CU Boulder Admission Requirements
Chances of getting into University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
81.5%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Very High | |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
How hard is it to get into CU Boulder and can I get accepted? The school has a 82% acceptance rate ranking it #13 in Colorado for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 29,848 out of 36,604 applicants were admitted making University of Colorado Boulder an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance assuming you meet the requirements. Academically, it has very high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 27 percent. University of Colorado Boulder typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students. Only 22% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
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Calculate My ChancesCU Boulder SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1150-1360Applicants Submitting SAT
69%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 580 |
| SAT Math 25th | 570 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1150 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 670 |
| SAT Math 75th | 690 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1360 |
| Average SAT Score | 1260 |
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 requires applicants to be in the top 32 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1150 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 1040. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1260 out of 1600. The school ranks #4 in Colorado for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 69 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1360 and Above | Good | >89% |
| 1255 to 1360 | Avg + | 82%-89% |
| 1150 to 1255 | Avg - | 73%-82% |
| 1045 to 1150 | Reach | 61%-73% |
| Less than 1045 | Low | <61% |
CU Boulder ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
25-31Applicants Submitting ACT
53%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 24 |
| ACT Math 25th | 24 |
| 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 for highest average ACT composite score. 53 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to University of Colorado Boulder.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 31 and Above | Good | >89% |
| 28 to 31 | Avg + | 82%-89% |
| 25 to 28 | Avg - | 73%-82% |
| 22 to 25 | Reach | 61%-73% |
| Less than 22 | Low | <61% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.56Typical High School Grades
B+You will need very good grades in high school to get into University of Colorado Boulder. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at University of Colorado Boulder was 3.56 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #5 in Colorado for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.56 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as CU Boulder accepts 82% of all applicants.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 39% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 18% | Avg + |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 19% | Avg - |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 15% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 8% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | 1% | Reach |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
High School Class Rank
56% 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 | 27% |
| Top 25% of class | 56% |
| Top 50% of class | 88% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 12% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 1% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 17,941 | 18,663 | 36,604 |
| Accepted | 14,945 | 14,903 | 29,848 |
| Acceptance Rate | 83% | 80% | 82% |
| Enrolled | 3,153 | 3,547 | 6,700 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 21% | 24% | 22% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Jan 15, 2020Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 15, 2020.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to University of Colorado Boulder and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=126614 IPEDS survey data for University of Colorado Boulder.
Frequently Asked Questions
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?
82% 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 1150 and 1360. 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.