CU Denver vs. Colorado Mesa

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus and Colorado Mesa University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Colorado Mesa University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: CU Denver (74.7% admitted vs 82%). Typical SAT 1100 vs 1050.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $14,831 at CU Denver vs $15,590 at Colorado Mesa. CU Denver in-state tuition is about $456 more per year.
  • Graduation: CU Denver 40% vs Colorado Mesa 25%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: CU Denver $68,200 vs Colorado Mesa $40,000 (median).
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Key differences

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Colorado Mesa University
Acceptance rate
CU Denver more selective
CU Denver74.7%
Colorado Mesa82%
SAT range (middle 50%)
CU Denver higher
CU Denver980-1220
Colorado Mesa930-1160
Average net price
CU Denver $759 less
CU Denver$14,831
Colorado Mesa$15,590
In-state tuition
Colorado Mesa $456 less
CU Denver$10,383
Colorado Mesa$9,927
Out-of-state tuition
Colorado Mesa $4,267 less
CU Denver$29,391
Colorado Mesa$25,124
Graduation rate
CU Denver +15 pts
CU Denver40%
Colorado Mesa25%
Median earnings (10 years)
CU Denver +$28,200
CU Denver$68,200
Colorado Mesa$40,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • CU Denver 14,931
  • Colorado Mesa 12,465
  • Admitted
  • CU Denver 11,151
  • Colorado Mesa 10,225
  • Acceptance rate
  • CU Denver 74.7%
  • Colorado Mesa 82%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • CU Denver 13.1%
  • Colorado Mesa 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Denver 1100
  • Colorado Mesa 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Denver 27
  • Colorado Mesa 21
  • Average high school GPA
  • CU Denver 3.46
  • Colorado Mesa 3.28
  • Typical high school grades
  • CU Denver B+
  • Colorado Mesa B+
  • Admissions standards
  • CU Denver Challenging
  • Colorado Mesa Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • CU Denver
  • Colorado Mesa
  • SAT range
  • CU Denver 980-1220
  • Colorado Mesa 930-1160
  • ACT range
  • CU Denver 23-32
  • Colorado Mesa 18-24
  • Submit test scores
  • CU Denver Test optional
  • Colorado Mesa Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • CU Denver Aug 1, 2027
  • Colorado Mesa
  • Tuition (in state)
  • CU Denver $10,383
  • Colorado Mesa $9,927
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • CU Denver $29,391
  • Colorado Mesa $25,124
  • Room & board
  • CU Denver $15,442
  • Colorado Mesa $12,209
  • Average net price
  • CU Denver $14,831
  • Colorado Mesa $15,590
  • Average grant aid
  • CU Denver $9,496
  • Colorado Mesa $8,285
  • % receiving grant aid
  • CU Denver 86%
  • Colorado Mesa 84%
  • Graduation rate
  • CU Denver 40%
  • Colorado Mesa 25%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • CU Denver $68,200
  • Colorado Mesa $40,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • CU Denver 61%
  • Colorado Mesa 48%
  • Median student loan debt
  • CU Denver $21,190
  • Colorado Mesa $21,750
  • Median loan payment
  • CU Denver $219
  • Colorado Mesa $224
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • CU Denver 17:1
  • Colorado Mesa 18:1
  • Popular majors
  • CU Denver
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
  • Colorado Mesa
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Location
  • CU Denver Denver, CO
  • Colorado Mesa Grand Junction, CO
  • Setting
  • CU Denver Large City
  • Colorado Mesa Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Denver 23,124
  • Colorado Mesa 9,785
  • Type
  • CU Denver Public 4 Year
  • Colorado Mesa Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • CU Denver #275
  • Colorado Mesa #908

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver, CO with Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is larger than Colorado Mesa based on total student enrollment (23,124 students vs. 9,785 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is located in Denver, CO (Large City setting); Colorado Mesa University is in Grand Junction, CO (Small City setting).
  • University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Colorado Mesa University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus 17:1; Colorado Mesa University 18:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado Mesa University are 20.9% lower than at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus ($12,209 vs. $15,442).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17% higher at CU Denver than at Colorado Mesa University (about $4,267 more per year; $29,391 vs. $25,124).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus than at Colorado Mesa University (86% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus students is 14.6% larger than aid received by Colorado Mesa University students ($9,496 vs. $8,285).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 6 points higher at CU Denver than at Colorado Mesa (27 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both CU Denver and Colorado Mesa.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Denver Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at CU Denver average a 3.46 high school GPA, 0.18 higher than at Colorado Mesa (3.28).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at CU Denver vs. 23.1% at Colorado Mesa.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus graduates have a $560 lower median loan debt than Colorado Mesa graduates ($21,190 vs. $21,750).
  • Among borrowers, CU Denver graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colorado Mesa graduates ($219 vs. $224).
  • More CU Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado Mesa students, three years after graduation (61% vs. 48%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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