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Colorado State CU Denver Minnesota Michigan DU Illinois Colorado School of Mines Ohio State Utah UW-Seattle UCCS Purdue| University of Wisconsin Madison | University of Colorado Boulder | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Wisconsin | CU Boulder | ||
| Location | Madison, WI | Boulder, CO | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 49,605 | 41,432 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #110 | #197 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wisc.edu | colorado.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Wisconsin | CU Boulder | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,644 | $14,784 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,042 | $40,297 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,500 | $16,950 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,216 | $22,640 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,350 | $10,838 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 49% | 54% |
Admission |
Wisconsin | CU Boulder | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 63,505 | 56,069 | ||
| Admitted | 27,529 | 46,692 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 43.3% | 83.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.9% | 16.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.88 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 28/32 | 28/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1360/1510 | 1230/1420 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Wisconsin | CU Boulder | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Wisconsin | CU Boulder | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $56,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 84% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,250 | $19,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $230 | $201 |
Diversity |
Wisconsin | CU Boulder | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 8% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Wisconsin | CU Boulder | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 48% | 53% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 44% | 45% | ||
Campus |
Wisconsin | CU Boulder | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than than CU Boulder based on total student enrollment (49,605 students vs. 41,432 students)
Wisconsin vs. CU Boulder Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Wisconsin or CU Boulder?
- University of Colorado Boulder is 53.3% more expensive to attend than Wisconsin for in-state tuition ($14,784.00 vs. $9,644.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.2% higher at CU Boulder than University of Wisconsin Madison ($40,297.00 vs. $39,042.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than CU Boulder ($14,216 vs. $22,640)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 25.6% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($13,500 vs. $16,950)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Boulder than University of Wisconsin Madison (54% vs. 49%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 4.7% larger than aid received University of Colorado Boulder ($11,350 vs. $10,838)
Wisconsin vs. CU Boulder Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Wisconsin or CU Boulder? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CU Boulder or Wisconsin .
- The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Madison (1300) is 88 points higher than at CU Boulder (1212)
- Incoming Wisconsin students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at CU Boulder (27)
- Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at CU Boulder (3.68)
- CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (83.3%) than Wisconsin (43.3%)
Wisconsin vs. CU Boulder Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Wisconsin or CU Boulder? 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 CU Boulder and Wisconsin.
- The graduation rate at Wisconsin is higher than University of Colorado Boulder (82% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn on average $7,900 more per year than CU Boulder graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $56,900)
- University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Wisconsin graduates. ($19,500 vs. $22,250)
- CU Boulder graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Wisconsin graduates. ($201 vs. $230)
- More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/