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CU Boulder Colorado State DU Metropolitan State College of Denver UCCS Regis Texas Tech Colorado School of Mines University of Northern Colorado Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Cleveland State WSU| University of Colorado Denver | University of Nebraska at Kearney | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CU Denver | UNK | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Kearney, NE | ||
| Setting | Large City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 23,744 | 6,041 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #387 | #571 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucdenver.edu | unk.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Denver | UNK | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,736 | $6,220 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,992 | $12,036 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,230 | $11,390 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,079 | $16,564 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,384 | $7,282 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 100% |
Admission |
CU Denver | UNK | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,631 | 6,794 | ||
| Admitted | 11,658 | 5,842 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.6% | 86% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.6% | 14.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.24 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1260 | 1000/1200 | ||
| 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 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
CU Denver | UNK | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CU Denver | UNK | ||
| Graduation Rate | 40% | 61% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,200 | $43,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,190 | $21,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $219 |
Diversity |
CU Denver | UNK | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 34% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 66% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 8% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
CU Denver | UNK | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 82% | 85% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 15% | 11% | ||
Campus |
CU Denver | UNK | ||
| 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 UNK based on total student enrollment (23,744 students vs. 6,041 students)
CU Denver vs. UNK Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or UNK?
- University of Colorado Denver is 40.5% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($8,736.00 vs. $6,220.00)
- Out of state tuition is 116% higher at CU Denver than University of Nebraska at Kearney ($25,992.00 vs. $12,036.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Colorado Denver than UNK ($16,079 vs. $16,564)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nebraska at Kearney are 24.9% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($11,390 vs. $14,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nebraska at Kearney than University of Colorado Denver (100% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Denver students is 28.9% larger than aid received University of Nebraska at Kearney ($9,384 vs. $7,282)
CU Denver vs. UNK Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver or UNK? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNK or CU Denver .
- The average SAT score at University of Colorado Denver (1055) is 6 points higher than at UNK (1049)
- Incoming CU Denver students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at UNK (23)
- Accepted freshman CU Denver students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at UNK (3.24)
- UNK has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than CU Denver (74.6%)
CU Denver vs. UNK Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Denver or UNK? 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 UNK and CU Denver.
- The graduation rate at UNK is higher than University of Colorado Denver (61% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $24,800 more per year than UNK graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $43,400)
- University of Colorado Denver students graduate with a $60 lower median federal student loan debt than UNK graduates. ($21,190 vs. $21,250)
- University of Nebraska at Kearney and CU Denver graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($219 vs. $219)
- More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Denver students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/