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University of Colorado Boulder
Most applicants get into University of Colorado Boulder — 78.1% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
University of Colorado Boulder sits in Boulder proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $121,952 four years out. Faculty pay averages $159,888 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 31,939 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 90.1% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1230 and 1420 — above the CO middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Colorado Boulder's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1230–1420 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, University of Colorado Boulder's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 620 | 670 | 700 |
| SAT Math | 610 | 660 | 720 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 31 | 33 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Colorado Boulder received 56,069 applications and admitted 46,692 (83.3%), with 7,546 enrolling.
How University of Colorado Boulder compares
| University of Colorado Boulder | Colorado median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 78.1% | 86.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $15,666 | $12,750 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $69,738 | $53,445 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Colorado Boulder student earns $69,738 — 30% above the Colorado median of $53,445 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University of Colorado Boulder prices by residency: $15,666 in-state versus $44,918 out-of-state — a $29,252 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
31,939 undergraduates make University of Colorado Boulder a large campus: broad course catalogs and big intro lectures come as a package.
74.2% of University of Colorado Boulder students finish a bachelor's within six years — 19.3 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $15,666 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at University of Colorado Boulder
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $121,952 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $116,350 |
| Computer Engineering | $115,181 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $100,631 |
| Chemical Engineering | $95,780 |
| Civil Engineering | $94,960 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $93,073 |
| Mathematics | $90,635 |
| Architectural Engineering | $89,797 |
| Biochemical Engineering | $89,262 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $86,441 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $82,020 |
| Physics | $75,764 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $74,779 |
| Economics | $73,319 |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | $72,698 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $72,306 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $71,942 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $71,444 |
| Political Science and Government | $69,651 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $68,579 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $68,488 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $66,623 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $63,337 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $62,119 |
| Environmental Design | $61,788 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $60,453 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $59,796 |
| Sociology | $58,026 |
| Geography and Cartography | $57,677 |
| Journalism | $57,079 |
| Psychology, General | $56,867 |
| Anthropology | $55,217 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $54,085 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $53,429 |
| History | $49,401 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $47,297 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $39,720 |
| Music | $38,701 |
Median earnings for these 39 University of Colorado Boulder programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $69,738 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 29 additional University of Colorado Boulder programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Colorado Boulder?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1230–1420 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 78.1% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Colorado Boulder's acceptance rate?
83.3% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 46,692 admitted from 56,069 applicants.
How much does University of Colorado Boulder cost?
In-state tuition is $15,666; out-of-state students pay $44,918. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Colorado Boulder graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $69,738 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Colorado
- University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus — 74.7% admitted
- Colorado School of Mines — 60.7% admitted
- University of Denver — 77.8% admitted
- Fort Lewis College — 77.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.