Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Midsize city

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado. 31,939 undergraduates. Admits 78% of applicants.

74%Graduation rate20 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$23,708Average net price per year19% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$77,574Median earnings 10 years after starting32% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$18,500Median debt at graduation14% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($18,500) equals 24% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($77,574). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$13,403
$30,000–$48,000$13,558
$48,001–$75,000$16,684
$75,001–$110,000$21,719
Over $110,000$34,026

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $17,513 in-state, $47,142 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate74%54%
Return for second year90%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$62,700$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$77,574$58,912
Median debt at graduation$18,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

198 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods102$87,820$159,282—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering199$95,945$155,923—
Business Administration, Management and Operations219$99,875$152,252—
Engineering, General94$143,666$143,874—
Computer Science191—$136,863—
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering137$103,638$128,121—
Mechanical Engineering101$97,859$118,332—
Accounting and Related Services46$74,511$112,339—
Civil Engineering38$79,539$93,883—
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication5$91,173——
Natural Resources Conservation and Research97$63,011$89,010—
Finance and Financial Management Services35$81,438——
Taxation13$77,057——
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies26$76,793——
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education3$59,123$71,056—
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services52$65,865$62,275—
Curriculum and Instruction42$56,066$62,033—
English Language and Literature, General13—$59,159—
Fine and Studio Arts13—$44,141—
Music32$31,319$42,314—
Area Studies1———
Communication and Media Studies6———
Journalism9———
Computer and Information Sciences, General6———
Information Science/Studies7———
Educational Administration and Supervision7———
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education10———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas15———
Education, Other5———
Architectural Engineering3———
Biomedical/Medical Engineering12———
Chemical Engineering21———
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering28———
Materials Engineering6———
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering2———
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General33———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services14———
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics2———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics3———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics7———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics8———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies5———
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology2———
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences11———
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology4———
Mathematics10———
Applied Mathematics31———
Museology/Museum Studies12———
Computational Science207———
Geography and Environmental Studies12———
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies3———
Philosophy13———
Religion/Religious Studies4———
Astronomy and Astrophysics8———
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology13———
Chemistry5———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences7———
Physics45———
Psychology, General8———
Anthropology6———
Economics9———
Political Science and Government11———
Sociology7———
Dance5———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft2———
Business/Corporate Communications2———
Real Estate26———
History2———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

78%Admission rate
1,357Average SAT of admitted students
29–33ACT middle 50%
19:1Students per faculty member
17%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does University of Colorado Boulder cost per year?
The average net price at University of Colorado Boulder, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $23,708 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do University of Colorado Boulder graduates earn?
Former University of Colorado Boulder students earn a median of $77,574 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at University of Colorado Boulder?
74% of University of Colorado Boulder students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do University of Colorado Boulder graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from University of Colorado Boulder is $18,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.