Colorado State University vs. University of Colorado Boulder

A side-by-side comparison of Colorado State and CU Boulder — acceptance rates (88.6% vs. 70.7%), tuition, financial aid, and majors, drawn from each school's official Common Data Set.

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Colorado StateFort Collins, CO

Acceptance rate

Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.

88.6%acceptance rate
Applied
38,365
Admitted
34,004
Enrolled
5,376

Early action

Colorado State offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.

Early Decision
Not offered
Early Action
Non-binding
Restrictive EA
Not offered

Standardized tests

Colorado State is test-free — SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions.

SAT / ACT scores are not used

Colorado State does not review SAT or ACT scores for admission, even if you submit them. Applicants are evaluated on GPA, coursework, essays, and activities instead.

Class rank

Where Colorado State's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.

Top tenth of class19.3%
Top quarter of class44.8%
Top half of class77.3%

Based on the 59.9% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Colorado State does not publish an average GPA.

Admissions factors

How Colorado State weighs each part of your application.

→ Importance

Rigor of High School Record

Academic GPA

Standardized Test Scores

Application Essay

Recommendations

Extracurricular Activities

Character / Personal Qualities

Talent / Ability

First Generation

Level of Applicant's Interest

Class Rank

Volunteer Work

Work Experience

Geographical Residence

State Residency

Alumni Relation

Racial / Ethnic Status

Religious Affiliation

Cost of attendance

Estimated full-time annual cost from Colorado State's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.

$32,482
In-State
$54,821
Out-of-State
In-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees
$13,774$36,113
Room & Board
$17,508$17,508
Other Expenses
$1,200$1,200
Total
$32,482$54,821

What families actually pay

$0–30k~$13k
$30–48k~$14k
$48–75k~$16k
$75–110k~$22k
$110k+~$30k

Average net price — what was left to pay after grant aid — for students receiving federal financial aid, covering in-state students only.

% of undergrads with Pell grants21.1%

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Financial aid

Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.

Receiving Aid
43%
Avg. Package
$14,631
Avg. Need Met
71%

Popular majors

Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.

Business & Marketing
Biological & Life Sciences
Engineering
Social Sciences
Psychology
Agriculture
Parks & Recreation
Computer Science
Other
Business
15%
Life Sci
14%
Engineering
10%
Social Sci
8%
Psychology
7%
Agriculture
6%
Parks & Rec
6%
CompSci
5%
Other
29%

Student-faculty ratio

The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.

17:1

Student outcomes

First-years who return88%
Graduate within six years68%
Median earnings, 4 yrs after graduation~$68k
Median federal loan debt at graduation~$20k

Median yearly income of former students who received federal aid, across every major, measured four years after graduating (2017–18 and 2018–19 graduates, earnings measured 2022–2023). Debt covers federal loans of students who completed.

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Programs

Colorado State’s most popular programs and median pay after graduation. Income data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

  • Business Administration & Management

    735 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$79kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Biology

    361 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$61kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$22k median debt
  • Psychology

    329 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$54kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Computer & Information Sciences

    215 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$114kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$22k median debt
  • Kinesiology & Exercise Science

    198 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$61kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
Show all 32 programs

Median pay data is measured from graduates who received federal student aid.

Source: College Scorecard (2026) · IPEDS (2023-24) · ABET

Campus life

On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.

First-Years On Campus
93%
In Fraternities
6%
In Sororities
8%

Place

How the federal government classifies the area around the campus, and what a normal year of weather looks like there.

Setting
Midsize city
Location
Fort Collins, CO

Average temperature

Monthly high and low, °F
4518J
4721F
5629M
6335A
7144M
8253J
8759J
8557A
7748S
6436O
5326N
4418D
Snow a year
51 in
Precipitation a year
16 in
Days at 90°F or above
30
Days below 32°F
150

Thirty-year averages, measured at the nearest weather station rather than on campus — they describe the area, not the campus.

Source: IPEDS (HD2024) · NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, FT COLLINS, CO US station, 0.3 mi from campus

Enrollment by gender

45%
55%
Male
11,992
Female
14,498

Student diversity

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.

White68.4%
Hispanic16.7%
Other8.4%
Black3%
Asian and Pacific Islander2.9%
Native American<1%
CU BoulderBoulder, CO

Acceptance rate

Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.

CU Boulder CDSIn-state vs. out-of-state admit rates from CU Boulder CDS (Fall 2025).
70.7%acceptance rate
Applied
73,180
Admitted
51,716
Enrolled
7,397

Admit rate by residency

% admitted
In-state81.3%
14,650 admitted of 18,030 applicants
Out-of-state67.4%
37,065 admitted of 54,968 applicants
International76.2%
2,378 admitted of 3,121 applicants

Early action

CU Boulder offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.

