University of Colorado Boulder College Portrait
University of Colorado BoulderRegent Administration Center, Room 125 Boulder, CO 80309-0552
(303) 492-1411
University of Colorado Boulder
A Tradition of Academic Excellence
The University of Colorado Boulder is an exceptional place, offering a rich tradition of excellence, nationally recognized academics, outstanding faculty, a dynamic student body, a multitude of unique learning opportunities, and a spectacular natural and cultural environment. Located in a scenic valley at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is among the most dynamic, progressive, and attractive cities of its size in the United States. The university is one of thirty-four U.S. public institutions belonging to the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), and the only member in the Rocky Mountain region. And, while it is a major research university and the state of Colorado's flagship university, the campus maintains a small college atmosphere with 97 percent of full-time faculty teaching undergraduate students.
Living in the CU-Boulder Community
Scholarship. Innovation. Discovery.
The University of Colorado Boulder has an outstanding reputation for scholarship and interdisciplinary research. It offers 3,600 courses in 150 fields of study, nearly 100 service-learning courses in over 30 academic departments, a variety of unique classroom environments, innovative teaching technology, and individualized academic support. Find your place in one of our living and learning communities or among our nearly 600 student groups. Explore the world through one of 240 study abroad programs, work side-by-side with faculty on research, or put your knowledge into practice through an internship. CU-Boulder is a place where you can challenge yourself, discover who you are, make lifelong friends, and achieve your goals.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
More Information
| Total Students | 32,252 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 26,325 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 12,316 | 47% |
| Men | 14,009 | 53% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 142 | 1% |
| Asian | 1,482 | 6% |
| African American / Black | 419 | 2% |
| Hispanic | 2,137 | 8% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 9 | <1% |
| White | 20,092 | 76% |
| Two or More Races | 466 | 2% |
| International | 648 | 2% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 930 | 4% |
| Where do CU-Boulder undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Colorado | 64% |
| Other US States & Territories | 34% |
| Other Countries | 2% |
| How old are CU-Boulder undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 21 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 6% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 24 - 28 | |
| Math | 23 - 29 | 540 - 650 |
| English | 23 - 29 | |
| Critical Reading | 520 - 630 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 54% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 89% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 56% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.55 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 97% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2011-12 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $27,236.00
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend University of Colorado Boulder varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 29% of 2011-12 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $7,589.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 37% of 2011-12 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $6,833.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
CU-Boulder Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 20 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 65% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 84% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 1,241 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 37% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 17% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 91% |
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Campus-based Housing
95% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
28% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
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. 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. University police patrol the campus around the clock and can be contacted immediately from the nearly 60 emergency call boxes located across campus.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (very high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, more selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Arts & sciences plus professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral (no medical/veterinary)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at CU-Boulder
At CU-Boulder we routinely survey students about their campus experiences inside and outside the classroom. We use information gathered from newly admitted undergraduate students, current undergraduate and graduate students, and alumni to evaluate and improve academic programs and student services. In addition, every semester, every student in every course has the opportunity to rate the course and instructor on nine key questions, and to offer "constructive comments to your instructor" on the Faculty Course Questionnaire. We make all ratings public on the Web. Instructors use the ratings and comments to improve their courses. The results are also used in promotion and tenure decisions, and used by students in selecting courses and instructors.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 94% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 58% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 30% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 90% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 27% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 56% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 62% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 24% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 95% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 93% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 67% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 52% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 92% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 50% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 74% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 96% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 72% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 69% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 78% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 49% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 82% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 85% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 75% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of Colorado Boulder in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 5,642 |
| Master's | 1,253 |
| Doctoral | 539 |
| Total | 7,434 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| SOCIAL SCIENCES | 17% |
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 14% |
| BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES | 11% |
| PSYCHOLOGY | 11% |
| COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS | 9% |
| Links to degree programs at University of Colorado Boulder |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 93% four-year success and progress rate means that 93% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 4,955 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,167 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 84%
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Student Learning at University of Colorado Boulder
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
CU-Boulder has a long history of assessing undergraduate educational outcomes and pays serious attention to evidence concerning student learning, completion rates, satisfaction, and success after graduation. For more than two decades a campus-wide program has been in place to examine the quality and effectiveness of academic programs through examination of student learning. Major programs (e.g., history, chemistry) list knowledge and skills goals for their undergraduates in our catalog and use varying assessment methods to determine how well their goals are being met. These methods range from comparison of majors' performance on nationally standardized exams with national norms to direct evaluations by invited experts who rate student achievement. The programs use results from assessment activities to evaluate curricula, teaching, and course content; choose new faculty hires; plan improvements; and evaluate the effects of changes.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2010 - 11 Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1197
Senior Score: 1318
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1236
Senior Score: 1255
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1186
Senior Score: 1313
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1236
Senior Score: 1255