CU Boulder vs. KU

Should I go to University of Colorado Boulder or University of Kansas? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CU Boulder or KU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Colorado State CU Denver DU Colorado School of Mines Utah UCCS K-State Penn State ASU IU MSU Texas A&M
University of Colorado Boulder vs. University of Kansas comparison
University of Colorado Boulder University of Kansas College 3 College 4
University of Colorado Boulder University of Kansas
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

CU Boulder KU
Location Boulder, CO Lawrence, KS
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 39,585 26,708
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #252
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colorado.edu ku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Boulder KU
Tuition (In State) $11,520 $10,092
Tuition (Out of State) $38,770 $26,960
Room & Board $16,146 $10,136
Avg Net Price $21,836 $18,950
Avg Grant Aid $10,477 $11,140
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 87%

Admission

CU Boulder KU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,781 16,204
Admitted 43,416 14,234
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 87.8%
Enrolled % 16.4% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/32 21/28
SAT Range 1160/1390 1090/1340
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

CU Boulder KU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

CU Boulder KU
Graduation Rate 68% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,900 $54,600
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $201 $211

Diversity

CU Boulder KU
% Men 55% 45%
% Women 45% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 72%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 6% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

CU Boulder KU
% In-State 53% 58%
% Out-of-State 45% 39%

Campus

CU Boulder KU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Colorado Boulder is larger than than KU based on total student enrollment (39,585 students vs. 26,708 students)

CU Boulder vs. KU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or KU?

  • University of Colorado Boulder is 14.1% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($11,520.00 vs. $10,092.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43.8% higher at CU Boulder than University of Kansas ($38,770.00 vs. $26,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than CU Boulder ($18,950 vs. $21,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 59.3% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($10,136 vs. $16,146)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kansas than University of Colorado Boulder (87% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 6.3% larger than aid received University of Colorado Boulder ($11,140 vs. $10,477)

CU Boulder vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or KU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between KU or CU Boulder .

  • The average SAT score at University of Colorado Boulder (1212) is 67 points higher than at KU (1145)
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at KU (25)
  • Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at KU (3.66)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than CU Boulder (80.7%)

CU Boulder vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CU Boulder or KU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between KU and CU Boulder.

  • The graduation rate at CU Boulder is higher than University of Kansas (68% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn on average $2,300 more per year than KU graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $54,600)
  • University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than KU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $20,500)
  • CU Boulder graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than KU graduates. ($201 vs. $211)
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/