University

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado, United States

Verified · last verified 2026-09-02

University details

Institution type: Public
Campus setting: Urban
Application platforms: Not available
Testing policy: Not available
In-state tuition: $15,666
Out-of-state tuition: $44,918
Cost of attendance: Not available (2024–2025)
Undergraduate enrollment: 31,939

Website

Common Data Set

Institution-reported facts by reporting cycle. Missing and withheld values are shown explicitly.

2024–2025 · most recent available

First-year admission rate

78.1%

Calculated from applications and admissions reported in CDS C1. This is a factual calculation, not a CollegePath rating.

First-year admission

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11): Not reported by institution

Majors

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Engineering
Anthropology
Social Sciences
Applied Mathematics
Mathematics and Statistics
Architectural Engineering
Engineering
Area Studies
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Physical Sciences
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
Physical Sciences
Biochemical Engineering
Engineering
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Deadlines

Early action · 2026–2027
2026-11-15 — Fall and summer first-year Early Action deadline.
https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/process/first-year/apply
Regular decision · 2026–2027
2027-01-15 — Fall and summer first-year Regular Decision deadline.
https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/process/first-year/apply

Supplemental essays

How many responses?

1 short-answer response

CU Boulder requires one academic-interest short answer in addition to the Common Application personal essay.

2026–2027

Required · All first-year applicants
What do you hope to study, and why, at CU Boulder?
Limit: 250 words — Verbatim prompt recorded from the official first-party source.
https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/process/first-year/apply

Application requirements

2026–2027

Application fee · Required
Value: $65
Domestic first-year application fee.
https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/process/first-year/apply
Fee waiver · Optional
Value: Available
Eligible applicants may request a fee waiver on the Common Application.
https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/process/first-year/apply
Personal essay · Required
Common Application personal essay and academic-interest short answer are required.
https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/process/first-year/apply
Supplemental essays · Required

Sources

Direct sources supporting this university’s facts, with retrieval dates.

Official source · supports deadlines:2026–2027
https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/process/first-year/apply
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Official CU Boulder first-year deadlines and checklist.
Official source · supports requirements:2026–2027
https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/process/first-year/apply
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Official CU Boulder fee, waiver, and essay requirements.
Official source
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?126614
Retrieved 2026-06-10

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11)

Not reported by institution

Average high-school GPA (C12)

Not reported by institution

First-year applications (C1)

67,286 applicants

IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

First-year students admitted (C1)

52,539 students

IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

First-year students enrolled (C1)

7,432 students

IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): Not reported by institution

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 32,244 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 28,916 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 3,328 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): 18%; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): 6%; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): 630 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): 710 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): 610 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): 720 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): 29 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9): 33 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Source: University of Colorado Boulder Common Data Set 2024-2025 (institutional data not reported) · Retrieved 2026-09-02

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: url:https://www.colorado.edu/ · Import: cds-2026-09-v85

2024–2025 · earlier reporting cycle

First-year admission rate

76.2%

Calculated from applications and admissions reported in CDS C1. This is a factual calculation, not a CollegePath rating.

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 33,384 students; Official CDS B1 total undergraduate enrollment; the report’s total also appears in its B2 enrollment table.
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 31,237 students; Sum of the official CDS B1 full-time undergraduate gender totals: 16,312 men and 14,925 women.
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 2,147 students; Derived as official CDS B1 total undergraduates of 33,384 less the official full-time total of 31,237.

First-year admission

First-year applications (C1): 68,931 applicants; Official CDS C1 total first-time, first-year applicants for Fall 2024.
First-year students admitted (C1): 52,534 students; Official CDS C1 total first-time, first-year admits for Fall 2024.
First-year students enrolled (C1): 7,432 students; Official CDS C1 total first-time, first-year enrolled students for Fall 2024.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11): 53%; Official CDS C11 percentage of first-time, first-year students with a 4.0 GPA.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11): 20%; Official CDS C11 percentage of first-time, first-year students with GPA 3.75–3.99.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11): 15%; Official CDS C11 percentage of first-time, first-year students with GPA 3.50–3.74.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11): 8%; Official CDS C11 percentage of first-time, first-year students with GPA 3.25–3.49.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11): 3%; Official CDS C11 percentage of first-time, first-year students with GPA 3.00–3.24.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11): 1%; Official CDS C11 percentage of first-time, first-year students with GPA 2.50–2.99.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11): 0%; Official CDS reports 0 percent.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11): 0%; Official CDS reports 0 percent.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11): 0%; Official CDS reports 0 percent.
Average high-school GPA (C12): 3.79 GPA; Official CDS C12 average high-school GPA of degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who submitted GPA.

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): 25%; Official CDS C9 reports 25 percent of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores.
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): 7%; Official CDS C9 reports 7 percent of enrolled first-year students submitted ACT scores.
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): 590 score; Official CDS C9 SAT evidence-based reading and writing 25th percentile.
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): 700 score; Official CDS C9 SAT evidence-based reading and writing 75th percentile.
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): 580 score; Official CDS C9 SAT math 25th percentile.
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): 700 score; Official CDS C9 SAT math 75th percentile.
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): 27 score; Official CDS C9 ACT composite 25th percentile.
ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9): 33 score; Official CDS C9 ACT composite 75th percentile.

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): 19:1; Official CDS I2 reports a 19-to-1 student-faculty ratio.

Source: University of Colorado Boulder Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Retrieved 2026-09-02

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: url:https://www.colorado.edu/oda/sites/default/files/attached-files/cds_2024-2025.pdf · Import: cds-2026-09-v117-colorado-boulder

Biomedical/Medical Engineering

Business Administration, Management and Operations

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Chemical Engineering

Engineering

Chemistry

Physical Sciences

Civil Engineering

Engineering

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Communication and Media Studies

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services

Health Professions and Related Programs

Community Organization and Advocacy

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

Computer Engineering

Engineering

Computer Science

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Dance

Visual and Performing Arts

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Visual and Performing Arts

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Economics

Social Sciences

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Engineering

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

Engineering

Engineering Physics

Engineering

Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General

Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields

Engineering, General

Engineering

English Language and Literature, General

English Language and Literature/Letters

Environmental Design

Architecture and Related Services

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

Engineering

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Fine and Studio Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Geography and Cartography

Social Sciences

Geography and Environmental Studies

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

Physical Sciences

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Information Science/Studies

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

International/Globalization Studies

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Journalism

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Mathematics

Mathematics and Statistics

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Music

Visual and Performing Arts

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Natural Resources and Conservation

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Philosophy

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Physics

Physical Sciences

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Political Science and Government

Social Sciences

Psychology, General

Psychology

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Religion/Religious Studies

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Sociology

Social Sciences

Statistics

Mathematics and Statistics

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Education

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

Education

Value: 1 short-answer response

CU Boulder requires one academic-interest short answer in addition to the Common Application personal essay.