CU Boulder vs. UB

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

CU Boulder UB
Location Boulder, CO Buffalo, NY
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 39,585 32,099
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #103
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colorado.edu buffalo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Boulder UB
Tuition (In State) $11,520 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $38,770 $24,990
Room & Board $16,146 $16,212
Avg Net Price $21,836 $18,524
Avg Grant Aid $10,477 $8,521
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 74%

Admission

CU Boulder UB
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,781 30,939
Admitted 43,416 20,948
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 67.7%
Enrolled % 16.4% 20.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.75
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/32 25/32
SAT Range 1160/1390 1190/1380
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

Academics

CU Boulder UB
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

CU Boulder UB
Graduation Rate 68% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,900 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $201 $201

Diversity

CU Boulder UB
% Men 55% 52%
% Women 45% 48%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 71% 48%
% Black 2% 7%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 6% 16%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

CU Boulder UB
% In-State 53% 88%
% Out-of-State 45% 3%

Campus

CU Boulder UB
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 UB based on total student enrollment (39,585 students vs. 32,099 students)

CU Boulder vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or UB?

  • University of Colorado Boulder is 62.9% more expensive to attend than UB for in-state tuition ($11,520.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 55.1% higher at CU Boulder than University at Buffalo ($38,770.00 vs. $24,990.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University at Buffalo than CU Boulder ($18,524 vs. $21,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Colorado Boulder are 0.4% lower than costs at University at Buffalo ($16,146 vs. $16,212)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University at Buffalo than University of Colorado Boulder (74% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 23% larger than aid received University at Buffalo ($10,477 vs. $8,521)

CU Boulder vs. UB Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Colorado Boulder (1212) is 39 points higher than at UB (1173)
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at UB (27)
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at CU Boulder (3.68)
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than UB (67.7%)

CU Boulder vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UB is higher than University of Colorado Boulder (71% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn on average $1,500 more per year than CU Boulder graduates after ten years. ($58,400 vs. $56,900)
  • University at Buffalo and CU Boulder graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($19,500 vs. $19,500)
  • University at Buffalo and CU Boulder graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($201 vs. $201)
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 70%)

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