University of Colorado Boulder
- 8/10 Overall Rating
- 4 Year
- Boulder, CO
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4.0 6 reviews
Overview
Total enrollment
38,799- Location Boulder, Colorado
- Website colorado.edu
- Type Public 4 Year
- Setting Small City
Best Colleges Rank
#199- Size Large
- Status Non-profit
- Housing Yes
- Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
Located at the base of the Rocky Mountain foothills, the University of Colorado Boulder sits in a college town 25 miles northwest of Denver. The campus is distinguished by its uniform Tuscan Vernacular Revival architecture featuring sandstone buildings with red tile roofs, set against the backdrop of the Flatirons rock formations. Established in 1876 as Colorado's flagship university, CU Boulder operates as a selective public research institution with particular academic strengths in aerospace engineering, physics, environmental science, and business. The university maintains eight residential halls primarily housing first-year students, while upperclassmen typically reside in university apartments or off-campus housing. As a member of the Pac-12 Conference, the Colorado Buffaloes compete in NCAA Division I athletics, with notable programs in skiing and cross-country running.
Ratings
CU Boulder is rated within the top 30% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 8 out of 10.
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Overall Rating8 out of 10
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Academics9 out of 10
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Resources7 out of 10
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Outcomes8 out of 10
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Value5 out of 10
Rankings
Rankings for University of Colorado Boulder within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
Admissions
Admission Standards
- SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1240/1430
- ACT (enrolled mid-50) 29/33
- GPA 3.68
Acceptance Rate
- Applications Due Jan 15, 2027
- Enrollment Rate 14.1%
- Application Fee $65
Applicant Competition Very Low
Annual Cost to Attend
Colorado Resident Tuition
$15,666Out of State Resident Tuition
$44,918Breakdown
- Tuition $15,666
- Books and Supplies $1,200
- Other Fees $1,922
- Room and Board $18,468
- Budget for Other Expenses $3,122
- Total One Year Cost $40,378
- Tuition $44,918
- Books and Supplies $1,200
- Other Fees $1,922
- Room and Board $18,468
- Budget for Other Expenses $3,122
- Total One Year Cost $69,630
Student Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
Popular majors at University of Colorado Boulder are Social Sciences, Business, and Biology. 16% of students major in Social Sciences, 12% in Business, and 10% in Biology.
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Social Sciences 16%
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Business 12%
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Biology 10%
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Psychology 10%
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Communication 8%
More Colleges to Consider
Students considering University of Colorado Boulder are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=126614.
GPA calculator: University of Colorado Boulder GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026