University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado · Public · 78.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 80/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Colorado Boulder scores 80 (Strong Value), driven by strong engineering outcomes and a $25,346 average net price. Average 6-year earnings of $42,700 and a 6.9-year payback period are solid, and the 74.2% completion rate is above average for a large research university. Median debt is $19,500 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.457. The engineering cluster - Computer Science (483 graduates, $77,385 year-one), Aerospace Engineering (218 graduates, $81,835 year-one), and Mechanical Engineering (262 graduates, $66,089 year-one) - is the primary ROI driver. Performing arts and film programs earn D and F grades. The repayment rate of 82.4% indicates that most graduates service debt comfortably.
University of Colorado Boulder scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Colorado Boulder
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,666/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,918/yr |
| Average net price | $25,346/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $101,384 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $69,738 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 74.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 31,939 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $15,666/year ($44,918/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $25,346/year, or roughly $101,384 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $14,231/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,818/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $19,500, which works out to about $207 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,700) and comes to 0.46, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,231 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,381 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,828 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,915 |
| $110,001+ | $34,818 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $14,231 net price per year. At roughly $57,000 over four years and average 6-year earnings of $42,700, the return is solid for engineering and business students. The low Pell rate of 14.5% means low-income students are underrepresented relative to the school's size.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $18,828 per year. Families in the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pay $26,915. The step increase is significant - nearly $8,000 - suggesting that aid phases out sharply at the upper-middle band. Families in the $75,001-$110,000 range should model the total cost carefully, especially for out-of-state.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $34,818 per year in-state - about $139,000 over four years. At average earnings of $42,700, the full-pay in-state return is acceptable for engineering.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Colorado Boulder with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $86,441 | B |
| Psychology | $56,867 | C |
| Computer Science | $121,952 | B+ |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $74,779 | C+ |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $71,444 | C |
| International Relations | $69,651 | C+ |
| Economics | $73,319 | B+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | $93,073 | B+ |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $116,350 | B+ |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $63,337 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is CU Boulder's highest-volume technical program at 483 graduates, earning $77,385 year-one and $121,952 at year four (ROI grade B+, debt-to-earnings 0.258). The four-year trajectory into $122k reflects the Denver-Boulder tech corridor and remote placement into national tech companies. Median debt of $19,974 is low relative to immediate earnings.
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Aerospace Engineering (218 graduates) earns $81,835 year-one and $116,350 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.306 (ROI grade B+). The four-year trajectory to $116k is among the strongest non-CS outcomes in the catalog.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program at 1,201 graduates, earning $56,014 year-one and $86,441 at year four (ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings 0.384). The volume means this figure represents a wide range of outcomes. For in-state students at a $15,666 tuition, the B grade is a reasonable return.
International Relations
International Relations (281 graduates) earns $39,954 year-one and $69,651 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.488 (ROI grade C+). The four-year figure of $69k reflects graduates entering consulting, government, NGO, and graduate school pipelines. The C+ grade is acceptable for in-state students.
Fine and Studio Arts
Fine and Studio Arts (69 graduates) earns $17,501 year-one and $47,297 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.229 (ROI grade F). Graduates owe more than a year's salary on day one.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Colorado Boulder’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 78.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 610-720 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 630-710 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 29-33 |
| Enrollment | 31,939 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 14.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,324 |
CU Boulder's 78.1% admission rate and ACT 29-33 mid-range make it moderately selective. The brand and Boulder's appeal attract out-of-state students at $44,918 tuition, which shifts the economic calculation substantially. In-state students at $15,666 get a materially better return than out-of-state students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder (this school) | 80 | $25,346 | $69,738 |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | 84 | $16,264 | $63,742 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 76 | $11,900 | $64,270 |
| The University of Texas at Arlington | 76 | $13,951 | $63,199 |
| Oregon State University | 75 | $19,604 | $64,010 |
| Adams State University | 29 | $12,980 | $44,372 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Colorado Boulder side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
CU Boulder admits 78.1% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 610-720 Math and 630-710 Reading, ACT 29-33 composite. At 31,939 students it is a large research university with a distinct outdoor/recreation culture. Students choosing arts, performing arts, or film at CU Boulder's net price will carry D-grade ROI outcomes.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Colorado Boulder pays off. You'd pay about $25,346 a year after aid ($101,384 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $69,738 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.9 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 74.2% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $19,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Colorado Boulder: Common Questions
Is University of Colorado Boulder worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Colorado Boulder pays off. It scores 80/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $25,346 a year after aid ($101,384 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $69,738 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.9 years to earn back.
How much does University of Colorado Boulder cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $25,346 a year, or roughly $101,384 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Colorado Boulder graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $69,738 ten years after enrolling, roughly $27,938 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Colorado Boulder?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.9 years for University of Colorado Boulder. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Colorado Boulder graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,500, against average earnings of $42,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Colorado Boulder?
The six-year graduation rate is 74.2%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.