CU Boulder vs. UB

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder and University at Buffalo? 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
University at Buffalo

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 31,903 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

CU Boulder vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or UB? 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 University at Buffalo than CU Boulder ($20,529 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 5.6% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($17,426 vs. $18,468).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is 43.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $4,730 more per year; $15,666.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 42.4% higher at CU Boulder than at University at Buffalo (about $13,382 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at University of Colorado Boulder (76% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 5.3% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($11,225 vs. $10,663).

CU Boulder vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or UB? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UB and CU Boulder.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is 40 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (31 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled 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 (78.1%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 14.1% at UB.

CU Boulder vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and UB? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • University at Buffalo's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than University of Colorado Boulder's (68%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than CU Boulder graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo and CU Boulder graduates have the same median loan debt ($19,500 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, University at Buffalo and CU Boulder graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.