CU Denver vs. Boise State

Should I go to University of Colorado Denver or Boise State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CU Denver or Boise State 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 Denver vs. Boise State University comparison
University of Colorado Denver Boise State University College 3 College 4
University of Colorado Denver Boise State University
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Overview

CU Denver Boise State
Location Denver, CO Boise, ID
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 23,409 26,670
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #391 #886
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucdenver.edu boisestate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Denver Boise State
Tuition (In State) $9,096 $5,941
Tuition (Out of State) $27,288 $24,135
Room & Board $14,920 $16,610
Avg Net Price $15,303 $19,037
Avg Grant Aid $8,079 $8,167
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 78%

Admission

CU Denver Boise State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,569 15,949
Admitted 11,336 13,391
Acceptance Rate 77.8% 84%
Enrolled % 14.4% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 21/26
SAT Range 980/1220 1030/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

CU Denver Boise State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

CU Denver Boise State
Graduation Rate 40% 29%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,200 $41,600
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,190 $22,929
Median Loan Payment $219 $237

Diversity

CU Denver Boise State
% Men 14% 4%
% Women 26% 8%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 51% 74%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 19% 11%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 8% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

CU Denver Boise State
% In-State 85% 65%
% Out-of-State 13% 35%

Campus

CU Denver Boise State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Boise State University is larger than than CU Denver based on total student enrollment (26,670 students vs. 23,409 students)

CU Denver vs. Boise State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or Boise State?

  • University of Colorado Denver is 53.1% more expensive to attend than Boise State for in-state tuition ($9,096.00 vs. $5,941.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.1% higher at CU Denver than Boise State University ($27,288.00 vs. $24,135.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Colorado Denver than Boise State ($15,303 vs. $19,037)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Colorado Denver are 11.3% lower than costs at Boise State University ($14,920 vs. $16,610)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Denver than Boise State University (86% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boise State University students is 1.1% larger than aid received University of Colorado Denver ($8,167 vs. $8,079)

CU Denver vs. Boise State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver or Boise State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Boise State or CU Denver .

  • The average SAT score at University of Colorado Denver (1055) is 9 points higher than at Boise State (1046)
  • Incoming CU Denver students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Boise State (23)
  • Accepted freshman CU Denver students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Boise State (3.37)
  • Boise State has a higher acceptance rate (84%) than CU Denver (77.8%)

CU Denver vs. Boise State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CU Denver or Boise State? 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 Boise State and CU Denver.

  • The graduation rate at CU Denver is higher than Boise State University (40% vs. 29%)
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $26,600 more per year than Boise State graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $41,600)
  • University of Colorado Denver students graduate with a $1,739 lower median federal student loan debt than Boise State graduates. ($21,190 vs. $22,929)
  • CU Denver graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Boise State graduates. ($219 vs. $237)
  • More CU Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Boise State students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/