Outcomes
Strong post-grad earnings
Median earnings 10 yrs out are above the graduate average.
This school$69.7k
National avg$48k
Source: IPEDS 2024
Back to results
Explore more
University public Verified data
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO
University of Colorado Boulder at a glance
University of Colorado Boulder is a public university in Boulder, Colorado with 38,799 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 78% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $15,666 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $25,346 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 74% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 25% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $19,500 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Engineering, master's ($146,964) and Business Administration, master's ($137,635) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$15,666
2024-25
Acceptance
78%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
38,799
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Suburban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$15,666
Out-of-State Tuition
$44,918
Avg On-Campus Living
$18,468
Avg Off-Campus Living
$17,784
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $34,134
Net price (after aid): $25,346
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $14,231
$30k – $48k: $14,381
$48k – $75k: $18,828
$75k – $110k: $26,915 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$110k+: $34,818 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
For families earning $75k – $110k, $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $9,318. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $69,738
Median debt at graduation: $19,500
Est. monthly loan payment: $207
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Strong · 3.6×Graduates earn about 3.6× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 14%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 25%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedUniversity of Colorado Boulder does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $81,045, above the $39,622 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in Colorado.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
74%
Freshman Retention
90%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Manageable graduate debt
$19.5k below avg
Strong completion rate
74% above avg
Strong year-1 retention
90% above avg
Affordability snapshot
In-state tuition
$15.7k
Out-of-state
$44.9k
Net price
$25.3k
Pell
14%
Median debt
$19.5k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$69.7k
above avg
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
78%
SAT range
1240 - 1430
ACT range
29 - 33
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
Actions
Visit WebsiteView AdmissionsApply via Common AppReport incorrect data
Pin this school
Keep it saved while you compare options.
Location
Loading map...
UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Boulder, CO 80309
Academics
Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 4,146 of University of Colorado Boulder's 41,432 students (10%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 12,381 (30%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
University of Colorado Boulder reported conferring credentials in 88 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if University of Colorado Boulder caught your interest.
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
Tuition $13,373 89% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO
Tuition $11,124 99% acceptSame state. Lower-cost option. Same school type.Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO
Tuition $11,318 Open admissionSame state. Lower-cost option. Same school type.University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO
Tuition $12,416 86% acceptSame state. Lower-cost option. Similar acceptance.University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO
Tuition $10,383 75% acceptSame state. Lower-cost option. Similar acceptance.Adams State University
Alamosa, CO
Tuition $9,824 Open admissionSame state. Lower-cost option. Same school type.
Graduate earnings by program
What University of Colorado Boulder graduates earn, by program
University of Colorado Boulder's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $86,441 four years after graduating, 27% above the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $56,014; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $20,500 in federal loans at this college (about $217 a month on a 10-year plan).
62 programs at University of Colorado Boulder have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Bachelor's | $86,441 | $68,257, +27% | $20,500 | $217/mo |
| Psychology, Bachelor's | $56,867 | $50,706, +12% | $18,794 | $199/mo |
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $121,952 | $107,009, +14% | $19,687 | $209/mo |
| Public Relations and Advertising, Bachelor's | $74,779 | $63,560, +18% | $18,500 | $196/mo |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences, Bachelor's | $71,444 | $62,172, +15% | $19,483 | $207/mo |
| Business Administration, Master's | $137,635 | $103,485, +33% | $41,000 | $466/mo |
| Economics, Bachelor's | $73,319 | $82,686, −11% | $15,630 | $166/mo |
| Political Science, Bachelor's | $69,651 | $63,293, +10% | $18,742 | $199/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's | $93,073 | $92,135, about the same | $18,958 | $201/mo |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Bachelor's | $63,337 | $55,012, +15% | $19,750 | $209/mo |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Bachelor's | $116,350 | $98,207, +18% | $24,500 | $260/mo |
| Sociology, Bachelor's | $58,026 | $52,657, +10% | $16,000 | $170/mo |
Compare what Business Administration pays at other colleges
What the job pays locally
- Mechanical Engineering graduates train as mechanical engineers: median $124,430 in Colorado.
