CU Boulder vs. UMass

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder and University of Massachusetts Amherst? 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 Massachusetts Amherst

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than UMass based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 31,726 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CU Boulder vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or UMass? 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 Massachusetts Amherst than CU Boulder ($22,948 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 9.5% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($16,710 vs. $18,468).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 13.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU Boulder (about $2,106 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $15,666.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11% higher at CU Boulder than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $4,469 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at University of Colorado Boulder (81% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students is 16.8% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($13,110 vs. $11,225).

CU Boulder vs. UMass Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 70 points higher than at CU Boulder (1340).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 31) as students at UMass (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; UMass - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman UMass students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than UMass (59.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 17.9% at UMass.

CU Boulder vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and UMass? 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 of Colorado Boulder's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($19,500 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($201 vs. $248).
  • More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.