CU Denver vs. USAFA

Should I go to University of Colorado Denver or United States Air Force Academy? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CU Denver or USAFA 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. United States Air Force Academy comparison
University of Colorado Denver United States Air Force Academy College 3 College 4
University of Colorado Denver United States Air Force Academy
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Overview

CU Denver USAFA
Location Denver, CO USAFA, Colorado
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 23,744 4,085
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #387
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucdenver.edu usafa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Denver USAFA
Tuition (In State) $8,736 $0
Tuition (Out of State) $25,992 $0
Room & Board $14,230 $0
Avg Net Price $16,079 -
Avg Grant Aid $9,384 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 0%

Admission

CU Denver USAFA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,631 8,353
Admitted 11,658 1,356
Acceptance Rate 74.6% 16.2%
Enrolled % 14.6% 77.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.81
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 21/27 28/33
SAT Range 1030/1260 1310/1480
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Dec 31, 2024

Academics

CU Denver USAFA
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Engineering (35%)
  • Social Sciences (18%)
  • General Studies (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

CU Denver USAFA
Graduation Rate 40% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,200 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 61% -
Median Student Loan Debt $21,190 N/A
Median Loan Payment $219 N/A

Diversity

CU Denver USAFA
% Men 40% 71%
% Women 60% 29%
Racial Diversity High -
HBCU No No
% White 51% 0%
% Black 5% 0%
% Hispanic 19% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 0%
% International 8% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

CU Denver USAFA
% In-State 82% 5%
% Out-of-State 15% 93%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Colorado Denver is larger than than USAFA based on total student enrollment (23,744 students vs. 4,085 students)

CU Denver vs. USAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or USAFA?

  • University of Colorado Denver is ?% more expensive to attend than USAFA for in-state tuition ($8,736.00 vs. $0.00)
  • Out of state tuition is ?% higher at CU Denver than United States Air Force Academy ($25,992.00 vs. $0.00)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Denver than United States Air Force Academy (93% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Denver students is ?% larger than aid received United States Air Force Academy ($9,384 vs. $0)

CU Denver vs. USAFA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman USAFA students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at CU Denver (3.46)
  • CU Denver has a higher acceptance rate (74.6%) than USAFA (16.2%)

CU Denver vs. USAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CU Denver or USAFA? 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 USAFA and CU Denver.

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