CU Boulder vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than CU Boulder based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 38,799 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

CU Boulder vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or Penn State? 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 University of Colorado Boulder than Penn State ($26,231 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 21.6% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($14,474 vs. $18,468).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 31.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU Boulder (about $4,978 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $15,666.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at CU Boulder than at Penn State Main Campus (about $3,128 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Colorado Boulder than at Penn State Main Campus (53% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 1% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($11,336 vs. $11,225).

CU Boulder vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is 10 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027.
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

CU Boulder vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of Colorado Boulder's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $7,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($201 vs. $277).
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)

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.