CU Boulder vs. BYU

University of Colorado Boulder and Brigham Young University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of Colorado Boulder
Brigham Young University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: BYU (67.8% admitted vs 78.1%). Typical SAT 1370 vs 1340.
  • Cheaper after aid: BYU. Average net price is $16,694 vs $26,231 at CU Boulder.
  • Graduation: CU Boulder 68% vs BYU 78%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: CU Boulder $56,900 vs BYU $69,100 (median).
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Key differences

University of Colorado Boulder Brigham Young University
Acceptance rate
BYU more selective
CU Boulder78.1%
BYU67.8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
BYU higher
CU Boulder1240-1430
BYU1270-1460
Average net price
BYU $9,537 less
CU Boulder$26,231
BYU$16,694
In-state tuition
BYU $8,978 less
CU Boulder$15,666
BYU$6,688
Out-of-state tuition
BYU $38,230 less
CU Boulder$44,918
BYU$6,688
Graduation rate
BYU +10 pts
CU Boulder68%
BYU78%
Median earnings (10 years)
BYU +$12,200
CU Boulder$56,900
BYU$69,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • BYU 11,698
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • BYU 7,929
  • Acceptance rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • BYU 67.8%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • BYU 77.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • BYU 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • BYU 30
  • Average high school GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • BYU 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • BYU A
  • Admissions standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • BYU Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • CU Boulder
  • BYU Low
  • SAT range
  • CU Boulder 1240-1430
  • BYU 1270-1460
  • ACT range
  • CU Boulder 29-33
  • BYU 28-32
  • Submit test scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • BYU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • BYU Dec 16, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • BYU $6,688
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • BYU $6,688
  • Room & board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • BYU $10,396
  • Average net price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • BYU $16,694
  • Average grant aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • BYU $6,088
  • % receiving grant aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • BYU 51%
  • Graduation rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • BYU 78%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • BYU $69,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • BYU 80%
  • Median student loan debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • BYU $11,000
  • Median loan payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • BYU $113
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • BYU 21:1
  • Popular majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • BYU
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • BYU Provo, UT
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • BYU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • BYU 35,873
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • BYU Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • BYU #131

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with Brigham Young University in Provo, UT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than BYU based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 35,873 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); Brigham Young University is in Provo, UT (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Brigham Young University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; Brigham Young University 21:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brigham Young University are 43.7% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($10,396 vs. $18,468).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 571.6% higher at CU Boulder than at Brigham Young University (about $38,230 more per year; $44,918 vs. $6,688).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Colorado Boulder than at Brigham Young University (53% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 84.4% larger than aid received by Brigham Young University students ($11,225 vs. $6,088).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at CU Boulder than at BYU (31 vs. 30, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both CU Boulder and BYU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; BYU Dec 16, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at BYU average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.21 higher than at CU Boulder (3.68).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 77.5% at BYU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brigham Young University graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than CU Boulder graduates ($11,000 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, BYU graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CU Boulder graduates ($113 vs. $201).
  • More BYU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation (80% vs. 73%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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