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CU Boulder Michigan State Colorado State UM-Dearborn Oakland DU Metropolitan State College of Denver UCCS Detroit Mercy- UDM- U of D- University of Detroit Eastern Michigan University CMU Michigan| University of Colorado Denver | Wayne State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Detroit, MI | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,744 | 23,630 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #387 | #582 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucdenver.edu | wayne.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,736 | $12,933 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,992 | $29,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,230 | $11,321 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,079 | $15,347 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,384 | $10,605 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 96% |
Admission |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,631 | 14,002 | ||
| Admitted | 11,658 | 10,547 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.6% | 75.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.6% | 24.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1260 | 1040/1260 | ||
| 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 1, 2025 |
Academics |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 40% | 26% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,200 | $51,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 38% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,190 | $22,258 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $230 |
Diversity |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 8% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 5% |
Students |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 82% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 15% | 3% | ||
Campus |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
| 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 WSU based on total student enrollment (23,744 students vs. 23,630 students)
CU Denver vs. WSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or WSU?
- Wayne State University is 48% more expensive to attend than CU Denver for in-state tuition ($12,933.00 vs. $8,736.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14% higher at WSU than University of Colorado Denver ($29,622.00 vs. $25,992.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than CU Denver ($15,347 vs. $16,079)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 25.7% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($11,321 vs. $14,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State University than University of Colorado Denver (96% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 13% larger than aid received University of Colorado Denver ($10,605 vs. $9,384)
CU Denver vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver or WSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSU or CU Denver .
- The average SAT score at Wayne State University (1070) is 15 points higher than at CU Denver (1055)
- Incoming CU Denver students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at WSU (23)
- Accepted freshman CU Denver students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at WSU (3.42)
- WSU has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than CU Denver (74.6%)
CU Denver vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Denver or WSU? 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 WSU and CU Denver.
- The graduation rate at CU Denver is higher than Wayne State University (40% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $17,200 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $51,000)
- University of Colorado Denver students graduate with a $1,068 lower median federal student loan debt than WSU graduates. ($21,190 vs. $22,258)
- CU Denver graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than WSU graduates. ($219 vs. $230)
- More CU Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/