Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Colorado State CU Denver Colorado School of Mines Utah UCCS Penn State ASU IU MSU Texas A&M NC State University of Northern Colorado| University of Colorado Boulder | University of Denver | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CU Boulder | DU | ||
| Location | Boulder, CO | Denver, CO | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 39,585 | 13,734 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #191 | #82 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colorado.edu | du.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Boulder | DU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,520 | $55,260 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $38,770 | $55,260 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,146 | $15,470 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,836 | $42,423 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,477 | $30,954 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 57% | 99% |
Admission |
CU Boulder | DU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 53,781 | 19,342 | ||
| Admitted | 43,416 | 15,024 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.7% | 77.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.4% | 10.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1390 | 1220/1400 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
CU Boulder | DU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 8:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
CU Boulder | DU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 78% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,900 | $63,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 72% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,500 | $23,699 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $201 | $245 |
Diversity |
CU Boulder | DU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 55% | 38% | ||
| % Women | 45% | 62% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 9% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
CU Boulder | DU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 53% | 25% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 71% | ||
Campus |
CU Boulder | DU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Colorado Boulder is larger than than DU based on total student enrollment (39,585 students vs. 13,734 students)
CU Boulder vs. DU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or DU?
- University of Denver is 379.7% more expensive to attend than CU Boulder for in-state tuition ($55,260.00 vs. $11,520.00)
- Out of state tuition is 42.5% higher at DU than University of Colorado Boulder ($55,260.00 vs. $38,770.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Colorado Boulder than DU ($21,836 vs. $42,423)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Denver are 4.4% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($15,470 vs. $16,146)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Denver than University of Colorado Boulder (99% vs. 57%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Denver students is 195.4% larger than aid received University of Colorado Boulder ($30,954 vs. $10,477)
CU Boulder vs. DU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or DU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between DU or CU Boulder .
- The average SAT score at University of Denver (1249) is 37 points higher than at CU Boulder (1212)
- Incoming DU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at CU Boulder (27)
- Accepted freshman DU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at CU Boulder (3.68)
- CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than DU (77.7%)
CU Boulder vs. DU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Boulder or DU? 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 DU and CU Boulder.
- The graduation rate at DU is higher than University of Colorado Boulder (78% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from University of Denver earn on average $6,500 more per year than CU Boulder graduates after ten years. ($63,400 vs. $56,900)
- University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $4,199 lower median federal student loan debt than DU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $23,699)
- CU Boulder graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than DU graduates. ($201 vs. $245)
- More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 72%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/