CU Boulder vs. ISU

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder and Iowa State University? 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.

University of Colorado Boulder
Iowa State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder B+
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • ISU 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 30,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CU Boulder vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or ISU? 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 Iowa State University than CU Boulder ($17,779 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 41.5% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($10,808 vs. $18,468).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is 45.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $4,879 more per year; $15,666.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 55.5% higher at CU Boulder than at Iowa State University (about $16,037 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at University of Colorado Boulder (77% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 4% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($11,225 vs. $10,791).

CU Boulder vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or ISU? 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 ISU and CU Boulder.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is 100 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than CU Boulder (78.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 28.8% at ISU.

CU Boulder vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and ISU? 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).

  • The graduation rate at CU Boulder is the same as at Iowa State University (68% vs. 68%).
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $4,368 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($201 vs. $246).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 73%)

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.