CU Boulder vs. Florida

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • Florida Gainesville, FL
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • Florida Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • Florida 56,311
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • Florida Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • Florida #74
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • Florida -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • Florida Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • Florida

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • Florida $6,381
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • Florida $28,659
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • Florida $12,120
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • Florida $11,936
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • Florida $10,846
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Florida 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • Florida 73,557
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • Florida 17,804
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • Florida 24.2%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • Florida 42.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • Florida 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • Florida 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • Florida 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • Florida A
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • Florida Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • Florida Very High
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • Florida 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • Florida 1320/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • Florida Required
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • Florida Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • Florida 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Florida
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • Florida 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • Florida $62,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • Florida 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • Florida $15,815
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • Florida $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Florida 44%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • Florida 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • Florida High
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • Florida No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • Florida 57%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Florida 8%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • Florida 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • Florida 21%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Florida 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Florida 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Florida 3%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • Florida 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • Florida 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • Florida 73%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • Florida 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Florida is larger than CU Boulder based on total student enrollment (56,311 students vs. 38,799 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); University of Florida is in Gainesville, FL (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Florida is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; University of Florida 16:1.

CU Boulder vs. Florida Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or Florida? 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 Florida than CU Boulder ($11,936 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Florida are 34.4% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($12,120 vs. $18,468).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is 145.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florida (about $9,285 more per year; $15,666.00 vs. $6,381.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 56.7% higher at CU Boulder than at University of Florida (about $16,259 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $28,659.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Florida than at University of Colorado Boulder (91% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 3.5% larger than aid received by University of Florida students ($11,225 vs. $10,846).

CU Boulder vs. Florida Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Florida (1400) is 60 points higher than at CU Boulder (1340).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Florida (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; University of Florida 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; University of Florida 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; Florida - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; Florida Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Florida students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Florida (24.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 42.2% at Florida.

CU Boulder vs. Florida Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and Florida? 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 Florida's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than University of Colorado Boulder's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Florida earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than CU Boulder graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,600 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Florida graduates have a $3,685 lower median loan debt than CU Boulder graduates ($15,815 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Florida graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CU Boulder graduates ($163 vs. $201).
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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.