Chances of getting into University of Colorado Boulder
Acceptance Rate
How hard is it to get into CU Boulder and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at CU Boulder is 84%. It ranks #13 in Colorado for lowest rate of acceptance. University of Colorado Boulder is an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission requirements. Last year, 37,221 out of 44,203 applicants were admitted.
The school has very high admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 29 percent (SAT 1130/1350 ACT 25/31). University of Colorado Boulder typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.67. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top quarter of their high school class. 17% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
The CU Boulder application fee is $50 and applications are due by Jan 15.
Test Optional
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to University of Colorado Boulder. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 69% of students submitted SAT scores and 53% submitted ACT scores for admission for the 2021/2022 academic year..
CU Boulder SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 570 |
| SAT Math 25th | 560 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1130 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 670 |
| SAT Math 75th | 680 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1350 |
| Average SAT Score | 1240
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to University of Colorado Boulder?
University of Colorado Boulder typically prefers applicants to be in the top 36 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1130 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1020. The average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1240 out of 1600. CU Boulder ranks #4 in Colorado and #176 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 69 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Find other colleges with similar SAT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
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CU Boulder ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 24 |
| ACT Math 25th | 23 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 25 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 32 |
| ACT Math 75th | 29 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 31 |
| Average ACT Score | 28
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into CU Boulder?
Admission data indicates that CU Boulder regularly accepts students with ACT's of 25 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 22 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 22 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 28 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 31 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #3 in Colorado and #140 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score. 53 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to University of Colorado Boulder.
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
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CU Boulder GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into University of Colorado Boulder?
Applicants require very good grades in high school to get into CU Boulder. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at University of Colorado Boulder was 3.67 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #6 in Colorado for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.67 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as CU Boulder accepts 84% of all applicants.
Explore more colleges with similar GPA requirements
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
Other Colleges to Consider
High School Class Rank
53% of University of Colorado Boulder freshman were in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 26% |
| Top 25% of class | 53% |
| Top 50% of class | 85% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 22,279 | 21,924 | 44,203 |
| Accepted | 19,072 | 18,149 | 37,221 |
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 83% | 84% |
| Enrolled | 3,032 | 3,294 | 6,326 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 16% | 18% | 17% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2022 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 15, 2023.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to University of Colorado Boulder is $50.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to University of Colorado Boulder and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Considered but not required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=126614 IPEDS survey data for University of Colorado Boulder.
FAQs
Does University of Colorado Boulder prefer SAT or ACT?
69% of students submit their SAT scores to CU Boulder. 53% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into University of Colorado Boulder?
84% of those who apply are granted admission to CU Boulder. Admission competition is and the college has very high admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for University of Colorado Boulder?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1130 and 1350. 69% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for University of Colorado Boulder?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 25 and 31. 53% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.