University of Colorado Boulder
#7 Best Computer Science Colleges in ColoradoBottom 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.
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What The Data Says
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Graduates earn 71% more than the national college median.
A 75% graduation rate — 31% above the national average.
Every $1 invested returns $18.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
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
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, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 78% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,357. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 75%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Colorado Boulder, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $44,918 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $25,346 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,231 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,500.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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
On the global stage, 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.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Top Programs
The fields University of Colorado Boulder awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Colorado Boulder's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Colorado Boulder? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
University of Colorado Boulder, located in Boulder, Colorado, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 78% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,357. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 75%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Colorado Boulder? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Colorado Boulder, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $44,918 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $25,346 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,231 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,500.
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 national averages for 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.86 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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 +
On the global stage, 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.
Compare University of Colorado Boulder
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Colorado Boulder.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.86 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note