CU Boulder vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder and Virginia Tech? 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
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder B+
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 56%
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 44%
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Tech is larger than CU Boulder based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 38,799 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Boulder 19:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

CU Boulder vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech than CU Boulder ($24,912 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 10.4% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($16,550 vs. $18,468).
  • Virginia Tech is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU Boulder (about $282 more per year; $15,948.00 vs. $15,666.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.9% higher at CU Boulder than at Virginia Tech (about $7,154 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Tech than at University of Colorado Boulder (60% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 22.4% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($11,225 vs. $9,168).

CU Boulder vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Tech (1370) is 30 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 Virginia Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Virginia Tech (54.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

CU Boulder vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder and Virginia Tech? 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).

  • Virginia Tech's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than University of Colorado Boulder's (68%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than CU Boulder graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $4,466 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($201 vs. $247).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.