CU Denver vs. UNF

Should I go to University of Colorado Denver or University of North Florida? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CU Denver or UNF 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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CU Boulder Colorado State DU Metropolitan State College of Denver UCCS UCF FAU USF Main Campus FGCU Florida State The University of West Florida FIU
University of Colorado Denver vs. University of North Florida comparison
University of Colorado Denver University of North Florida College 3 College 4
University of Colorado Denver University of North Florida
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Overview

CU Denver UNF
Location Denver, CO Jacksonville, FL
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 23,409 16,453
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #391 #599
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucdenver.edu unf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Denver UNF
Tuition (In State) $9,096 $4,281
Tuition (Out of State) $27,288 $17,999
Room & Board $14,920 $10,910
Avg Net Price $15,303 $10,628
Avg Grant Aid $8,079 $9,162
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 75%

Admission

CU Denver UNF
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,569 21,568
Admitted 11,336 13,430
Acceptance Rate 77.8% 62.3%
Enrolled % 14.4% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.89
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 20/26
SAT Range 980/1220 990/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

CU Denver UNF
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

CU Denver UNF
Graduation Rate 40% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,200 $47,200
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,190 $16,000
Median Loan Payment $219 $165

Diversity

CU Denver UNF
% Men 14% 4%
% Women 26% 10%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 51% 69%
% Black 5% 9%
% Hispanic 19% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 8% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

CU Denver UNF
% In-State 85% 92%
% Out-of-State 13% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Colorado Denver is larger than than UNF based on total student enrollment (23,409 students vs. 16,453 students)

CU Denver vs. UNF Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or UNF?

  • University of Colorado Denver is 112.5% more expensive to attend than UNF for in-state tuition ($9,096.00 vs. $4,281.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 51.6% higher at CU Denver than University of North Florida ($27,288.00 vs. $17,999.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Florida than CU Denver ($10,628 vs. $15,303)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Florida are 36.8% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($10,910 vs. $14,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Denver than University of North Florida (86% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Florida students is 13.4% larger than aid received University of Colorado Denver ($9,162 vs. $8,079)

CU Denver vs. UNF Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of North Florida (1140) is 85 points higher than at CU Denver (1055)
  • Incoming UNF students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at CU Denver (23)
  • Accepted freshman UNF students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at CU Denver (3.46)
  • CU Denver has a higher acceptance rate (77.8%) than UNF (62.3%)

CU Denver vs. UNF Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UNF is higher than University of Colorado Denver (50% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $21,000 more per year than UNF graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $47,200)
  • University of North Florida students graduate with a $5,190 lower median federal student loan debt than CU Denver graduates. ($16,000 vs. $21,190)
  • UNF graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than CU Denver graduates. ($165 vs. $219)
  • More CU Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNF students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 60%)

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