Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of Colorado Boulder is a public national university located in Boulder, Colorado. University of Colorado Boulder is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at University of Colorado Boulder is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $60,740 10 years after enrolling, 4th in Colorado, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, University of Colorado Boulder bachelor students earn 10% more than the national average. University of Colorado Boulder is ranked 3rd in Colorado.
University of Colorado Boulder’s median net annual cost of $20,967 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at University of Colorado Boulder sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Computer Science, Psychology, Advertising & PR, Physiology & Pathology, Economics - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$20,967
Average years to graduate
4.7
Aerospace Engineering
Rank: #33
Economic score: 1.68
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #190
Economic score: 2.2
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #69
Economic score: 3.19
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #165
Economic score: 4.19
Environmental Design
Rank: #4
Economic score: 4.96
International studies
Rank: #25
Economic score: 5.85
Sociology
Rank: #166
Economic score: 5.89
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #124
Economic score: 7.59
Ecology & Evolution
Rank: #29
Economic score: 12.63
Cellular Biology & Anatomical Science
Rank: #23
Economic score: 19.14
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at University of Colorado Boulder - Business Administration, Aerospace Engineering, Quantitative methods Mgmt., Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Engineering
Rank: #79
Economic score: 0.2
Civil Engineering
Rank: #52
Economic score: 0.51
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.53
Foundations of Education
Rank: #3
Economic score: 0.64
Music
Rank: #26
Economic score: 0.82
Linguistic & language
Rank: #3
Economic score: 0.96
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #210
Economic score: 1.21
English Language & Lit
Rank: #50
Economic score: 1.43
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 70% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at University of Colorado Boulder is 16% higher than the state average, and 2% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At University of Colorado Boulder, Pell Grant recipients represent 15% of the measured graduating class, 20% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at University of Colorado Boulder graduates within 4.8 years.
University of Colorado Boulder is in the bottom 10% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of Colorado Boulder’s economic mobility score of 11.98 is calculated by adjusting the 1.86 economic score of lower-income students by the 15% pell grant recipients within the student body. University of Colorado Boulder’s EMS of 11.98 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at University of Colorado Boulder pays $20,967 a year, $10,475 less than the $31,442 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $20,967
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At University of Colorado Boulder, 53% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $20,967 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 29% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $9,658. This is 25% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,986
Pell grants
$4,866
State grants
$3,713
Institutional grants
$7,310
University of Colorado Boulder offers 1 hybrid bachelor program. At the master’s level University of Colorado Boulder offers 9 programs, 2 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
10
Hybrid programs
8
Percentage of programs online
6%
University of Colorado Boulder's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 80% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 54,756 applicants, of which 43,576 were admitted and 6,785 enrolled. University of Colorado Boulder doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
97%
83%
Female
48%
59%
First time
77%
59%
In-state
56%
68%
1st generation
20%
35%
White
68%
52%
Black
2%
14%
Hispanic
13%
15%
Asian
6%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
11%
12%