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University of Northern Colorado
Admission at University of Northern Colorado is close to open (85.9%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $52,231 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
University of Northern Colorado sits in Greeley proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Engineering, where graduates median $95,775 four years out. 26.2% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 5,598 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 75.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 970 and 1180 — below the CO middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Northern Colorado's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Northern Colorado received 10,274 applications and admitted 8,880 (86.4%), with 1,229 enrolling.
You can apply to University of Northern Colorado without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 970 and 1180; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 490 | 540 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 480 | 530 | 580 |
| ACT Composite | 17 | 22 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How University of Northern Colorado compares
| University of Northern Colorado | Colorado median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 85.9% | 86.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $12,416 | $12,750 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $52,231 | $53,445 | $53,781 |
At $52,231, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($53,445). Look at University of Northern Colorado's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $12,416 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $27,266. For non-residents, University of Northern Colorado's $27,266 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 5,598 undergrads, University of Northern Colorado is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
51.2% graduate within six years. Roughly 49% don't — ask a University of Northern Colorado tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Northern Colorado
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $95,775 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,712 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $74,278 |
| Physics | $73,186 |
| Political Science and Government | $65,783 |
| Chemistry | $65,414 |
| Economics | $65,025 |
| Geography and Cartography | $62,369 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $57,989 |
| Journalism | $57,603 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $57,508 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,520 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $55,967 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $55,946 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,282 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $54,921 |
| Biology, General | $53,470 |
| History | $52,423 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $52,363 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $52,016 |
| Mathematics | $51,939 |
| Anthropology | $51,715 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $51,008 |
| Psychology, General | $49,455 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $48,643 |
| Sociology | $48,154 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $47,303 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $46,502 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $46,455 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $46,089 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $45,979 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,008 |
| Music | $37,749 |
Median earnings for these 33 University of Northern Colorado programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $52,231 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 12 additional University of Northern Colorado programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Northern Colorado?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 970–1180 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 85.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Northern Colorado's acceptance rate?
86.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 8,880 admitted from 10,274 applicants.
How much does University of Northern Colorado cost?
In-state tuition is $12,416; out-of-state students pay $27,266. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Northern Colorado graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $52,231 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Colorado
- Naropa University — 100% admitted
- Metropolitan State University of Denver — 98.8% admitted
- Regis University — 86.5% admitted
- Colorado State University Pueblo — 94.9% 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.