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Colorado State CU Denver ASU DU Colorado School of Mines Utah UCCS Penn State IU San Diego State MSU Texas A&M| University of Arizona | University of Colorado Boulder | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
U of A | CU Boulder | ||
| Location | Tucson, AZ | Boulder, CO | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 53,001 | 41,432 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #269 | #197 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | arizona.edu | colorado.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
U of A | CU Boulder | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,871 | $14,784 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,340 | $40,297 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,400 | $16,950 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,144 | $22,640 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,511 | $10,838 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 54% |
Admission |
U of A | CU Boulder | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 56,466 | 56,069 | ||
| Admitted | 48,369 | 46,692 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.7% | 83.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.9% | 16.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.48 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/30 | 28/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1420 | 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
U of A | CU Boulder | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
U of A | CU Boulder | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,000 | $56,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,000 | $19,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $196 | $201 |
Diversity |
U of A | CU Boulder | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 52% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 25% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 5% | ||
| % International | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
U of A | CU Boulder | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 50% | 53% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 44% | 45% | ||
Campus |
U of A | CU Boulder | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Arizona is larger than than CU Boulder based on total student enrollment (53,001 students vs. 41,432 students)
U of A vs. CU Boulder Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, U of A or CU Boulder?
- University of Colorado Boulder is 24.5% more expensive to attend than U of A for in-state tuition ($14,784.00 vs. $11,871.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.4% higher at CU Boulder than University of Arizona ($40,297.00 vs. $39,340.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arizona than CU Boulder ($18,144 vs. $22,640)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arizona are 17.7% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($14,400 vs. $16,950)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arizona than University of Colorado Boulder (97% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arizona students is 52.3% larger than aid received University of Colorado Boulder ($16,511 vs. $10,838)
U of A vs. CU Boulder Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, U of A or CU Boulder? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CU Boulder or U of A .
- Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at U of A (3.48)
- U of A has a higher acceptance rate (85.7%) than CU Boulder (83.3%)
U of A vs. CU Boulder Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, U of A 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 U of A.
- The graduation rate at CU Boulder is higher than University of Arizona (68% vs. 61%)
- Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn on average $2,900 more per year than U of A graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $54,000)
- University of Arizona students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than CU Boulder graduates. ($19,000 vs. $19,500)
- U of A graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than CU Boulder graduates. ($196 vs. $201)
- More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of A students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/