CU Boulder vs. UCSC vs. Purdue

Compare University of Colorado Boulder, University of California Santa Cruz, and Purdue University Main Campus side by side. Review cost and aid, selectivity and test-score context, academics, campus setting, and post-graduation benchmarks to see which option lines up with your goals. Data comes from the same catalog CollegeSimply maintains across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

University of Colorado Boulder
University of California Santa Cruz
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • UCSC Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • UCSC #255
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • UCSC -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • UCSC
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • UCSC $22,774
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • UCSC 57%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • UCSC 1260
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • UCSC 29
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • UCSC A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • UCSC Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • UCSC Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • UCSC 25/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • UCSC 73%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • UCSC 74%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • UCSC $206
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • UCSC 48%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • UCSC 52%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • UCSC Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • UCSC No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • UCSC 33%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • UCSC 21%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • UCSC 2%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • UCSC 31%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • UCSC 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • UCSC 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • UCSC 7%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • UCSC 4%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • UCSC 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • UCSC 92%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • UCSC 5%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than UCSC based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 19,938 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); University of California Santa Cruz is in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; University of California Santa Cruz 22:1.

CU Boulder vs. UCSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or UCSC? 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 California Santa Cruz than CU Boulder ($18,059 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Colorado Boulder are 7.4% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($18,468 vs. $19,948).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU Boulder (about $339 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $15,666.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.8% higher at UCSC than at University of Colorado Boulder (about $5,287 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $44,918.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Cruz than at University of Colorado Boulder (57% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 102.9% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($22,774 vs. $11,225).

CU Boulder vs. UCSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or UCSC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UCSC and CU Boulder.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is 80 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (31 vs. 29 at UCSC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; UCSC - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at UCSC (3.63).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than UCSC (65.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 9.3% at UCSC.

CU Boulder vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and UCSC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than University of Colorado Boulder's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $459 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($19,500 vs. $19,959).
  • Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($201 vs. $206).
  • More UCSC 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.