UCCS vs. USAFA

Deciding between University of Colorado Colorado Springs and United States Air Force Academy? 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 Colorado Springs
United States Air Force Academy

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCCS Colorado Springs, CO
  • USAFA USAF Academy, Colorado
  • Setting
  • UCCS Large City
  • USAFA Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCCS 11,354
  • USAFA 4,114
  • Type
  • UCCS Public 4 Year
  • USAFA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCCS #710
  • USAFA
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCCS -
  • USAFA -
  • Status
  • UCCS Non-profit
  • USAFA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCCS
  • USAFA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCCS $10,149
  • USAFA $0
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCCS $24,336
  • USAFA $0
  • Room & Board
  • UCCS $12,918
  • USAFA $0
  • Average Net Price
  • UCCS $16,942
  • USAFA -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCCS $7,420
  • USAFA $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCCS 80%
  • USAFA 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCCS 13,147
  • USAFA 10,187
  • Admitted
  • UCCS 12,799
  • USAFA 1,435
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCCS 97.4%
  • USAFA 14.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UCCS 12.9%
  • USAFA 78.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCCS 1120
  • USAFA 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCCS 23
  • USAFA 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCCS 3.36
  • USAFA 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCCS B+
  • USAFA A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCCS Moderate
  • USAFA Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCCS
  • USAFA Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCCS 20/26
  • USAFA 26/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCCS 1010/1220
  • USAFA 1230/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCCS Test optional
  • USAFA Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCCS
  • USAFA Dec 31, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCCS 15:1
  • USAFA 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCCS
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • USAFA
    • Engineering (35%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCCS 41%
  • USAFA -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCCS $46,400
  • USAFA N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCCS 63%
  • USAFA -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCCS $20,999
  • USAFA N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCCS $217
  • USAFA N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCCS 46%
  • USAFA 70%
  • % Women
  • UCCS 54%
  • USAFA 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCCS Medium
  • USAFA -
  • HBCU
  • UCCS No
  • USAFA No
  • % White
  • UCCS 67%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Asian
  • UCCS 3%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Black
  • UCCS 4%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCCS 16%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Native American
  • UCCS 0%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCCS 0%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCCS 7%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % International
  • UCCS 1%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCCS 1%
  • USAFA 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCCS 83%
  • USAFA 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCCS 16%
  • USAFA 91%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCCS Yes
  • USAFA Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCCS No
  • USAFA Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • UCCS Yes
  • USAFA Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCCS Yes
  • USAFA No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCCS Yes
  • USAFA No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Colorado Springs in Colorado Springs, CO with United States Air Force Academy in USAF Academy, Colorado on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Colorado Colorado Springs is larger than USAFA based on total student enrollment (11,354 students vs. 4,114 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Colorado Springs is located in Colorado Springs, CO (Large City setting); United States Air Force Academy is in USAF Academy, Colorado (Large City setting).
  • University of Colorado Colorado Springs is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. United States Air Force Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Colorado Springs 15:1; United States Air Force Academy 7:1.

UCCS vs. USAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCCS or USAFA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • In-state tuition differs between University of Colorado Colorado Springs and USAFA ($10,149.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between UCCS and United States Air Force Academy ($24,336.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Colorado Colorado Springs than at United States Air Force Academy (80% vs. 0%).

UCCS vs. USAFA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCCS or USAFA? 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 USAFA and UCCS.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at United States Air Force Academy (1340) is 220 points higher than at UCCS (1120).
  • Incoming USAFA students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 23 at UCCS).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Colorado Springs 1010/1220; United States Air Force Academy 1230/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Colorado Springs 20/26; United States Air Force Academy 26/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCCS - Test optional; USAFA - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USAFA Dec 31, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman USAFA students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at UCCS (3.36).
  • UCCS has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than USAFA (14.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at UCCS vs. 78.5% at USAFA.

UCCS vs. USAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCCS and USAFA? 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).

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.