CU-Boulder vs University of Delaware (UDel)

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) and the University of Delaware (UD), located in the vibrant city of Newark, stand as two distinct academic powerhouses. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer unique experiences shaped by their distinct locations, student demographics, and academic strengths. CU Boulder boasts a lower acceptance rate and a larger student body, while UD offers a more diverse student population and a higher graduation rate. With CU Boulder excelling in fields like engineering and environmental sciences, and UD shining in business and education, the choice between these two esteemed universities hinges on individual preferences and academic aspirations. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which institution aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
University of Colorado Boulder logo

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Delaware logo

University of Delaware

Overview

Location Boulder, Colorado Newark, Delaware
Campus setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 87.0% 91.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 79.6% 72.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $75
SAT range 1170 - 1390 1155 - 1340
ACT range 25 - 31 26 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 32.0% 31.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0% 6.0%
Total number of applicants 54,756 34,111
Total number of admissions given out 43,576 24,679
Admitted students who chose to enroll 6,785 4,617
Yield rate 15.6% 18.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,725

Out of state: $55,543
In state: $31,562

Out of state: $53,422
Average net price $22,532 $19,122
Tuition
In state: $10,728

Out of state: $36,546
In state: $12,980

Out of state: $34,840
Room & board $15,220
Room/dormitory: $8,316

Meal plan: $5,426
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

53.0%
Average amount $9,214
86.0%
Average amount $12,410
Students receiving federal student loan 27.0%
Average amount $4,986
48.0%
Average amount $5,217
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $24,094
8.0%
Average amount $19,017

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 30,886
Men 54.8% Women 45.2%
19,410
Men 41.9% Women 58.1%
Graduate students 8,114
Men 57.8% Women 42.2%
4,586
Men 46.6% Women 53.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 48.8% 63.0%
International students 7.1% 10.3%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 7,500 6,911
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Colorado California Texas Illinois New York Delaware New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Maryland

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Legal Profession
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 74.0% 82.3%
Dropout rate 8.6% 15.7%
Transferred out 15.9% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,538
  • Year 2: $70,176
  • Year 3: $88,641
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,960
  • Year 2: $86,424
  • Year 3: $84,710
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,283
  • Year 2: $73,446
  • Year 3: $77,585
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,769
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $77,043
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,848
  • Year 2: $62,491
  • Year 3: $76,288
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,752
  • Year 2: $68,698
  • Year 3: $75,052
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,605
  • Year 2: $62,632
  • Year 3: $74,317
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,693
  • Year 2: $66,401
  • Year 3: $73,424
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,395
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $73,270
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,257
  • Year 2: $60,552
  • Year 3: $73,189

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