CU Denver vs. WSU

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

CU Denver WSU
Location Denver, CO Wichita, KS
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 23,744 16,216
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #387 #700
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucdenver.edu wichita.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Denver WSU
Tuition (In State) $8,736 $6,848
Tuition (Out of State) $25,992 $16,208
Room & Board $14,230 $12,610
Avg Net Price $16,079 $13,553
Avg Grant Aid $9,384 $7,110
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 79%

Admission

CU Denver WSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,631 8,899
Admitted 11,658 8,441
Acceptance Rate 74.6% 94.9%
Enrolled % 14.6% 21.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 19/26
SAT Range 1030/1260 953/1260
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

Academics

CU Denver WSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Engineering (9%)

Outcomes

CU Denver WSU
Graduation Rate 40% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,200 $43,800
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,190 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $219 $211

Diversity

CU Denver WSU
% Men 40% 45%
% Women 60% 55%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 51% 63%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 19% 11%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 8% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

CU Denver WSU
% In-State 82% 76%
% Out-of-State 15% 20%

Campus

CU Denver WSU
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 WSU based on total student enrollment (23,744 students vs. 16,216 students)

CU Denver vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or WSU?

  • University of Colorado Denver is 27.6% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($8,736.00 vs. $6,848.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 60.4% higher at CU Denver than Wichita State University ($25,992.00 vs. $16,208.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wichita State University than CU Denver ($13,553 vs. $16,079)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wichita State University are 12.8% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($12,610 vs. $14,230)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Denver than Wichita State University (93% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Denver students is 32% larger than aid received Wichita State University ($9,384 vs. $7,110)

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 Wichita State University (1089) is 34 points higher than at CU Denver (1055)
  • Incoming WSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CU Denver (23)
  • Accepted freshman WSU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at CU Denver (3.46)
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) 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 WSU is higher than University of Colorado Denver (43% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $24,400 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $43,800)
  • Wichita State University students graduate with a $690 lower median federal student loan debt than CU Denver graduates. ($20,500 vs. $21,190)
  • WSU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than CU Denver graduates. ($211 vs. $219)
  • More CU Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 55%)

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