ASU vs. CU Boulder

Deciding between Arizona State University and University of Colorado Boulder? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
University of Colorado Boulder

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • CU Boulder #199
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • CU Boulder -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • CU Boulder

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • CU Boulder 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • CU Boulder 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • CU Boulder A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • CU Boulder
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • CU Boulder $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • CU Boulder No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • CU Boulder 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • CU Boulder 45%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • CU Boulder Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • CU Boulder No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • CU Boulder Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • CU Boulder No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • CU Boulder Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than CU Boulder based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 38,799 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); University of Colorado Boulder is in Boulder, CO (Small City setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; University of Colorado Boulder 19:1.

ASU vs. CU Boulder Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or CU Boulder? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arizona State University than CU Boulder ($17,779 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arizona State University are 9.5% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($16,712 vs. $18,468).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is 28.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ASU (about $3,443 more per year; $15,666.00 vs. $12,223.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.5% higher at CU Boulder than at Arizona State University (about $11,779 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $33,139.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at University of Colorado Boulder (89% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 8.4% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($12,172 vs. $11,225).

ASU vs. CU Boulder Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or CU Boulder? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CU Boulder and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is 130 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; University of Colorado Boulder 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; CU Boulder - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than CU Boulder (78.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 14.1% at CU Boulder.

ASU vs. CU Boulder Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and CU Boulder? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Colorado Boulder's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $778 lower median loan debt than ASU graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,278).
  • Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASU graduates ($201 vs. $209).
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.