University of Colorado Boulder
PublicBoulder, CO
The University of Colorado Boulder was founded in 1876 and serves as Colorado's flagship public research university. It is one of 38 public institutions in the Association of American Universities and holds a Carnegie R1 research classification, with five colleges and schools. CU Boulder is home to five Nobel laureates since 1989 and is the only university to have sent scientific instruments to every planet in the solar system, alongside research initiatives such as the CUbit Quantum Initiative.
Admissions
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.
Where do you stand against University of Colorado Boulder's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow University of Colorado Boulder weighs your application
From University of Colorado Boulder's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what University of Colorado Boulder weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of Colorado Boulder look for in applicants?
Per University of Colorado Boulder's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is University of Colorado Boulder's acceptance rate?
University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO admits approximately 78% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for University of Colorado Boulder?
Admitted students at University of Colorado Boulder typically score between 1240–1430 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).
What ACT score do I need for University of Colorado Boulder?
Admitted students at University of Colorado Boulder typically score between 29–33 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).
How much does University of Colorado Boulder cost?
University of Colorado Boulder's total cost of attendance is reported at $37,684 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for University of Colorado Boulder?
University of Colorado Boulder's earliest deadline is Nov 15, 2026 (EA), per its own published admissions calendar.
Does University of Colorado Boulder require students to live on campus?
No -- University of Colorado Boulder doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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