University of Colorado Boulder: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Boulder, Colorado · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
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University of Colorado Boulder is a public university in Boulder, Colorado that admits about 76% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $25,346 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Computer Science, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 74% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 5.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Colorado Boulder is a public institution located in Boulder, Colorado. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Colorado Boulder admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 76%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1300 and an ACT composite around 28. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $25,346 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about University of Colorado Boulder right now
The University of Colorado Boulder was founded March 14, 1876, five months before Colorado became a state, and now enrolls 32,520 undergraduates as of fall 2025 (38,808 total students). It is an Association of American Universities member with R1 very high research activity status and reported $536 million in research spending in 2021, ranking 50th nationally. The university receives more NASA astrophysics technology grants than any other academic institution and has produced 20 astronauts, the fourth-highest count among U.S. universities, a useful detail for parents of aerospace, physics, or planetary-science focused students; CU Boulder is the only university to have sent instruments to every planet in our solar system. The campus offers more than 150 academic programs across nine colleges and schools and has a system-wide endowment of $2.47 billion as of fiscal 2025. For application planning, parents should know that CU Boulder uses two clear deadlines through the Common Application: November 15 for early action (decisions by February 1) and January 15 for regular decision (decisions by April 1). Test scores remain optional, with only about 32 percent of fall 2021 freshmen submitting SAT scores in the 1180 to 1380 middle 50 percent range. The most recent reported admit rate is 79.6 percent, making CU Boulder relatively accessible compared to flagship peers, while still offering nationally recognized research opportunities and a strong residential life centered on Klauder's distinctive Tuscan Vernacular Revival architecture.
What GPA does my child need for University of Colorado Boulder?
67% of enrolled students at University of Colorado Boulder had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.79, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does University of Colorado Boulder weight in admissions?
University of Colorado Boulder reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
SAT and ACT scores University of Colorado Boulder typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–720, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1180 |
| 50th percentile | 1300 |
| 75th percentile | 1390 |
| % submitting SAT | 25% |
| 25th percentile | 27 |
| 50th percentile | 30 |
| 75th percentile | 33 |
| % submitting ACT | 7% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 30% |
| Top 25% of class | 59% |
| Top 50% of class | 89% |
| % submitting class rank | 40% |
How much does University of Colorado Boulder actually cost?
Published tuition is $15,666 for in-state students and $44,918 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,468 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $25,346 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $12,312 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $41,932 |
| Room and board | $17,794 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $25,346 |
| Application fee | $65 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Colorado Boulder
| Regular deadline | January 15 |
| Notification date | April 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 15 |
Will my child graduate from University of Colorado Boulder?
These predict outcomes at University of Colorado Boulder better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at University of Colorado Boulder
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Colorado Boulder, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Computer Science. Across all programs, University of Colorado Boulder confers roughly 3,600 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $91,156 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,087 | $91,156 |
| Psychology, General | 567 | $58,599 |
| Computer Science | 473 | $122,521 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 409 | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 310 | $67,874 |
| Economics | 284 | $79,838 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 235 | $91,715 |
| Political Science and Government | 235 | $74,672 |
Is University of Colorado Boulder safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Colorado Boulder disclosed 169 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 18 violent offenses and 116 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at University of Colorado Boulder?
About 26% of undergraduates at University of Colorado Boulder live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 1% of men join a fraternity and 21% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Colorado parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for University of Colorado Boulder
Common questions parents ask about University of Colorado Boulder
What GPA do I need for University of Colorado Boulder?
67% of enrolled students at University of Colorado Boulder had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.79, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Colorado Boulder typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–720, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33.
How much does University of Colorado Boulder actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Colorado Boulder after grants and scholarships is $25,346 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $15,666 and $44,918 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is University of Colorado Boulder realistic for my child?
University of Colorado Boulder admits 76% of applicants, so 610–720 SAT Math is target range and below 610 is a reach. Then check the $25,346 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Colorado Boulder?
University of Colorado Boulder accepts about 76% of applicants out of roughly 68,931 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is University of Colorado Boulder test-optional?
Yes. University of Colorado Boulder is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at University of Colorado Boulder?
About 74% of students at University of Colorado Boulder graduate within six years, and 57% finish in four years. 90% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Colorado Boulder look for in applicants?
University of Colorado Boulder rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Colorado Boulder a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Colorado Boulder is a public institution located in Boulder, Colorado.
What are the most popular majors at University of Colorado Boulder?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Colorado Boulder by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Computer Science. The school awards about 3,600 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Colorado Boulder safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Colorado Boulder reported 169 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 5.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of Colorado Boulder?
At University of Colorado Boulder, 26% of undergraduates live on campus, 1% of men are in fraternities, 21% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Colorado Boulder, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers