University of Colorado Boulder
#7 Best Computer Science Colleges in Colorado- Graduation Rate
- 75% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $69,738 A
- Top 8% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $25,346 D
- 48% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 78% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.8 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Computer Science Colleges in Colorado.
Every $1 spent returns $18.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,799,702.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 71% more than the national college median.
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A 75% graduation rate — 31% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #67
- Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 58/100
- Times Higher Education
Why University of Colorado Boulder Matters
University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university in Boulder, CO ranked #67 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 8% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 31,939
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Engineering, Biology & Biomedical, Communications
Why students choose University of Colorado Boulder
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 78% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1240–1430. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $25,346 a year after grants and scholarships — 48% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $69,738 ten years after enrolling — 71% above the typical college, against $19,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.86 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Colorado Boulder has a large enrollment of 31,939 students, making it a vibrant campus bustling with activity. With an acceptance rate of 78%, it's an accessible option for many students seeking a public university experience in a scenic location.
According to recent data, graduates from CU Boulder earn a median salary of $69,738 ten years after completing their degree. While specific mobility metrics are not available, the general trend indicates that students from various backgrounds can find pathways to success post-graduation. This suggests a supportive environment for students aiming to improve their economic standing.
The net price for attending CU Boulder is approximately $25,346, with a median debt of $19,500. Students who thrive here are typically those pursuing degrees in Business, Engineering, Biology, Communications, or Psychology. With a graduation rate of 75%, students can expect a solid return on their investment in education.
Rankings
- #7 Best Computer Science Colleges in Colorado
- #7 Best Data Science Colleges in Colorado
- #9 Best Biology Colleges in Colorado
- #10 Best Bachelor's Programs in Colorado
- #10 Best Business Colleges in Colorado
- #11 Best Master's Programs in Colorado
- #11 Best Psychology Colleges in Colorado
- #12 Best Colleges in Colorado
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Colorado Boulder is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Colorado Boulder? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Colorado Boulder, located in Boulder, Colorado, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,357. The graduation rate is roughly 75%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Retention Rate
- 90%
- SAT Average
- 1357
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1240–1430
- ACT Range
- 29–33
- Full-Time Faculty
- 76%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $13,324
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.52
- First-Gen Students
- 20%
- Applicants
- 53,781
- Admitted
- 43,416
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Colorado Boulder is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 14% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 14%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 25%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 7%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 32% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Colorado Boulder? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Colorado Boulder is $44,918, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,346. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,231 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $15,666
- Out-of-State
- $44,918
- Avg Net Price
- $25,346
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 14%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 25%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,231
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,381
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,828
- Family Income $110K+
- $34,818
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Colorado Boulder — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Colorado Boulder Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $69,738, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $54,939
- 8 Years
- $64,625
- 10 Years
- $69,738
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (2,889)
- 50%
- 100% (2,889)
- 50%
- 100% (2,889)
- 50%
- 100% (2,889)
- 50%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Colorado Boulder Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Colorado Boulder delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $25,346/year ($101,384 total). Graduates earn $69,738 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,901,086 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,799,702 (18.8× your investment). The median debt is $19,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 75% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $101,384
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,901,086
- Net Return
- $1,799,702
- ROI Multiple
- 18.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $25,346
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 75%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is University of Colorado Boulder? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Colorado Boulder at #67 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 58/100, teaching at 46/100, and citation impact of 83/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #67
- Teaching
- 46.4
- Research
- 58.1
- Citations
- 83.4
- International
- 31.7
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 58/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 83/100
- Citation impact (THE)
Top Programs
The fields University of Colorado Boulder awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 18% $64,960 early-career
- Engineering 13% $89,357 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 11% $37,337 early-career
- Communications 10% $51,048 early-career
- Social Sciences 9% $53,694 early-career
- Psychology 8% $38,215 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $90,209 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $31,771 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Colorado Boulder's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Colorado Boulder? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Colorado Boulder, located in Boulder, Colorado, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,357. The graduation rate is roughly 75%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Colorado Boulder? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Colorado Boulder is $44,918, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,346. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,231 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
Is University of Colorado Boulder Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $69,738, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Colorado Boulder? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Colorado Boulder. Its economic connectedness score is 1.86, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University of Colorado Boulder? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Colorado Boulder at #67 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 58/100, teaching at 46/100, and citation impact of 83/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does University of Colorado Boulder offer Early Decision?
No. University of Colorado Boulder does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is University of Colorado Boulder really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 32% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of Colorado Boulder (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Colorado Boulder?
About 14% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Colorado Boulder — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Compare University of Colorado Boulder
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Colorado Boulder.
- The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL · Close peer74% grad $59,221 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN · Close peer85% grad $69,020 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR · Close peer70% grad $64,010 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY · Close peer74% grad $70,814 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · Close peer80% grad $69,954 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of IowaIowa City, IA · Close peer74% grad $64,762 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Colorado Boulder? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Colorado Boulder. Its economic connectedness score is 1.86, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note