CU Boulder vs. NC State

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

CU Boulder NC State
Location Boulder, CO Raleigh, NC
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 39,585 36,700
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #123
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colorado.edu ncsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Boulder NC State
Tuition (In State) $11,520 $6,535
Tuition (Out of State) $38,770 $28,276
Room & Board $16,146 $12,748
Avg Net Price $21,836 $14,852
Avg Grant Aid $10,477 $9,181
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 71%

Admission

CU Boulder NC State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,781 35,568
Admitted 43,416 16,779
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 47.2%
Enrolled % 16.4% 33.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.83
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/32 28/33
SAT Range 1160/1390 1280/1460
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 NC State
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Engineering (22%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

CU Boulder NC State
Graduation Rate 68% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,900 $57,200
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $20,782
Median Loan Payment $201 $214

Diversity

CU Boulder NC State
% Men 55% 51%
% Women 45% 49%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 74%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

CU Boulder NC State
% In-State 53% 83%
% Out-of-State 45% 14%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Colorado Boulder is larger than than NC State based on total student enrollment (39,585 students vs. 36,700 students)

CU Boulder vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or NC State?

  • University of Colorado Boulder is 76.3% more expensive to attend than NC State for in-state tuition ($11,520.00 vs. $6,535.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.1% higher at CU Boulder than North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($38,770.00 vs. $28,276.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than CU Boulder ($14,852 vs. $21,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 26.7% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($12,748 vs. $16,146)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than University of Colorado Boulder (71% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 14.1% larger than aid received North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($10,477 vs. $9,181)

CU Boulder vs. NC State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1264) is 52 points higher than at CU Boulder (1212)
  • Incoming NC State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at CU Boulder (27)
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at CU Boulder (3.68)
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than NC State (47.2%)

CU Boulder vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CU Boulder or NC State? 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 NC State and CU Boulder.

  • The graduation rate at NC State is higher than University of Colorado Boulder (72% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn on average $300 more per year than CU Boulder graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $56,900)
  • University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $1,282 lower median federal student loan debt than NC State graduates. ($19,500 vs. $20,782)
  • CU Boulder graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than NC State graduates. ($201 vs. $214)
  • More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 73%)

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