Public Institution
University of Colorado Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder's campus sits at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in the city of Boulder. The campus' distinctive Tuscan Vernacular Revival architectural style incorporates native sandstone. Students are known for their active outdoor lifestyle, balancing academics with activities like hiking and skiing. CU Boulder is a major research university, particularly noted for its aerospace engineering programs and connections to NASA.
Programs
38
Analyzed in dataset
Earnings
$47,330
Average graduate, 1 yr after
Outlook
51/100
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
Tuition
$16,430
In-state sticker price
Out-of-state: $41,943/yr
Financial Aid
The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. University of Colorado Boulder's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 15% of students receive Pell Grants; 24% take federal loans.
Net Price by Family Income
Academic Year 2025| Income Bracket | Avg Net Price | 4-Year Net Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $30K | $11,251 | $45,004 |
| $30K – $48K | $12,545 | $50,180 |
| $48K – $75K | $17,204 | $68,816 |
| $75K – $110K | $26,247 | $104,988 |
| $110K+ | $30,549 | $122,196 |
| Sticker price (no aid) | $16,430 | $65,720 |
Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.
Programs at University of Colorado Boulder
38 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.
| Degree Program | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Compare across schools → |
86
|
$77,385/yr | Very High | 17.6x |
| Computer Engineering Compare across schools → |
83
|
$86,211/yr | Very High | 15.4x |
|
Business Administration
Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools → |
76
|
$56,014/yr | High | 12.9x |
|
Electrical Engineering
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Compare across schools → |
74
|
$88,957/yr | Very High | 15.4x |
|
Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Compare across schools → |
73
|
$81,835/yr | High | 14.7x |
| Chemical Engineering Compare across schools → |
72
|
$70,359/yr | High | 16.5x |
| Economics Compare across schools → |
70
|
$51,521/yr | Very High | 11.1x |
| Civil Engineering Compare across schools → |
69
|
$73,033/yr | High | 11.9x |
| Biochemical Engineering Compare across schools → |
68
|
$70,668/yr | High | 14.1x |
| Mechanical Engineering Compare across schools → |
68
|
$66,089/yr | Very High | 13.0x |
| Architectural Engineering Compare across schools → |
66
|
$72,567/yr | High | 12.8x |
|
Environmental Engineering
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering Compare across schools → |
63
|
$63,049/yr | Very High | 11.9x |
| Mathematics Compare across schools → |
57
|
$41,176/yr | Very High | 11.6x |
|
Political Science
Political Science and Government Compare across schools → |
57
|
$39,954/yr | Very High | 10.4x |
|
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Compare across schools → |
53
|
$50,474/yr | High | 9.5x |
| Physics Compare across schools → |
51
|
$41,874/yr | Very High | 9.6x |
| Environmental Design Compare across schools → |
49
|
$42,401/yr | High | 9.3x |
|
Cell Biology
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Compare across schools → |
48
|
$43,192/yr | High | 8.7x |
|
Geosciences
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Compare across schools → |
47
|
$46,263/yr | High | 8.4x |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics Compare across schools → |
47
|
$45,066/yr | Very High | 8.5x |
|
Public Relations & Advertising
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Compare across schools → |
47
|
$42,218/yr | High | 5.4x |
| Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools → |
47
|
$39,738/yr | High | 9.2x |
| Sociology Compare across schools → |
45
|
$37,958/yr | High | 8.1x |
| History Compare across schools → |
43
|
$37,044/yr | High | 6.4x |
| Journalism Compare across schools → |
43
|
$34,022/yr | Very High | 10.5x |
|
Neuroscience
Neurobiology and Neurosciences Compare across schools → |
42
|
$35,980/yr | High | 9.6x |
|
Physiology
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences Compare across schools → |
41
|
$33,926/yr | High | 9.3x |
| Anthropology Compare across schools → |
40
|
$36,822/yr | High | 6.6x |
|
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology Compare across schools → |
39
|
$37,184/yr | High | 7.4x |
|
Psychology
Psychology, General Compare across schools → |
39
|
$30,176/yr | High | 7.9x |
| Geography and Cartography Compare across schools → |
37
|
$32,078/yr | High | 7.4x |
|
Natural Resources & Conservation Research
Natural Resources Conservation and Research Compare across schools → |
36
|
$30,747/yr | High | 8.7x |
|
Communication Disorders
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Compare across schools → |
31
|
$24,628/yr | High | 8.7x |
|
International Studies
International/Global Studies Compare across schools → |
30
|
$33,892/yr | Moderate | 7.4x |
|
English
English Language and Literature, General Compare across schools → |
26
|
$31,825/yr | Very High | 4.9x |
|
Theater & Drama
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Compare across schools → |
25
|
$32,142/yr | Moderate | 2.8x |
|
Fine Arts
Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools → |
23
|
$17,501/yr | Moderate | 5.1x |
|
Film & Photography
Film/Video and Photographic Arts Compare across schools → |
20
|
$22,601/yr | High | 5.7x |
More Colleges in Colorado
Top-scored 4-year colleges and universities elsewhere in Colorado, ranked by average DegreeOutlook Score across their programs.
Colorado State University Global
Aurora, CO
11 programs
73/100
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
9 programs
67/100
Regis University
Denver, CO
5 programs
67/100
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO
13 programs
67/100
Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo, CO
18 programs
54/100
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO
31 programs
52/100
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
23 programs
52/100
Adams State University
Alamosa, CO
6 programs
52/100