CU Boulder vs. Hunter

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder and CUNY Hunter College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Colorado Boulder
CUNY Hunter College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • Hunter

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Hunter 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • Hunter

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • Hunter $119

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CU Boulder Yes
  • Hunter Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CU Boulder No
  • Hunter No
  • Meal Plan
  • CU Boulder Yes
  • Hunter No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CU Boulder No
  • Hunter No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CU Boulder Yes
  • Hunter Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than Hunter based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 22,538 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

CU Boulder vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or Hunter? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Hunter College than CU Boulder ($4,431 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 35.9% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($11,832 vs. $18,468).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is 112.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $8,284 more per year; $15,666.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 193% higher at CU Boulder than at CUNY Hunter College (about $29,586 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at University of Colorado Boulder (87% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 15.1% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($11,225 vs. $9,755).

CU Boulder vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or Hunter? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Hunter and CU Boulder.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is 80 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Hunter students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Hunter (53.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

CU Boulder vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and Hunter? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • University of Colorado Boulder's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $7,952 lower median loan debt than CU Boulder graduates ($11,548 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CU Boulder graduates ($119 vs. $201).
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.