University of Colorado Boulder (CU) : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About University of Colorado Boulder
Sunrise hits the Flatirons and the campus glows red sandstone. CU Boulder is known for strong science and engineering, environmental and earth studies, space and atmospheric research, plus a solid backbone in the arts, media, and the humanities. Students tap into well-equipped labs, libraries, studios, and maker spaces, plus a lively rec center and outdoor gear rentals, with advising, tutoring, and mental health support that feels accessible, not hollow.
Life here leans outdoorsy and collaborative, with a laid back but driven vibe. Club life is busy, from music and theater to trail crews, ski trips, and intramurals. Game days bring the buffalo mascot and loud black and gold. Career prep shows up in internships with nearby tech, aerospace, and energy firms, connections to national labs, and a steady startup scene in town. Pearl Street buzzes. Notable alumni include Trey Parker and astronaut Kalpana Chawla.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
University of Colorado Boulder (CU) offers 107 degree programs across 24 major academic fields, graduating approximately 9,738 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Engineering (17 programs, 1,716 graduates), Business (9 programs, 1,595 graduates), Biological Sciences (5 programs, 912 graduates), Communication (5 programs, 771 graduates) and Social Sciences (4 programs, 722 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Engineering (17 programs, 1,716 graduates)
Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 405 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1901 |
| Aerospace Engineering | 382 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0201 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 214 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1001 |
| Civil Engineering | 126 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0801 |
| Applied Engineering | 94 |
|
Master's
|
14.0103 |
| Environmental Health Engineering | 86 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1401 |
| Chemical Engineering | 84 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0701 |
| Biomedical Engineering | 71 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0501 |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | 54 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.4701 |
| Biochemical Engineering | 48 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.4301 |
| Telecommunications Engineering | 38 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1004 |
| Architectural Engineering | 37 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0401 |
| General Engineering | 34 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.0101 |
| Engineering Physics | 23 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.1201 |
| Materials Engineering | 14 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1801 |
| Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering | 3 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.4201 |
| Biological and Biosystems Engineering | 3 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
14.4501 |
Business (9 programs, 1,595 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | 1,290 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
52.0201 |
| Business Statistics | 83 |
|
Master's
|
52.1302 |
| Organizational Leadership | 81 |
|
Master's
|
52.0213 |
| Accounting | 46 |
|
Master's
|
52.0301 |
| Finance, General | 35 |
|
Master's
|
52.0801 |
| Real Estate | 26 |
|
Master's
|
52.1501 |
| Management Science | 19 |
|
Master's
|
52.1301 |
| Taxation | 13 |
|
Master's
|
52.1601 |
| Business Communications | 2 |
|
Master's
|
52.0501 |
Biological Sciences (5 programs, 912 graduates)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Physiology | 357 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0901 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 195 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1310 |
| Cell and Molecular Biology | 147 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0406 |
| Neuroscience | 140 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1501 |
| Biochemistry | 73 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0202 |
Communication (5 programs, 771 graduates)
Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations and Advertising | 379 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
09.0900 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 165 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
09.0101 |
| Journalism | 98 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
09.0401 |
| Digital Media and Multimedia | 74 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
09.0702 |
| Mass Communication and Media Studies | 55 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
09.0102 |
Social Sciences (4 programs, 722 graduates)
Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government | 241 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.1001 |
| Economics | 215 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.0601 |
| Sociology | 192 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.1101 |
| Anthropology | 74 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.0201 |
Psychology (1 programs, 680 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Psychology | 680 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
42.0101 |
Computer & IT (3 programs, 669 graduates)
Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 601 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
11.0701 |
| Information Science | 62 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
11.0401 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 6 |
|
Master's
|
11.0102 |
Interdisciplinary (5 programs, 385 graduates)
Cross-Disciplinary Studies and Integrated Research Programs
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computational Science | 207 |
|
Master's
|
30.3001 |
| Global Studies | 107 |
|
Bachelor's
|
30.2001 |
| Geography and Environmental Studies | 56 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
30.4401 |
| Museum Studies | 12 |
|
Master's
|
30.1401 |
| Cognitive Science | 3 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
30.2501 |
Physical Sciences (8 programs, 361 graduates)
Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences Research
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 152 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0801 |
| Astronomy | 63 |
|
Bachelor's
|
40.0201 |
| Chemistry | 46 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0501 |
| Geology and Earth Science | 40 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0601 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 37 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0401 |
| Astrophysics | 17 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0202 |
| Geophysics and Seismology | 4 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0603 |
| Chemical Physics | 2 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0508 |
Arts (8 programs, 332 graduates)
Fine Arts, Design Studies and Creative Performance
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music Performance | 98 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
50.0903 |
| Film and Media Studies | 94 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0601 |
| Studio Arts, General | 68 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50.0702 |
| Theatre Arts | 29 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
50.0501 |
| Art History and Conservation | 18 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
50.0703 |
| Dance | 14 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50.0301 |
| Music | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0901 |
| Music History, Literature, and Theory | 2 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
50.0902 |
Admission Requirements & Test Scores
Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at University of Colorado Boulder (CU).
Application Requirements
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about University of Colorado Boulder (CU)
How much does it cost to attend University of Colorado Boulder (CU)?
The annual tuition at University of Colorado Boulder (CU) is $15,556 for in-state students and $41,943 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $36,810 for in-state students and $63,197 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $16,950 (on) / $15,470 (off) and books and supplies $1,200.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does University of Colorado Boulder offer?
University of Colorado Boulder (CU) offers 107 academic programs across 24 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate (Research), Doctorate (Professional).
Most popular program areas include:
- Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions (17 programs)
- Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (9 programs)
- Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research (5 programs)
- Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations (5 programs)
- Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies (4 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What is the acceptance rate for University of Colorado Boulder?
University of Colorado Boulder (CU) has an 83.3% acceptance rate and a 16.2% yield rate, making it moderately selective.
Admission statistics breakdown:
- Total applicants: 56,069
- Students admitted: 46,692
- Students enrolled: 7,546
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at University of Colorado Boulder?
University of Colorado Boulder (CU) provides financial aid to 23% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $10,838 and average loans of $10,773.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $5,376
- State/Local grants: $3,918
- Institutional grants: $8,391
- Federal loans: $5,101
The university supports 3,772 students with grants and 2,135 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for University of Colorado Boulder graduates?
University of Colorado Boulder (CU) graduates earn a median salary of $54,939 after 6 years and $69,738 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $43,748 (25th percentile) to $103,315 (75th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
Related Universities
Found something useful? Help others discover it too! Share with friends, on social media, or save for later - every share helps someone find the information they need.