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CU Boulder UNCW Colorado State ECU DU WCU University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State UNC Charlotte Metropolitan State College of Denver UNC Chapel Hill UCCS| University of Colorado Denver | Appalachian State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CU Denver | ASU | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Boone, NC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 23,744 | 20,436 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #387 | #594 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucdenver.edu | appstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Denver | ASU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,736 | $4,242 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,992 | $20,246 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,230 | $11,582 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,079 | $13,084 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,384 | $7,443 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 47% |
Admission |
CU Denver | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,631 | 22,255 | ||
| Admitted | 11,658 | 18,489 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.6% | 83.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.6% | 21.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.96 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1260 | 1100/1270 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
CU Denver | ASU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CU Denver | ASU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 40% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,200 | $41,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,190 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $211 |
Diversity |
CU Denver | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 8% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
CU Denver | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 82% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 15% | 13% | ||
Campus |
CU Denver | ASU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Colorado Denver is larger than than ASU based on total student enrollment (23,744 students vs. 20,436 students)
CU Denver vs. ASU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or ASU?
- University of Colorado Denver is 105.9% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($8,736.00 vs. $4,242.00)
- Out of state tuition is 28.4% higher at CU Denver than Appalachian State University ($25,992.00 vs. $20,246.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than CU Denver ($13,084 vs. $16,079)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 22.9% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($11,582 vs. $14,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Denver than Appalachian State University (93% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Denver students is 26.1% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($9,384 vs. $7,443)
CU Denver vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver or ASU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ASU or CU Denver .
- The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 102 points higher than at CU Denver (1055)
- Incoming ASU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at CU Denver (23)
- Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at CU Denver (3.46)
- ASU has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than CU Denver (74.6%)
CU Denver vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Denver or ASU? 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 ASU and CU Denver.
- The graduation rate at ASU is higher than University of Colorado Denver (65% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $26,600 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $41,600)
- Appalachian State University students graduate with a $690 lower median federal student loan debt than CU Denver graduates. ($20,500 vs. $21,190)
- ASU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than CU Denver graduates. ($211 vs. $219)
- More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Denver students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/