CU Boulder vs. Rutgers

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than CU Boulder based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 38,799 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

CU Boulder vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than CU Boulder ($20,522 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 14.9% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($15,714 vs. $18,468).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 14.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU Boulder (about $2,263 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $15,666.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20% higher at CU Boulder than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $7,477 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Colorado Boulder than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (53% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 49.1% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($16,742 vs. $11,225).

CU Boulder vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 70 points higher than at CU Boulder (1340).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

CU Boulder vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than University of Colorado Boulder's (68%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than CU Boulder graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $2,715 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($19,500 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($201 vs. $229).
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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.