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Colorado State CU Denver DU Colorado School of Mines Texas A&M Utah UCCS Arkansas Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Penn State UT Dallas ASU| University of Colorado Boulder | University of Oklahoma Norman Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CU Boulder | OU | ||
| Location | Boulder, CO | Norman, OK | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 41,432 | 29,145 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #197 | #223 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colorado.edu | ou.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Boulder | OU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $14,784 | $5,070 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,297 | $22,140 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,950 | $13,310 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,640 | $19,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,838 | $10,830 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 54% | 99% |
Admission |
CU Boulder | OU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 56,069 | 22,337 | ||
| Admitted | 46,692 | 17,097 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.3% | 76.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.2% | 30.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 28/33 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1230/1420 | 1140/1330 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
CU Boulder | OU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CU Boulder | OU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,900 | $59,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 68% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,500 | $20,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $201 | $206 |
Diversity |
CU Boulder | OU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 7% | ||
| % International | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
CU Boulder | OU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 53% | 50% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 48% | ||
Campus |
CU Boulder | OU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Colorado Boulder is larger than than OU based on total student enrollment (41,432 students vs. 29,145 students)
CU Boulder vs. OU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or OU?
- University of Colorado Boulder is 191.6% more expensive to attend than OU for in-state tuition ($14,784.00 vs. $5,070.00)
- Out of state tuition is 82% higher at CU Boulder than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($40,297.00 vs. $22,140.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than CU Boulder ($19,900 vs. $22,640)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are 27.3% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($13,310 vs. $16,950)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than University of Colorado Boulder (99% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 0.1% larger than aid received University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($10,838 vs. $10,830)
CU Boulder vs. OU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or OU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between OU or CU Boulder .
- The average SAT score at University of Colorado Boulder (1212) is 8 points higher than at OU (1204)
- Incoming CU Boulder students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at OU (27)
- Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at OU (3.66)
- CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (83.3%) than OU (76.5%)
CU Boulder vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Boulder or OU? 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 OU and CU Boulder.
- The graduation rate at CU Boulder is higher than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (68% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from University of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn on average $2,400 more per year than CU Boulder graduates after ten years. ($59,300 vs. $56,900)
- University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than OU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $20,000)
- CU Boulder graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than OU graduates. ($201 vs. $206)
- More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU 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/