Early Decision
Not offered
Early Action
Non-binding
Restrictive EA
Not offered

Standardized tests

CU Boulder is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.

SAT Accepted?

ACT Accepted?

Test Optional?

SAT Scores

4001600
25th Percentile
1130
50th Percentile
1260
75th Percentile
1370

ACT Scores

136
25th Percentile
27
50th Percentile
30
75th Percentile
32

Class rank

Where CU Boulder's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.

Top tenth of class26.3%
Top quarter of class57.6%
Top half of class87.7%

Based on the 41.3% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. CU Boulder does not publish an average GPA.

Admissions factors

How CU Boulder weighs each part of your application.

→ Importance

Rigor of High School Record

Academic GPA

Standardized Test Scores

Application Essay

Recommendations

Extracurricular Activities

Character / Personal Qualities

Talent / Ability

First Generation

Level of Applicant's Interest

Class Rank

Volunteer Work

Work Experience

Geographical Residence

State Residency

Alumni Relation

Racial / Ethnic Status

Religious Affiliation

Cost of attendance

Estimated full-time annual cost from CU Boulder's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.

$38,552
In-State
$69,596
Out-of-State
In-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees
$15,014$46,058
Room & Board
$19,242$19,242
Other Expenses
$4,296$4,296
Total
$38,552$69,596

What families actually pay

$0–30k~$14k
$30–48k~$14k
$48–75k~$19k
$75–110k~$27k
$110k+~$35k

Average net price — what was left to pay after grant aid — for students receiving federal financial aid, covering in-state students only.

% of undergrads with Pell grants14.5%

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Financial aid

Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.

Receiving Aid
28%
Avg. Package
$23,118
Avg. Need Met
72%

Popular majors

Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.

Business & Marketing
Engineering
Biological & Life Sciences
Social Sciences
Communication & Journalism
Psychology
Computer & Information Sciences
Visual & Performing Arts
Other
Business
17%
Engineering
13%
Life Sci
12%
Social Sci
9%
Comm
9%
Psychology
9%
Computing
7%
Arts
4%
Other
20%

Student-faculty ratio

The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.

19.5:1

Student outcomes

First-years who return91%
Graduate within six years74%
Median earnings, 4 yrs after graduation~$77k
Median federal loan debt at graduation~$20k

Median yearly income of former students who received federal aid, across every major, measured four years after graduating (2017–18 and 2018–19 graduates, earnings measured 2022–2023). Debt covers federal loans of students who completed.

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Programs

CU Boulder’s most popular programs and median pay after graduation. Income data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

Show all 29 programs

Median pay data is measured from graduates who received federal student aid.

Source: College Scorecard (2026) · IPEDS (2023-24) · ABET

Campus life

On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.

First-Years On Campus
95%
In Fraternities
9%
In Sororities
22%

Place

How the federal government classifies the area around the campus, and what a normal year of weather looks like there.

Setting
Midsize city
Location
Boulder, CO

Average temperature

Monthly high and low, °F
4722J
4822F
5729M
6335A
7143M
8351J
8857J
8656A
7948S
6637O
5528N
4621D
Snow a year
93 in
Precipitation a year
21 in
Days at 90°F or above
33
Days below 32°F
138

Thirty-year averages, measured at the nearest weather station rather than on campus — they describe the area, not the campus.

Source: IPEDS (HD2024) · NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, BOULDER, CO US station, 1.2 mi from campus

Enrollment by gender

52%
48%
Male
17,748
Female
16,353

Student diversity

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.

White66.4%
Hispanic14.1%
Other10.6%
Asian and Pacific Islander6.5%
Black2.2%
Native American<1%

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Colorado State vs. CU Boulder: frequently asked questions

CU Boulder is more selective: it admits about 70.7% of applicants, compared with 88.6% at Colorado State. Both are competitive, and your odds depend on far more than the overall rate.

Colorado State has the lower published price for out-of-state students — $36,113 in tuition and fees versus $46,058 at CU Boulder, a gap of about $9,945 a year before financial aid.

CU Boulder graduates a higher share of its students within six years — 74% versus 68% at Colorado State.

Neither — about equally. Both Common Data Sets rate the application essay important, so the same draft does the same work in either application.

Source: Colorado State University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-11. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Colorado State. Banner photo by FarGah1, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Source: University of Colorado Boulder Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-26. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with CU Boulder. Banner photo by Laura Scudder (Laurascudder), via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).