CU-Boulder vs BYU–Provo

Nestled in the picturesque Rocky Mountains, University of Colorado Boulder and Brigham Young University stand as two distinct beacons of higher education. While both institutions offer a wealth of opportunities, they differ in several key aspects. CU Boulder boasts a significantly higher acceptance rate, welcoming a more diverse student body, while BYU maintains a strong emphasis on its religious affiliation, fostering a unique campus culture. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further distinctions, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your academic journey. Discover which university aligns best with your aspirations and values, setting the stage for a transformative educational experience.
Brigham Young University logo

Brigham Young University

University of Colorado Boulder logo

University of Colorado Boulder

Overview

Location Provo, Utah Boulder, Colorado
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 89.0% 87.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation Mormon

Admission

Acceptance rate 59.2% 79.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1220 - 1440 1170 - 1390
ACT range 26 - 32 25 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 20.0% 32.0%
Students submitting ACT score 76.0% 16.0%
Total number of applicants 11,608 54,756
Total number of admissions given out 6,870 43,576
Admitted students who chose to enroll 5,413 6,785
Yield rate 78.8% 15.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $20,146
In state: $29,725

Out of state: $55,543
Average net price $13,432 $22,532
Tuition $6,120
In state: $10,728

Out of state: $36,546
Room & board $8,048 $15,220
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

48.0%
Average amount $5,867
53.0%
Average amount $9,214
Students receiving federal student loan 10.0%
Average amount $5,278
27.0%
Average amount $4,986
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $9,371
6.0%
Average amount $24,094

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 31,642
Men 48.7% Women 51.3%
30,886
Men 54.8% Women 45.2%
Graduate students 3,169
Men 54.4% Women 45.6%
8,114
Men 57.8% Women 42.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 48.8%
International students 3.6% 7.1%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 7,073 7,500
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Colorado California Texas Illinois New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 21:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 76.8% 74.0%
Dropout rate 15.6% 8.6%
Transferred out N/A 15.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $122,288
  • Year 2: $119,642
  • Year 3: $131,537
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,326
  • Year 2: $87,604
  • Year 3: $103,770
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,071
  • Year 2: $86,498
  • Year 3: $103,443
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,667
  • Year 2: $83,848
  • Year 3: $99,723
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $83,177
  • Year 3: $95,117
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,340
  • Year 2: $83,177
  • Year 3: $93,220
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,754
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $88,329
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,199
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $86,347
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,287
  • Year 2: $75,989
  • Year 3: $85,287
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,484
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $83,356
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,752
  • Year 2: $116,679
  • Year 3: $121,033
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $118,373
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,907
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $108,458
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,254
  • Year 2: $89,641
  • Year 3: $97,860
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,200
  • Year 2: $75,706
  • Year 3: $92,272
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,191
  • Year 2: $80,503
  • Year 3: $87,258
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,023
  • Year 2: $75,204
  • Year 3: $86,676
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,804
  • Year 2: $75,921
  • Year 3: $85,563
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,633
  • Year 2: $83,177
  • Year 3: $85,039
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,440
  • Year 2: $71,957
  • Year 3: $83,132

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