CU Boulder vs. USAFA

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder and United States Air Force Academy? 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
United States Air Force Academy

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • USAFA USAF Academy, Colorado
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • USAFA Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • USAFA 4,114
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • USAFA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • USAFA
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • USAFA -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • USAFA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • USAFA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • USAFA $0
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • USAFA $0
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • USAFA $0
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • USAFA -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • USAFA $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • USAFA 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • USAFA 10,187
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • USAFA 1,435
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • USAFA 14.1%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • USAFA 78.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • USAFA 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • USAFA 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • USAFA 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • USAFA A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • USAFA Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • USAFA Very High
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • USAFA 26/33
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • USAFA 1230/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • USAFA Required
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • USAFA Dec 31, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • USAFA 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • USAFA
    • Engineering (35%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • USAFA -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • USAFA N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • USAFA -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • USAFA N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • USAFA N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • USAFA 70%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • USAFA 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • USAFA -
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • USAFA No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • USAFA 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • USAFA 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • USAFA 91%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with United States Air Force Academy in USAF Academy, Colorado on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than USAFA based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 4,114 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); United States Air Force Academy is in USAF Academy, Colorado (Large City setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. United States Air Force Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; United States Air Force Academy 7:1.

CU Boulder vs. USAFA Cost Comparison

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

  • In-state tuition differs between University of Colorado Boulder and USAFA ($15,666.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between CU Boulder and United States Air Force Academy ($44,918.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Colorado Boulder than at United States Air Force Academy (53% vs. 0%).

CU Boulder vs. USAFA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or USAFA? 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 USAFA and CU Boulder.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is the same as at USAFA (1340).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at USAFA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; United States Air Force Academy 1230/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; United States Air Force Academy 26/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; USAFA - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; USAFA Dec 31, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman USAFA students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than USAFA (14.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 78.5% at USAFA.

CU Boulder vs. USAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and USAFA? 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).

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.