University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder)

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University of Colorado Boulder can be found in Boulder, CO, a public college which focuses on only a select few programs offered. CU Boulder has around 39,000 students enrolled yearly.

Many of the students that got into CU Boulder got an SAT score between 1140 - 1360, or got accepted with an ACT composite score within the range of 25 - 31. Based on sampled GPA data collected and applied, it is estimated that the CU Boulder average GPA range for accepted students is around 3.42 - 3.71. CU Boulder has an acceptance rate of about 78% with 22% of applicants deciding to attend. Using acceptance rate data from previous years, we can project that the CU Boulder acceptance rate in 2021 is going to be around 74%. You can get more information from the admissions office website at colorado.edu.

Overall CU Boulder Acceptance Rate - Fall 2020

78.4%

The overall acceptance rate for University of Colorado Boulder was reported as 78.4% in Fall 2020 with over 40,700 college applications submitted to University of Colorado Boulder. Both in state and out of state applicants are included in these figures. We do not have data on transfer acceptance rates currently.

Accepted Applicants Profile

  • CU Boulder ACT Scores: 25 - 31
  • CU Boulder Average GPA: 3.42 - 3.71

How Hard Is It to Get into University of Colorado Boulder?

Applicant Selectivity: High

The selectivity of applicants for undergraduate admissions to CU Boulder is considered high, with many applicants scoring in the top percentiles on the SAT or ACT exam, as well as having an excellent high school GPA.

Historical Trend and Acceptance Rate 2024 Projection

The historical trend chart shows acceptance rates from the previous years, from which we have projected the acceptance rate for the 2024-2025 school year. The overall acceptance rate trend for University of Colorado Boulder has been staying about the same from year to year.

Acceptance Rate By Year

  • 2016-2017: 76.6%
  • 2017-2018: 79.8%
  • 2018-2019: 81.5%
  • 2019-2020: 78.4%
  • Projected CU Boulder Acceptance Rate 2024-2025: 73.8%

How Does CU Boulder Compare?

78.4%
This School
56.7%
National Avg

The acceptance rate for University of Colorado Boulder is thirty-eight percent higher than the national average of all colleges which is around 56.7%.

Nearby Similar College Acceptance Rates

SchoolAcceptance Rate
Metropolitan State University of Denver61.3%
University of Denver58.7%
University of Colorado Denver67.3%
Colorado State University-Fort Collins81.4%

Admissions Rates & Enrollment Rates - Details

General Recommendations & Requirements for Admissions

  • High School GPA Scores are Required
  • High School Class Rankings are Recommended
  • School Records are Required
  • College Prep Classes are Required
  • Submit Recommendation Letters are Recommended
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT,ACT,...) are Required
  • TOEFL Exam (Foreign Language Students) are Required

Number of Applicants, Percent Accepted, and Enrolled Students (Fall 2020)

TotalMaleFemale
Applicants40,67749.6%50.4%
Admitted31,87248.3%51.7%
Enrolled7,11350.7%49.3%

Average ACT/SAT Scores of Applicants to CU Boulder (Fall 2020)

SAT® SectionScore Range
Critical Reading580 - 670
Math560 - 690
Total Score1140 - 1360
ACT®Score Range
English24 - 32
Math24 - 29
Composite Score25 - 31
To learn more about the data and calculations that power this site, please visit our data discussion page.