Alabama vs. CU Boulder

Should I go to The University of Alabama or University of Colorado Boulder? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alabama or CU Boulder is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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The University of Alabama vs. University of Colorado Boulder comparison
The University of Alabama University of Colorado Boulder College 3 College 4
The University of Alabama University of Colorado Boulder
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Overview

Alabama CU Boulder
Location Tuscaloosa, AL Boulder, CO
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 39,622 41,432
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #403 #197
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu colorado.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama CU Boulder
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $14,784
Tuition (Out of State) $32,400 $40,297
Room & Board $14,840 $16,950
Avg Net Price $21,761 $22,640
Avg Grant Aid $16,394 $10,838
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 54%

Admission

Alabama CU Boulder
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,418 56,069
Admitted 44,295 46,692
Acceptance Rate 75.8% 83.3%
Enrolled % 18.7% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/31 28/33
SAT Range 1170/1400 1230/1420
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Alabama CU Boulder
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Alabama CU Boulder
Graduation Rate 66% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $56,900
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,750 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $245 $201

Diversity

Alabama CU Boulder
% Men 6% 14%
% Women 10% 9%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 71%
% Black 11% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Alabama CU Boulder
% In-State 36% 53%
% Out-of-State 63% 45%

Campus

Alabama CU Boulder
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Colorado Boulder is larger than than Alabama based on total student enrollment (41,432 students vs. 39,622 students)

Alabama vs. CU Boulder Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or CU Boulder?

  • University of Colorado Boulder is 33.2% more expensive to attend than Alabama for in-state tuition ($14,784.00 vs. $11,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.4% higher at CU Boulder than The University of Alabama ($40,297.00 vs. $32,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Alabama than CU Boulder ($21,761 vs. $22,640)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Alabama are 14.2% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($14,840 vs. $16,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Alabama than University of Colorado Boulder (72% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 51.3% larger than aid received University of Colorado Boulder ($16,394 vs. $10,838)

Alabama vs. CU Boulder Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama or CU Boulder? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CU Boulder or Alabama .

  • The average SAT score at University of Colorado Boulder (1212) is 31 points higher than at Alabama (1181)
  • Incoming Alabama students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at CU Boulder (27)
  • Accepted freshman Alabama students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at CU Boulder (3.68)
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (83.3%) than Alabama (75.8%)

Alabama vs. CU Boulder Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alabama or CU Boulder? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CU Boulder and Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at CU Boulder is higher than The University of Alabama (68% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn on average $7,000 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $49,900)
  • University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($19,500 vs. $23,750)
  • CU Boulder graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($201 vs. $245)
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/