University of Colorado Boulder

University of Colorado Boulder is moderately difficult to get into. The acceptance rate at University of Colorado Boulder is 80%. Out of 54,754 applications received in 2023, 43,574 students were offered admission.

If you are planning on applying to University of Colorado Boulder, the regular decision application deadline is January 15 and the fee for the application is $70.

University of Colorado Boulder Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of University of Colorado Boulder's admissions stats.

University of Colorado Boulder 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.7
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	26%
Mean SAT Score	1251
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	32%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	16%
Waitlist	Yes

University of Colorado Boulder Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for University of Colorado Boulder.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Info Not Available	–	–
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	Yes	November 15	February 1
Regular Decision	Yes	1 15	–

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Considering Applying Early to University of Colorado Boulder?

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University of Colorado Boulder may or may not offer early admission, however the school has not provided any application information. Check with University of Colorado Boulder directly for more information about early applications.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 15. University of Colorado Boulder will release EA admissions decisions no later than February 1.

Some students apply early to college to help their chances of being offering admission. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of acceptance, since it is a way to show your interest in a school.

➡️ Discover a list of some competetive colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on University of Colorado Boulder Admissions

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Is University of Colorado Boulder Challenging To Get Into?

It is moderately difficult to get into CU Boulder.

In 2022, CU Boulder accepted 80% of all applicants, approximately 43,574 from the 54,754 applicants.

Schools that are moderately difficult to get into, like CU Boulder, accept fewer than 85% of all applicants. At least 75% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on the SAT or over 18 on the ACT. Admissions to engineering programs is program very difficult.

Transferring to University of Colorado Boulder

Transfer student admissions is moderately difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to University of Colorado Boulder

In 2022, University of Colorado Boulder waitlisted 7,531 students and 2,789 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 2,608 eventually got off the waitlist.

What's Most Important for Getting Into University of Colorado Boulder?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are they consider most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that put the most emphasis on the areas where you shine.

Admissions Factors at University of Colorado Boulder

What does University of Colorado Boulder consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Important
Application Essay	Important
Extracurricular Activities	Important
Recommendation(s)	Important
Talent/Ability	Important
First Generation	Important
Class Rank	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered

Make sure to check with University of Colorado Boulder for more information on admission factors.

University of Colorado Boulder 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to University of Colorado Boulder, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with University of Colorado Boulder's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Written Essay or Personal Statement	–	–	–	–
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale)	–	–	–	–
Other Requirements	–	–	–	audition for music program
Letter(s) of Recommendation	–	–	–	–
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	–	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into University of Colorado Boulder?

Students admitted to University of Colorado Boulder have an average unweighted GPA of 3.7.

Out of all students that were admitted, 43% submitted a class rank. At University of Colorado Boulder 26% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 52% were in the top 25% and 83% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At University of Colorado Boulder, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	34%
3.75 and 3.99	20%
3.50 and 3.74	18%
3.25 and 3.49	14%
3.00 and 3.24	9%
2.50 and 2.9	5%
2.00 and 2.49	1%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to University of Colorado Boulder directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

University of Colorado Boulder is test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 32% of University of Colorado Boulder's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 16% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for University of Colorado Boulder?

To be competitive with other University of Colorado Boulder applicants, you should strive to score between 1180 and 1380 (or higher!) on the SAT. At University of Colorado Boulder 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1380 and 25% of scored lower than 1180, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a University of Colorado Boulder student is 1251.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of University of Colorado Boulder students scored 700 or higher and 75% of students scored 590 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of University of Colorado Boulder students scored 690 or higher, and 75% scored a 590 or higher.

To be most competitive at University of Colorado Boulder, you should strive to earn between 25 and 31 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 31 means you fall in the 75th percentile for University of Colorado Boulder's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 31, and three out of four students scored lower than 31 on the ACT.

A 25 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for University of Colorado Boulder students. Only one out of every four students scored below 25.

More Information on Transferring to University of Colorado Boulder

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to University of Colorado Boulder.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is June 1. Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in University of Colorado Boulder during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

• Summer Term

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University of Colorado Boulder Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to University of Colorado Boulder?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to University of Colorado Boulder.

Does University of Colorado Boulder accept transfer credits?

✅ University of Colorado Boulder accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. University of Colorado Boulder accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does University of Colorado Boulder accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ University of Colorado Boulder accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to University of Colorado Boulder?

❌ No, University of Colorado Boulder is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If you have higher than average scores, you should strongly consider submitting them. If your scores are average or below average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is University of Colorado Boulder's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for University of Colorado Boulder is 80%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at University of Colorado Boulder?

🟨 University of Colorado Boulder may or may not offer early decision. The school has not provided any information on early decision including ED acceptance rates.

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