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CU Boulder Colorado State DU Metropolitan State College of Denver University of Nevada-Reno UCCS Regis Texas Tech Colorado School of Mines University of Northern Colorado ASU Oklahoma State University-Main Campus| University of Colorado Denver | University of Nevada Las Vegas | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CU Denver | UNLV | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Las Vegas, NV | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,409 | 31,094 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #391 | #652 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucdenver.edu | unlv.edu | ||
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Costs |
CU Denver | UNLV | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,096 | $8,354 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,288 | $25,310 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,920 | $12,072 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,303 | $11,388 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,079 | $7,580 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 90% |
Admission |
CU Denver | UNLV | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,569 | 12,232 | ||
| Admitted | 11,336 | 11,774 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.8% | 96.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.4% | 38.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1220 | 980/1230 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jun 1, 2026 |
Academics |
CU Denver | UNLV | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CU Denver | UNLV | ||
| Graduation Rate | 40% | 40% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,200 | $47,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 52% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,190 | $19,018 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $196 |
Diversity |
CU Denver | UNLV | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 26% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 35% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 26% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 9% | ||
| % International | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
CU Denver | UNLV | ||
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| % In-State | 85% | 85% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 14% | ||
Campus |
CU Denver | UNLV | ||
| 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 Nevada Las Vegas is larger than than CU Denver based on total student enrollment (31,094 students vs. 23,409 students)
CU Denver vs. UNLV Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or UNLV?
- University of Colorado Denver is 8.9% more expensive to attend than UNLV for in-state tuition ($9,096.00 vs. $8,354.00)
- Out of state tuition is 7.8% higher at CU Denver than University of Nevada Las Vegas ($27,288.00 vs. $25,310.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nevada Las Vegas than CU Denver ($11,388 vs. $15,303)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nevada Las Vegas are 23.6% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($12,072 vs. $14,920)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nevada Las Vegas than University of Colorado Denver (90% vs. 86%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Denver students is 6.6% larger than aid received University of Nevada Las Vegas ($8,079 vs. $7,580)
CU Denver vs. UNLV Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver or UNLV? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNLV or CU Denver .
- The average SAT score at University of Colorado Denver (1055) is 48 points higher than at UNLV (1007)
- Incoming CU Denver students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at UNLV (22)
- Accepted freshman CU Denver students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at UNLV (3.4)
- UNLV has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than CU Denver (77.8%)
CU Denver vs. UNLV Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Denver or UNLV? 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 UNLV and CU Denver.
- The graduation rate at CU Denver is the same as at University of Nevada Las Vegas (40% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $20,600 more per year than UNLV graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $47,600)
- University of Nevada Las Vegas students graduate with a $2,172 lower median federal student loan debt than CU Denver graduates. ($19,018 vs. $21,190)
- UNLV graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than CU Denver graduates. ($196 vs. $219)
- More CU Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNLV students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 52%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/