden |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 139 | $44,591 | $79,907 | $19,108 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 33 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Chemistry | 60 | $52,502 | Hidden | $25,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 45 | $52,384 | $71,582 | Hidden |
| Mathematics | 172 | $49,977 | $90,201 | $19,500 |
| Physics | 145 | $54,506 | $93,212 | $18,506 |
| Statistics | 36 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Arts and humanities
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 30 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 32 | Hidden | $50,007 | Hidden |
| English Language and Literature, General | 200 | $34,220 | $58,653 | $14,417 |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 12 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| History | 154 | $44,638 | $54,456 | $19,500 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 51 | Hidden | $47,319 | Hidden |
| Philosophy | 128 | $40,014 | $90,759 | $16,125 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 7 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 90 | Hidden | $65,084 | Hidden |
Education (teaching)
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education, General | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 128 | $47,144 | Hidden | $19,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 22 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Fine and performing arts
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dance | 20 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 51 | $27,927 | $48,268 | $21,943 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 158 | $31,401 | $48,017 | $19,400 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 141 | $38,687 | $45,033 | $17,500 |
| Music | 125 | $30,084 | $53,386 | $13,079 |
Architecture and design
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Design | 266 | $51,087 | $69,875 | $17,500 |
General arts and science (major chosen later)
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography and Environmental Studies | 100 | Hidden | Hidden | $17,313 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 229 | $46,109 | $71,673 | $20,225 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 51 | Hidden | Hidden | $23,990 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Compare CU Boulder with other universities
Side by side: acceptance rates, scores, costs and pay.
Where these numbers come from
College Scorecard release 10152026, Most Recent Cohorts files, fetched 2026-10-20. Test policy: the school's page (opens in a new tab). Tuition history, housing and the school's own grants: the federal IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) survey.
How every figure in this part of the site is sourced, and the check of every link.
Careerhelp is not affiliated with University of Colorado Boulder. Figures describe past students; check the school's own pages before you apply.
Social sciences