CU Denver vs. UTSA

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver, CO with The University of Texas at San Antonio in San Antonio, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at San Antonio is larger than CU Denver based on total student enrollment (35,770 students vs. 23,124 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is located in Denver, CO (Large City setting); The University of Texas at San Antonio is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus 17:1; The University of Texas at San Antonio 24:1.

CU Denver vs. UTSA Cost Comparison

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

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Texas at San Antonio than CU Denver ($10,959 vs. $14,831).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at San Antonio are 3.4% lower than at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus ($14,912 vs. $15,442).
• University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UTSA (about $1,372 more per year; $10,383.00 vs. $9,011.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.3% higher at CU Denver than at The University of Texas at San Antonio (about $7,340 more per year; $29,391.00 vs. $22,051.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus than at The University of Texas at San Antonio (86% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Texas at San Antonio students is 19.3% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus students ($11,332 vs. $9,496).

CU Denver vs. UTSA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver or UTSA? 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 UTSA and CU Denver.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (1110) is 10 points higher than at CU Denver (1100).
• Incoming CU Denver students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 22 at UTSA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus 980/1220; The University of Texas at San Antonio 1000/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus 23/32; The University of Texas at San Antonio 19/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Denver - Test optional; UTSA - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CU Denver Aug 1, 2027; UTSA Jun 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CU Denver students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at UTSA (3.36).
• UTSA has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than CU Denver (74.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at CU Denver vs. 27.1% at UTSA.

CU Denver vs. UTSA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Denver and UTSA? 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).

• University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than The University of Texas at San Antonio's (27%).
• Graduates from University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus earn a median of about $20,300 more per year than UTSA graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,200 vs. $47,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus graduates have a $1,793 lower median loan debt than UTSA graduates ($21,190 vs. $22,983).
• Among borrowers, CU Denver graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UTSA graduates ($219 vs. $237).
• More CU Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UTSA students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 55%)

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.