95% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls. 29% of all undergraduates live on campus.

Safety issues and related services are a high priority at CU Boulder. Campus policies and procedures address crime prevention; residence hall safety; and fire safety, prevention, and preparedness. All residence hall doors that lead to living areas are locked 24 hours a day, and access to residence halls is restricted to residents and guests. The campus supports a no-cost public safety smartphone app (Lifeline Enterprise) designed to provide the user with ways to get help in case of an emergency. The Emergency Alert System allows campus officials to send emergency text messages at a moment's notice via cell phone to students, faculty, and staff. The CU Boulder Police Department is a full-service police agency, and University police patrol the campus around the clock.