U of A vs. CU Boulder

Should I go to University of Arizona or University of Colorado Boulder? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if U of A 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

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 vs. University of Colorado Boulder comparison
University of Arizona University of Colorado Boulder College 3 College 4
University of Arizona University of Colorado Boulder
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

U of A CU Boulder
Location Tucson, AZ Boulder, CO
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 49,403 39,585
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #294 #191
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arizona.edu colorado.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

U of A CU Boulder
Tuition (In State) $11,525 $11,520
Tuition (Out of State) $37,827 $38,770
Room & Board $13,650 $16,146
Avg Net Price $17,075 $21,836
Avg Grant Aid $15,279 $10,477
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 57%

Admission

U of A CU Boulder
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 52,091 53,781
Admitted 45,194 43,416
Acceptance Rate 86.8% 80.7%
Enrolled % 20% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29 26/32
SAT Range 1140/1370 1160/1390
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, 2025

Academics

U of A CU Boulder
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)

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 45% 55%
% Women 55% 45%
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 47% 53%
% Out-of-State 48% 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 (49,403 students vs. 39,585 students)

U of A vs. CU Boulder Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, U of A or CU Boulder?

  • University of Arizona is 0% more expensive to attend than CU Boulder for in-state tuition ($11,525.00 vs. $11,520.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.5% higher at CU Boulder than University of Arizona ($38,770.00 vs. $37,827.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arizona than CU Boulder ($17,075 vs. $21,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arizona are 18.3% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($13,650 vs. $16,146)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arizona than University of Colorado Boulder (98% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arizona students is 45.8% larger than aid received University of Colorado Boulder ($15,279 vs. $10,477)

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 (86.8%) than CU Boulder (80.7%)

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/