- Law graduates train as lawyers: median $168,520 in Colorado.
- Civil Engineering graduates train as civil engineers: median $101,420 in Colorado.
- Chemical Engineering graduates train as chemical engineers: median $125,800 in Colorado.
- Electrical Engineering graduates train as electrical engineers: median $120,760 in Colorado.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Show 50 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication, Bachelor's | $66,623 | $56,359, +18% | $16,500 | $175/mo |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Bachelor's | $53,429 | $48,842, +9% | $21,256 | $225/mo |
| Electrical Engineering, Master's | $170,375 | $133,654, +27% | — | — |
| Law, Professional degree | $109,411 | $107,773, about the same | $105,696 | $1,202/mo |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Bachelor's | $68,579 | $66,697, +3% | $15,500 | $164/mo |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Bachelor's | $71,942 | $62,451, +15% | $20,547 | $218/mo |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Master's | $120,144 | $122,434, about the same | $41,000 | $466/mo |
| Environmental Design, Bachelor's | $61,788 | $57,461, +8% | $22,497 | $239/mo |
| International/Globalization Studies, Bachelor's | $59,796 | $59,972, about the same | $17,340 | $184/mo |
| Computer Science, Master's | $148,463 | $145,571, about the same | — | — |
| Mathematics, Bachelor's | $90,635 | $69,562, +30% | $19,258 | $204/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering, Master's | $115,960 | $115,974, about the same | $41,000 | $466/mo |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Master's | $81,568 | $74,607, +9% | $57,931 | $659/mo |
| English, Bachelor's | $54,085 | $48,590, +11% | $19,225 | $204/mo |
| Management Science, Master's | $125,007 | $124,807, about the same | $33,316 | $379/mo |
| History, Bachelor's | $49,401 | $50,680, −3% | $15,250 | $162/mo |
| Physics, Bachelor's | $75,764 | $76,786, about the same | $19,306 | $205/mo |
| Biochemistry, Bachelor's | $68,488 | $65,466, +5% | $18,487 | $196/mo |
| Film and Photography, Bachelor's | $39,720 | $43,765, −9% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Biochemical Engineering, Bachelor's | $89,262 | $94,996, −6% | $15,516 | $164/mo |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics, Bachelor's | $72,698 | $68,333, +6% | $21,500 | $228/mo |
| Engineering, Master's | $146,964 | $120,215, +22% | — | — |
| Civil Engineering, Bachelor's | $94,960 | $86,517, +10% | $19,318 | $205/mo |
| Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, Bachelor's | $62,119 | $58,928, +5% | $15,303 | $162/mo |
| Anthropology, Bachelor's | $55,217 | $46,676, +18% | $18,583 | $197/mo |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | $47,297 | $41,367, +14% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Journalism, Bachelor's | $57,079 | $56,278, about the same | $15,250 | $162/mo |
| Philosophy, Bachelor's | — | $54,455 | $22,000 | $233/mo |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering, Bachelor's | $82,020 | $81,171, about the same | $20,836 | $221/mo |
| Music, Bachelor's | $38,701 | $42,892, −10% | $15,000 | $159/mo |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Master's | $70,814 | $71,241, about the same | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering, Bachelor's | $95,780 | $98,158, about the same | $23,650 | $251/mo |
| Civil Engineering, Master's | $98,355 | $98,323, about the same | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction, Master's | $57,994 | $63,399, −9% | — | — |
| Architectural Engineering, Bachelor's | $89,797 | $89,406, about the same | $14,500 | $154/mo |
| Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, Master's | $69,214 | $67,030, +3% | $68,085 | $774/mo |
| Music, Master's | $45,110 | $48,285, −7% | $41,000 | $466/mo |
| Geography and Cartography, Bachelor's | $57,677 | $57,853, about the same | $16,500 | $175/mo |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Bachelor's | $60,453 | $60,190, about the same | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Electrical Engineering, Bachelor's | $100,631 | $100,647, about the same | $19,221 | $204/mo |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Master's | — | $101,000 | — | — |
| Chemistry, Doctoral | $107,618 | $115,386, −7% | — | — |
| Theatre, Bachelor's | — | $39,775 | — | — |
| Music, Doctoral | $56,459 | $59,592, −5% | $33,336 | $379/mo |
| Public Relations and Advertising, Master's | — | $80,125 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Master's | $40,376 | $49,079, −18% | — | — |
| Teacher Education (by subject), Master's | — | $63,707 | — | — |
| Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, Doctoral | — | $88,343 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering, Bachelor's | $115,181 | $109,015, +6% | $23,338 | $247/mo |
| Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor's | $72,306 | $55,693, +30% | $23,913 | $254/mo |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
About University of Colorado Boulder
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is University of Colorado Boulder located?
