CU Boulder vs. UT Dallas

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than UT Dallas based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 29,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); The University of Texas at Dallas is in Richardson, TX (Small City setting).
• University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; The University of Texas at Dallas 23:1.

CU Boulder vs. UT Dallas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or UT Dallas? 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 The University of Texas at Dallas than CU Boulder ($14,916 vs. $26,231).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Dallas are 21.9% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($14,430 vs. $18,468).
• University of Colorado Boulder is 7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Dallas (about $1,022 more per year; $15,666.00 vs. $14,644.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.9% higher at CU Boulder than at The University of Texas at Dallas (about $4,774 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $40,144.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Dallas than at University of Colorado Boulder (64% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students is 32.8% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($14,909 vs. $11,225).

CU Boulder vs. UT Dallas Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or UT Dallas? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UT Dallas and CU Boulder.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is 50 points higher than at UT Dallas (1290).
• Incoming CU Boulder students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at UT Dallas).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; The University of Texas at Dallas 1160/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; The University of Texas at Dallas 24/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; UT Dallas - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; UT Dallas May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UT Dallas students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
• CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than UT Dallas (65.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 20.3% at UT Dallas.

CU Boulder vs. UT Dallas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and UT Dallas? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of Colorado Boulder's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than The University of Texas at Dallas's (61%).
• Graduates from The University of Texas at Dallas earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than CU Boulder graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas at Dallas graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than CU Boulder graduates ($18,750 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, UT Dallas graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CU Boulder graduates ($193 vs. $201).
• More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 64%)

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.