CU Boulder vs. UConn

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder and University of Connecticut? 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 of Connecticut

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • UConn 28,306
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • UConn #106
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • UConn -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • UConn

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • UConn $21,044
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • UConn $43,712
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • UConn $14,380
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • UConn $25,310
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • UConn $16,503
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • UConn 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • UConn 55,479
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • UConn 29,065
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • UConn 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • UConn 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • UConn 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • UConn A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • UConn Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • UConn Low
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • UConn 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • UConn Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • UConn 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • UConn 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • UConn $62,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • UConn 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • UConn $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • UConn $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • UConn 45%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • UConn 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • UConn Medium
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • UConn No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • UConn 61%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • UConn 10%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • UConn 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • UConn 9%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • UConn 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • UConn 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • UConn 3%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • UConn 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • UConn 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • UConn 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • UConn 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than UConn based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 28,306 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); University of Connecticut is in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; University of Connecticut 17:1.

CU Boulder vs. UConn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or UConn? 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 of Connecticut than CU Boulder ($25,310 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 22.1% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($14,380 vs. $18,468).
  • University of Connecticut is 34.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU Boulder (about $5,378 more per year; $21,044.00 vs. $15,666.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at CU Boulder than at University of Connecticut (about $1,206 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at University of Colorado Boulder (81% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Connecticut students is 47% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($16,503 vs. $11,225).

CU Boulder vs. UConn Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is 10 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at UConn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; University of Connecticut 1210/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; University of Connecticut 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; UConn - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; UConn Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UConn students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than UConn (52.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 15.4% at UConn.

CU Boulder vs. UConn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and UConn? 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 Connecticut's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than University of Colorado Boulder's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Connecticut earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than CU Boulder graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than UConn graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UConn graduates ($201 vs. $222).
  • More UConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 73%)

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.