CU Boulder vs. OSU

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

CU Boulder OSU
Location Boulder, CO Corvallis, OR
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 39,585 34,292
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #363
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colorado.edu oregonstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Boulder OSU
Tuition (In State) $11,520 $10,425
Tuition (Out of State) $38,770 $31,200
Room & Board $16,146 $14,238
Avg Net Price $21,836 $21,163
Avg Grant Aid $10,477 $9,260
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 88%

Admission

CU Boulder OSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,781 25,651
Admitted 43,416 21,169
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 82.5%
Enrolled % 16.4% 21.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/32 21/28
SAT Range 1160/1390 1120/1370
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

CU Boulder OSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (6%)

Outcomes

CU Boulder OSU
Graduation Rate 68% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,900 $53,900
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $201 $242

Diversity

CU Boulder OSU
% Men 55% 51%
% Women 45% 49%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 67%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 11% 9%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 6% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

CU Boulder OSU
% In-State 53% 57%
% Out-of-State 45% 41%

Campus

CU Boulder OSU
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 OSU based on total student enrollment (39,585 students vs. 34,292 students)

CU Boulder vs. OSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or OSU?

  • University of Colorado Boulder is 10.5% more expensive to attend than OSU for in-state tuition ($11,520.00 vs. $10,425.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.3% higher at CU Boulder than Oregon State University ($38,770.00 vs. $31,200.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Oregon State University than CU Boulder ($21,163 vs. $21,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oregon State University are 13.4% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($14,238 vs. $16,146)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Oregon State University than University of Colorado Boulder (88% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 13.1% larger than aid received Oregon State University ($10,477 vs. $9,260)

CU Boulder vs. OSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Colorado Boulder (1212) is 99 points higher than at OSU (1113)
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at OSU (25)
  • Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at OSU (3.61)
  • OSU has a higher acceptance rate (82.5%) than CU Boulder (80.7%)

CU Boulder vs. OSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CU Boulder or OSU? 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 OSU and CU Boulder.

  • The graduation rate at CU Boulder is higher than Oregon State University (68% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn on average $3,000 more per year than OSU graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $53,900)
  • University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than OSU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $23,500)
  • CU Boulder graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than OSU graduates. ($201 vs. $242)
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OSU 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/