In-state vs. out-of-state tuition at CU Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder charges $15,666 a year in published tuition and fees for Colorado residents, about $7,833 a semester, and $44,918 a year for students from other states, about $22,459 a semester. That is a difference of $29,252 a year. About 45% of first-year students came from out of state. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
What makes CU Boulder different
- Mountains at the edge of campus. Boulder sits at the base of the Rocky Mountains, and outdoor life is part of student life.
- A four-year tuition guarantee. The CU Boulder Tuition Guarantee fixes tuition for four years, so families know the rate in advance.
- Room to explore. Undecided students can spend their first year in the Program in Exploratory Studies, with a mentor, before choosing a major.
What CU Boulder students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): business administration and management (1,147), psychology (614), computer science (383), public relations and advertising (374), physiology (333) and mechanical engineering (283). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at CU Boulder if…
- You want a college town with mountains and outdoor life close by.
- You're drawn to engineering, aerospace, the sciences or business.
- You'd like time to explore before choosing a major.
Worth asking about
- How much does the tuition guarantee save over four years?
- How does the Program in Exploratory Studies work?
How CU Boulder compares with the other Big 12 schools
CU Boulder was a founding Big 12 member, left for the Pac-12 in 2011 and returned in 2024. See how the 16 Big 12 schools differ.
FAQ
What is the University of Colorado Boulder's acceptance rate? 70.7% for fall 2025: 51,716 of 73,180 first-year applicants were admitted, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source For fall 2024 it was 78.1%.
What is CU Boulder's out-of-state acceptance rate? 70.7% for all applicants for fall 2025, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26; Lens doesn't show a separate rate by residency for CU Boulder. CU Boulder isn't part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange. Colorado law requires that, averaged over three years, at least 55% of CU Boulder's incoming freshmen be Colorado residents. About 45% of first-year students came from out of state. Source
How much is CU Boulder tuition per semester? About $7,833 a semester for Colorado residents and $22,459 for out-of-state students, based on published yearly tuition and fees of $15,666 and $44,918 before aid.
Is CU Boulder an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, the University of Colorado Boulder is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to CU Boulder? About 31,900 undergraduates (fall 2024).
What is CU Boulder known for? Its Rocky Mountain setting, research in aerospace and the sciences, and its college town.
How much does CU Boulder cost? Published tuition and fees are $15,666 a year in-state and $44,918 out-of-state, before any aid.
Wondering if a college town fits you?
Lens's assessments show which campus sizes and settings fit you. Start with Lens →