Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
CU Boulder Colorado State DU Metropolitan State College of Denver UCCS University of Missouri-Kansas City UNT Missouri State University-Springfield Regis UT Arlington Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Texas Tech| University of Colorado Denver | Wichita State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Wichita, KS | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,409 | 16,741 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #391 | #741 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucdenver.edu | wichita.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,096 | $7,247 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,288 | $17,165 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,920 | $13,790 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,303 | $14,184 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,079 | $7,282 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 82% |
Admission |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,569 | 8,637 | ||
| Admitted | 11,336 | 8,200 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.8% | 94.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.4% | 21.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.48 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 18/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1220 | 970/1250 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
CU Denver | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 20:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
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 | 14% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 26% | 13% | ||
| 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 | 85% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 21% | ||
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 (23,409 students vs. 16,741 students)
CU Denver vs. WSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or WSU?
- University of Colorado Denver is 25.5% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($9,096.00 vs. $7,247.00)
- Out of state tuition is 59% higher at CU Denver than Wichita State University ($27,288.00 vs. $17,165.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wichita State University than CU Denver ($14,184 vs. $15,303)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wichita State University are 8.2% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($13,790 vs. $14,920)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Denver than Wichita State University (86% vs. 82%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Denver students is 10.9% larger than aid received Wichita State University ($8,079 vs. $7,282)
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 (77.8%)
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/