Boulder, CO · 31.9k students
Trajecta score
+1.3 since '20Ranked #185 of 2,375
5-year trend
58.8 · #206
2020
60.2 · #271
2021
60.6 · #261
2022
60.8 · #267
2023
60.1 · #305
2024
Academic Profile
42/ 100
Career Outcomes
73/ 100
Student Success
64/ 100
Affordability
59/ 100
Academic Investment
88/ 100
Access & Equity
34/ 100
Academic Profile
42
Career Outcomes
73
Student Success
64
Affordability
59
Academic Investment
88
Access & Equity
34
AI Fit Analysis
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See how your profile stacks up at University of Colorado Boulder — predicted chances, program fit, and a personalized application strategy.
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Cost / Net Price
$38k / $25k
SAT Avg
1,357
Retention
90%
Grad Rate
75%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$15,666
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$44,918
per year
Out-of-state premium: +$29,252/yr
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
14%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
25%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$19,500
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
3.79
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen · 100% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what University of Colorado Boulder reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Considered | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Important | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗What do you hope to study
Required250 wordsWhat do you hope to study, and why, at CU Boulder? Or if you don't know quite yet, think about your studies so far, extracurricular/after-school activities, jobs, volunteering, future goals or anything else that has shaped your interests.
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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