- University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO, in the United States.
- What type of institution is University of Colorado Boulder?
- University of Colorado Boulder is a public university based in CO. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at University of Colorado Boulder?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at University of Colorado Boulder is approximately 78% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at University of Colorado Boulder?
- University of Colorado Boulder's published in-state tuition is approximately $15,666 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend University of Colorado Boulder?
- University of Colorado Boulder reports total enrollment of approximately 38,799 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does University of Colorado Boulder actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at University of Colorado Boulder is approximately $25,346 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $14,231 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $34,818. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at University of Colorado Boulder?
- University of Colorado Boulder reports a graduation rate of approximately 74% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of University of Colorado Boulder have?
- Students who borrowed at University of Colorado Boulder left with a median of approximately $19,500 in federal loans, and about 25% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $69,738 for students who received federal financial aid at University of Colorado Boulder. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about University of Colorado Boulder?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with University of Colorado Boulder.
- How much do Business Administration graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn?
- University of Colorado Boulder's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $86,441 four years after graduating, 27% above the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $56,014; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $20,500 in federal loans at this college (about $217 a month on a 10-year plan).
- How much do Psychology graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn?
- University of Colorado Boulder's bachelor's graduates in Psychology earned a median $56,867 four years after graduating, 12% above the $50,706 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $30,176; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $18,794 in federal loans at this college (about $199 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $20,500 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
- Which programs at University of Colorado Boulder have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 38 programs at University of Colorado Boulder with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Engineering, master's ($146,964); Business Administration, master's ($137,635); and Management Science, master's ($125,007) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does University of Colorado Boulder get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, University of Colorado Boulder's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $81,045, above the $39,622 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in Colorado, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 88 fields University of Colorado Boulder reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,516 | Graduate (241 graduate · 1,275 bachelor's) |
| Computer Science | 700 | Graduate (245 graduate · 455 bachelor's) |
| Psychology, General | 651 | Bachelor's |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 466 | Graduate (178 graduate · 288 bachelor's) |
| Mechanical Engineering | 394 | Graduate (131 graduate · 263 bachelor's) |
| Computational Science | 392 | Graduate |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 377 | Graduate (22 graduate · 355 bachelor's) |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 317 | Graduate (6 graduate · 311 bachelor's) |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 305 | Graduate (107 graduate · 198 bachelor's) |
| Political Science and Government | 269 | Graduate (14 graduate · 255 bachelor's) |
| Communication and Media Studies | 254 | Graduate (10 graduate · 244 bachelor's) |
| Economics | 254 | Graduate (27 graduate · 227 bachelor's) |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 242 | Graduate (208 graduate · 34 bachelor's) |
| Engineering, General | 210 | Graduate (171 graduate · 39 bachelor's) |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. All colleges in Colorado. Colorado college costs by family income. Student debt at Colorado colleges. Computer science in Colorado. Business major guide. Nursing in Colorado. Psychology in Colorado. Engineering in Colorado.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with University of Colorado Boulder before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of University of Colorado Boulder are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). University of Colorado Boulder, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/university-of-colorado-boulder
About this information
CampusPin compiles college information from recent publicly available data, including federal and institutional sources. College information can change as institutions and public agencies release new data.
Represent University of Colorado Boulder?
Claim your CampusPin institution page to review and manage your profile, and help keep your institution's information current. Verified representatives can update profile details directly; figures published by federal agencies are updated through CampusPin's review process.