CU Boulder vs. OU

Should I go to University of Colorado Boulder or University of Oklahoma Norman Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CU Boulder or OU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Colorado Boulder vs. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus comparison
University of Colorado Boulder University of Oklahoma Norman Campus College 3 College 4
University of Colorado Boulder University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
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Overview

CU Boulder OU
Location Boulder, CO Norman, OK
Setting Small City Small Suburban
Enrollment 39,585 28,308
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #189
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colorado.edu ou.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Boulder OU
Tuition (In State) $11,520 $4,920
Tuition (Out of State) $38,770 $21,488
Room & Board $16,146 $15,780
Avg Net Price $21,836 $22,601
Avg Grant Aid $10,477 $10,561
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 98%

Admission

CU Boulder OU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,781 21,548
Admitted 43,416 15,712
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 72.9%
Enrolled % 16.4% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/32 23/29
SAT Range 1160/1390 1130/1330
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, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

CU Boulder OU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

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 55% 47%
% Women 45% 53%
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% 53%
% Out-of-State 45% 45%

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 (39,585 students vs. 28,308 students)

CU Boulder vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or OU?

  • University of Colorado Boulder is 134.1% more expensive to attend than OU for in-state tuition ($11,520.00 vs. $4,920.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 80.4% higher at CU Boulder than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($38,770.00 vs. $21,488.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Colorado Boulder than OU ($21,836 vs. $22,601)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are 2.3% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($15,780 vs. $16,146)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than University of Colorado Boulder (98% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students is 0.8% larger than aid received University of Colorado Boulder ($10,561 vs. $10,477)

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 (80.7%) than OU (72.9%)

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/