Acceptance Rate
78%
Avg. SAT
1430
75th percentile
“At CU Boulder, you chase Nobel-level physics breakthroughs by day and shred the slopes by night, all under the shadow of the Flatirons.”
Boulder, CO
Location
Midsize City
Campus Setting
Founded in 1876—the same year Colorado joined the union—CU Boulder anchors the state as its flagship public university, born from pioneers' grit amid the Rockies' raw frontier. You'll thrive here if you're adventurous and self-starting, the type who hikes before class and debates quantum mechanics over craft beer; introverts or those craving hand-holding might feel lost in its 35,000-strong undergrad sea. The school's personality radiates laid-back ambition—think Patagonia-clad scientists scaling cliffs—set in Boulder, a midsize city that's a liberal tech haven with Google campuses and farm-to-table vibes, but brace for sky-high rents that force many into carpools or off-campus scrambles. Tradeoffs hit hard: stunning views come with brutal winters and wildfire smoke seasons.
Photo Gallery
+30
+22
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
Test-optional schools still weigh strong scores. Submitting can help.
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
You'll dive into massive lectures on atmospheric science—CU leads the nation here, powering NOAA forecasts—then snag undergrad research at JILA, where profs pioneered Bose-Einstein condensates for Nobel glory. Aerospace engineering churns out satellite designers, while the Leeds business school sharpens entrepreneurs amid a 19:1 student-faculty ratio that means profs know your name only if you push for office hours. Classrooms buzz with Colorado's brainy transplants, fostering debates that spill into Pearl Street coffee shops, but expect weed-out weeding in intro STEM and fewer small seminars than at elite privates.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
32,244 undergrad • 6,555 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
64%
Black / African American
2%
Hispanic / Latino
13%
Asian
6%
Other / Multi-racial
15%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Boulder, CO
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week kicks off with sunrise yoga at Chautauqua Park, segues to tailgates where Ralphie the buffalo thunders onto Folsom Field, and wraps with house parties or climbing at the Vecsort wall. Campus sprawls across hills, demanding bikes or buses, with 30% in Greek life fueling the legendary party rep—fun if you're social, overwhelming if not. Traditions like the Sunset Concert series draw indie bands, and 500+ clubs span ultimate frisbee to quantum hacking, but the vibe skews outdoorsy-activist: you'll bond over ski buses to Eldora, yet navigate hookup culture and isolation if weather grounds you indoors.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Big 12 Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
90%
4 Years Graduation Rate
55%
6 Years Graduation Rate
74%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$69,738
90% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at University of Colorado Boulder and return in the fall. 55% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 74% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
55%
4-5 years
19%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
25%
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Boulder, CO 80309-0017
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