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University of Colorado Boulder
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 a suburban environment, University of Colorado Boulder is a public university. This educational institution operates on 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. The transfer application deadline is June 1.
Here are some latest data on important things to consider about University of Colorado Boulder.
Quick Facts
32,100
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
81%
Acceptance Rate
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
75%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. How difficult is it to get admitted to University of Colorado Boulder and what are the admission requirements?
According to the most recent data, this school 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 takes into consideration standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. 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
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 26% and ACT scores 9%. 22% of the first-year students 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% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of incoming freshmen 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 average ACT score for all the accepted students in 2024 was 28 while the average GPA was 3.76. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 625 and an average SAT Math score of 626.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to this school is January 15. When submitting your application as a transfer student, the application deadline is June 1.
81%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for University of Colorado Boulder was 89%, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 75%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the right fit for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the school enrolled 39,089 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 43. There was a total of 32,100 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 861 international students. The school admitted a total of 1,431 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 17,242 male and 15,461 female full-time students in 2024. There were 1,512 full-time graduate male and 1,386 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 1,963, while the number of Black American students was 578. 4,256 undergrads at this school declared 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, and 57 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 305 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of Colorado Boulder, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 2,715 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students added up to $19,634.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 7,543 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 9,761. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $27,450,435, and state $17,568,216. The students of University of Colorado Boulder received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $63,457,061, and external in the amount of $3,982,986.
$9,538
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 361 students overall (including freshmen) at University of Colorado Boulder in 2024. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 133 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $40,429,423. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $8,885,859 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at University of Colorado Boulder was 12:1: that means 12 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 94 faculty members at this school. This number included 46 male and 48 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at University of Colorado Boulder.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some information about students' life at University of Colorado Boulder.
Its campus is 600 acres in size.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 400 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 12% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 20 for female students. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Association of Holistic Wellness, followed by Neuroscience Club and Boulder Freeride. Other popular organizations among the students 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 individuals with a penchant for acting, there is a drama club offering an opportunity to get involved. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, University of Colorado Boulder publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
University of Colorado Boulder has a number of services necessary for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a 24-hour security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a medical 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. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial 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 has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for University of Colorado Boulder is 81%.
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The most recent data indicate that the 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.