CU Boulder vs. Colorado College

Should I go to University of Colorado Boulder or Colorado College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CU Boulder or Colorado College 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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University of Colorado Boulder vs. Colorado College comparison
University of Colorado Boulder Colorado College College 3 College 4
University of Colorado Boulder Colorado College
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Overview

CU Boulder Colorado College
Location Boulder, CO Colorado Springs, CO
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 39,585 2,203
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #80
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colorado.edu coloradocollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Boulder Colorado College
Tuition (In State) $11,520 $64,554
Tuition (Out of State) $38,770 $64,554
Room & Board $16,146 $14,376
Avg Net Price $21,836 $33,178
Avg Grant Aid $10,477 $46,160
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 54%

Admission

CU Boulder Colorado College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,781 7,846
Admitted 43,416 1,279
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 16.3%
Enrolled % 16.4% 41.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.98
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 26/32 29/33
SAT Range 1160/1390 1260/1480
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

CU Boulder Colorado College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)

Outcomes

CU Boulder Colorado College
Graduation Rate 68% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,900 $46,000
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $201 $211

Diversity

CU Boulder Colorado College
% Men 55% 44%
% Women 45% 56%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 64%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 9%
% International 6% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

CU Boulder Colorado College
% In-State 53% 19%
% Out-of-State 45% 77%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Colorado Boulder is larger than than Colorado College based on total student enrollment (39,585 students vs. 2,203 students)

CU Boulder vs. Colorado College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or Colorado College?

  • Colorado College is 460.4% more expensive to attend than CU Boulder for in-state tuition ($64,554.00 vs. $11,520.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 66.5% higher at Colorado College than University of Colorado Boulder ($64,554.00 vs. $38,770.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Colorado Boulder than Colorado College ($21,836 vs. $33,178)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado College are 12.3% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($14,376 vs. $16,146)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Boulder than Colorado College (57% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado College students is 340.6% larger than aid received University of Colorado Boulder ($46,160 vs. $10,477)

CU Boulder vs. Colorado College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Colorado College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at CU Boulder (3.68)
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than Colorado College (16.3%)

CU Boulder vs. Colorado College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CU Boulder or Colorado College? 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 Colorado College and CU Boulder.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado College is higher than University of Colorado Boulder (88% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn on average $10,900 more per year than Colorado College graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $46,000)
  • University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Colorado College graduates. ($19,500 vs. $20,500)
  • CU Boulder graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Colorado College graduates. ($201 vs. $211)
  • More Colorado College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 73%)

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