University of Colorado Boulder is a public institution that was founded in 1876. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 31,103 (fall 2022), its setting is city, and the campus size is 600 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Colorado Boulder's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #105. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,622; out-of-state tuition and fees are $41,966.

The University of Colorado Boulder, called CU Boulder for short, lays against the majestic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Boulder is a lively college town with more than 80 miles of biking and walking trails. In the evenings, students can travel anywhere within the city limits for free in CU NightRide shuttles, which run until 1:15 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 12:15 a.m. all other nights. On campus, there are more than 450 student clubs and organizations and about 20 fraternities and sororities. Freshmen must live on campus. The Colorado Buffaloes compete in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference. The student athletes, called Buffs for short, are supported by two buffalo mascots: a costumed student called Chip and a live animal named Ralphie V. The university stresses its commitment to volunteer efforts like Better Boulder Day of Service, a day of community service in the surrounding neighborhoods. For trips off campus, there are 11 ski slopes within 3 hours of campus, and Rocky Mountain National Park is 45 miles away. A bit closer is Denver, the state capital, where students can catch professional sports matches or concerts in the unique outdoor concert hall, Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

CU Boulder is the only school in the Rocky Mountain Region to make it into the Association of American Universities, an elite group of 62 research universities. The university has highly ranked graduate programs through the College of Engineering and Applied Science and School of Education. Its Law School stresses experiential learning through clinics, externships, competitions and pro bono work. CU Boulder graduates are immediately inducted into the dues-free alumni association, Forever Buffs, whose particularly distinguished members include "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and sportscasters Chris Fowler and Jim Gray.

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At-a-Glance

Setting

City

In-state tuition and fees

$13,622

Undergraduate Enrollment

31,103

Acceptance Rate

79%

Visit School Website

Regent Administration Center, Room 125, 552 UCB, Boulder, CO, 80309

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2024 Rankings

Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

• #105
• in
• National Universities (tie)
• #51
• in
• Top Public Schools (tie)
• #192
• in
• Best Value Schools

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