Boulder, Colorado · ★ 3.3 / 5 Overall (3 Student Reviews)

Google Places photo by Danny Kabeya. Google Maps
Public · 4-year · Doctoral
The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder, CU, or Colorado) is a public research university in Boulder, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1876, five months before Colorado became a state, it is the flagship university of the University of Colorado system. CU Boulder is a member of the Association of American Universities, is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and has been referred to as a Public Ivy. The university consists of nine colleges and schools and offers over 150 academic programs, enrolling more than 35,000 students as of January 2022. In 2021, the university attracted the support of over $634 million for research and spent $536 million on research and development according to the National Science Foundation, ranking it 50th in the nation. It receives the most NASA astrophysics technology grants of all academic institutions and is the only university in the world that has sent instruments to all planets in the Solar System. The Colorado Buffaloes compete in 17 varsity sports and are members of the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference. The Buffaloes have won 28 national championships: 20 in skiing, 7 total in men's and women's cross country, and 1 in football. The university has produced 10 Olympic medalists. Alumni, faculty, and researchers have included 12 Nobel Prize laureates (of whom 5 were affiliated with the university when the prizes were awarded), 10 Pulitzer Prize winners, 11 MacArthur Fellows, 1 Turing Award laureate, 20 astronauts and 2 associate justices of the United States Supreme Court.
National rank
Ranked #41 in the US by CWUR (2026). Source: CWUR US ↗
National rank
Ranked #49 in the US by Times Higher Education (2026). Source: THE US ↗
World rank
Ranked #78 globally by CWUR (2026). Source: CWUR World ↗
National rank
Unfiltered student reviews about the real
experience at this University
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Regent Drive at Broadway, Boulder, Colorado, 80309-0017
Visit University SiteRanked #93 in Forbes Top Colleges (2026). Source: Forbes ↗
National Universities
Ranked #97 in National Universities (2026). Source: US News ↗
World rank
Ranked #159 globally in Times Higher Education (2026). Source: THE World ↗
Value rank
Ranked #409 on Washington Monthly Best Bang for the Buck. Source: WM Best Value ↗
25th–75th percentile
SAT total: 1230–1420
SAT ERW: 620–700
SAT math: 610–720
ACT composite: 28–33
Total: 37,485
Undergrad: 30,978
Undergrad full-time: 27,487
Graduate: 6,507
Part-time: 5,652
In-state
Tuition: $16,430
Total cost on campus: $37,684
Out-of-state
Tuition: $41,943
Total cost on campus: $63,197
Room & board: $16,950
Books & supplies: $1,200
Receive aid: 66%
Avg grant aid: $10,838
Pell grant recipients: 15%
Rent: $1,200 / mo
Average city asking rent, as a roommate share. Zillow Observed Rent Index.
Coffee: $5.75
State average cafe price. Numbeo, 2024.
Gas: $4.20 / gal
State average price. AAA.