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Boulder , CO
The University of Colorado Boulder, commonly known as CU Boulder, is a prestigious public research university located in Boulder, Colorado. Established in 1876, it is the flagship university of the University of Colorado system. With a stunning campus nestled against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountain foothills, CU Boulder offers a breathtaking setting for its students.
CU Boulder boasts a wide range of academic programs across various disciplines, with its College of Arts and Sciences being the largest school. The university is renowned for its strengths in fields like engineering, business, environmental sciences, psychology, and aerospace. Additionally, CU Boulder is well-known for its research initiatives and is consistently ranked among the top public universities for research funding.
The university provides a vibrant and culturally diverse community, with over 35,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Students benefit from a wealth of opportunities outside the classroom, including numerous clubs, organizations, and sports teams. CU Boulder is also known for its commitment to sustainability, with a strong emphasis on environmental stewardship and renewable energy initiatives. Overall, the University of Colorado Boulder offers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience in a stunning natural environment.
Located in Boulder, CO and set in an urban environment, University of Colorado Boulder is a public university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 81%. The freshman retention rate at University of Colorado Boulder is 89% and the six-year graduation rate is 75%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is June 1.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into University of Colorado Boulder.
Quick Facts
32,100
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
19:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
75%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to find out as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to increase your chances of being accepted. What are the admission requirements for University of Colorado Boulder?
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 46,693 in 2024. University of Colorado Boulder has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
26% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 9% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 22% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 48% between 1,200 and 1,399, 24% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 6% between 800 and 999. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 43, 38 between 24-29, 9 in the range between 18-23, and 2 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the accepted students in 2024 was 28 and the average GPA was 3.76. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into University of Colorado Boulder; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 625 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 626.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to University of Colorado Boulder is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is June 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for University of Colorado Boulder was 89% in 2024, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 75%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the best match for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at University of Colorado Boulder in 2024 was 39,089.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 43% for that year. There was a total of 32,100 undergrad students, including 861 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 1,431.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 17,242 male and 15,461 female full-time students in 2024. 1,512 full-time graduate men and 1,386 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at University of Colorado Boulder.
This school had 1,963 Asian students and 578 Afro-American students in 2024. 4,256 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 2,130 identified with more than one race. The school also had 35 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 57 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 305 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $12,312 for area residents. Tuition fees were $41,932 for students coming from a different state. If you are an international student at University of Colorado Boulder, you should know that the 2024 tuition was $43,986. Full-time students in 2024 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,690.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $41,932 | $1,690 | $43,622 |
| In-State | $12,312 | $1,690 | $14,002 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important financial factor. Most students have to give about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at University of Colorado Boulder.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2024, room and board cost at University of Colorado Boulder amounted to $18,504 a year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 12,312 |
| Room and Board | $ 18,504 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 32,016 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid students could get at University of Colorado Boulder.
The most recent records show that 1,749 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $25,140.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
6,607 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 7,333. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $35,297,784, and state $20,280,226. The students of University of Colorado Boulder received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $68,444,364, and external in the amount of $4,781,488.
$10,596
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 651 students overall (including freshmen) at University of Colorado Boulder in 2024. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 186 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $35,297,784 while the state aid is $11,086. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $61,629,854. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $16,101,850 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
19:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at University of Colorado Boulder was 19:1: that means 19 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 2,296 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 1,332 men and 961 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at University of Colorado Boulder is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at University of Colorado Boulder.
Its campus spans 600 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.
There are 400 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. That includes sororities and fraternities. 12 percent of male and 20 of female students are participants in different organizations at University of Colorado Boulder. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Association of Holistic Wellness, followed by Neuroscience Club and Boulder Freeride. Other popular organizations at University of Colorado Boulder are CU Gaming and Student Government.
If you are interested in music, you can join the University of Colorado Boulder band or chorus. For those interested in acting, there is a drama club you can become part of. You have a talent for media and communication? University of Colorado Boulder publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At University of Colorado Boulder, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of University of Colorado Boulder.
All in all, campus life at University of Colorado Boulder is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of Colorado Boulder.
Career Counselling
At University of Colorado Boulder, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for University of Colorado Boulder is 81%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for University of Colorado Boulder is 89%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.