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University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) vs CU-Boulder

Nestled in the vibrant city of Los Angeles and the picturesque foothills of the Rocky Mountains, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) stand as two prominent beacons of higher education. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence and offer a diverse range of programs, they also possess distinct characteristics that cater to different student preferences and aspirations. UCLA boasts a lower acceptance rate, a larger student body, and a higher graduation rate, while CU Boulder offers a more affordable tuition, a smaller student-to-faculty ratio, and a stronger emphasis on outdoor recreation. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the specifics of each university, including popular majors, student demographics, and financial aid options, and discover which institution aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

 		University of Colorado Boulder logo

University of Colorado Boulder

Overview

Location Los Angeles, California Boulder, Colorado
Campus setting City: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 97.0% 87.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 10.8% 79.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70
Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $50
Graduate: $60
SAT range N/A 1170 - 1390
ACT range N/A 25 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 32.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0%
Total number of applicants 139,489 54,756
Total number of admissions given out 15,028 43,576
Admitted students who chose to enroll 6,584 6,785
Yield rate 43.8% 15.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $36,173
Out of state: $65,927
In state: $29,725
Out of state: $55,543
Average net price $13,393 $22,532
Tuition
In state: $11,442
Out of state: $41,196
In state: $10,728
Out of state: $36,546
Room & board $16,763 $15,220
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

 45.0%
Average amount $17,592 		53.0%
Average amount $9,214
Students receiving federal student loan 11.0%
Average amount $4,391 		27.0%
Average amount $4,986
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $19,764 		6.0%
Average amount $24,094

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students 32,122
Men 40.2% Women 59.8% 		30,886
Men 54.8% Women 45.2%
Graduate students 13,994
Men 50.5% Women 49.5% 		8,114
Men 57.8% Women 42.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 21.9% 48.8%
International students 14.5% 7.1%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 20,372 7,500
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Texas Washington New York Illinois Colorado California Texas Illinois New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.1% 74.0%
Dropout rate 3.7% 8.6%
Transferred out 3.6% 15.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $129,237
  • Year 2: $134,761
  • Year 3: $179,615
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,028
  • Year 2: $143,744
  • Year 3: $157,681
Applied Mathematics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $156,116
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $117,100
  • Year 2: $110,878
  • Year 3: $147,842
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,050
  • Year 2: $101,128
  • Year 3: $130,087
Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,202
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $126,081
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $116,282
  • Year 2: $111,435
  • Year 3: $123,214
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,139
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $111,727
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,817
  • Year 2: $96,775
  • Year 3: $110,729
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,892
  • Year 2: $99,040
  • Year 3: $110,415
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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