CU Boulder vs. Utah State University

Should I go to University of Colorado Boulder or Utah State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CU Boulder or Utah State University 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.

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University of Colorado Boulder vs. Utah State University comparison
University of Colorado Boulder Utah State University College 3 College 4
University of Colorado Boulder Utah State University
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Overview

CU Boulder Utah State University
Location Boulder, CO Logan, UT
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 39,585 27,943
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #509
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colorado.edu usu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Boulder Utah State University
Tuition (In State) $11,520 $8,310
Tuition (Out of State) $38,770 $23,884
Room & Board $16,146 $8,232
Avg Net Price $21,836 $14,577
Avg Grant Aid $10,477 $9,808
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 89%

Admission

CU Boulder Utah State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,781 16,069
Admitted 43,416 15,061
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 93.7%
Enrolled % 16.4% 30.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.63
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/32 20/27
SAT Range 1160/1390 1050/1300
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

Academics

CU Boulder Utah State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Engineering (6%)

Outcomes

CU Boulder Utah State University
Graduation Rate 68% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,900 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $13,610
Median Loan Payment $201 $140

Diversity

CU Boulder Utah State University
% Men 55% 44%
% Women 45% 56%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 81%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 6%

Students

CU Boulder Utah State University
% In-State 53% 72%
% Out-of-State 45% 28%

Campus

CU Boulder Utah State University
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 Utah State University based on total student enrollment (39,585 students vs. 27,943 students)

CU Boulder vs. Utah State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or Utah State University?

  • University of Colorado Boulder is 38.6% more expensive to attend than Utah State University for in-state tuition ($11,520.00 vs. $8,310.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.3% higher at CU Boulder than Utah State University ($38,770.00 vs. $23,884.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Utah State University than CU Boulder ($14,577 vs. $21,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Utah State University are 96.1% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($8,232 vs. $16,146)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Utah State University than University of Colorado Boulder (89% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 6.8% larger than aid received Utah State University ($10,477 vs. $9,808)

CU Boulder vs. Utah State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Colorado Boulder (1212) is 128 points higher than at Utah State University (1084)
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Utah State University (24)
  • Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Utah State University (3.63)
  • Utah State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than CU Boulder (80.7%)

CU Boulder vs. Utah State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CU Boulder or Utah State University? 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 Utah State University and CU Boulder.

  • The graduation rate at CU Boulder is higher than Utah State University (68% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn on average $8,300 more per year than Utah State University graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $48,600)
  • Utah State University students graduate with a $5,890 lower median federal student loan debt than CU Boulder graduates. ($13,610 vs. $19,500)
  • Utah State University graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than CU Boulder graduates. ($140 vs. $201)
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Utah State University students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 71%)

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