CU Denver vs. CU Boulder

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

CU Denver CU Boulder
Location Denver, CO Boulder, CO
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 23,744 39,585
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #387 #191
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucdenver.edu colorado.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Denver CU Boulder
Tuition (In State) $8,736 $11,520
Tuition (Out of State) $25,992 $38,770
Room & Board $14,230 $16,146
Avg Net Price $16,079 $21,836
Avg Grant Aid $9,384 $10,477
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 57%

Admission

CU Denver CU Boulder
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,631 53,781
Admitted 11,658 43,416
Acceptance Rate 74.6% 80.7%
Enrolled % 14.6% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 26/32
SAT Range 1030/1260 1160/1390
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

CU Denver CU Boulder
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

CU Denver CU Boulder
Graduation Rate 40% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,200 $56,900
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,190 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $219 $201

Diversity

CU Denver CU Boulder
% Men 40% 55%
% Women 60% 45%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 51% 71%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 19% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 8% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

CU Denver CU Boulder
% In-State 82% 53%
% Out-of-State 15% 45%

Campus

CU Denver CU Boulder
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 Boulder is larger than than CU Denver based on total student enrollment (39,585 students vs. 23,744 students)

CU Denver vs. CU Boulder Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or CU Boulder?

  • University of Colorado Boulder is 31.9% more expensive to attend than CU Denver for in-state tuition ($11,520.00 vs. $8,736.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.2% higher at CU Boulder than University of Colorado Denver ($38,770.00 vs. $25,992.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Colorado Denver than CU Boulder ($16,079 vs. $21,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Colorado Denver are 13.5% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($14,230 vs. $16,146)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Denver than University of Colorado Boulder (93% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 11.6% larger than aid received University of Colorado Denver ($10,477 vs. $9,384)

CU Denver vs. CU Boulder Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Colorado Boulder (1212) is 157 points higher than at CU Denver (1055)
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at CU Denver (23)
  • Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at CU Denver (3.46)
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than CU Denver (74.6%)

CU Denver vs. CU Boulder Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at CU Boulder is higher than University of Colorado Denver (68% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $11,300 more per year than CU Boulder graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $56,900)
  • University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $1,690 lower median federal student loan debt than CU Denver graduates. ($19,500 vs. $21,190)
  • CU Boulder graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than CU Denver graduates. ($201 vs. $219)
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Denver students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 61%)

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