CU-Boulder vs University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV)

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) stands as a beacon of academic excellence, while in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) shines as a hub of innovation and opportunity. With acceptance rates of 81% and 73% respectively, both universities welcome a diverse student body, fostering an inclusive and dynamic learning environment. While CU Boulder boasts a higher graduation rate of 82% compared to UNLV's 59%, both institutions offer a wide range of popular majors, including Engineering, Business, and Health Sciences. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into the specifics and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University of Colorado Boulder logo

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Nevada-Las Vegas logo

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Overview

Location Boulder, Colorado Las Vegas, Nevada
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 87.0% 77.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 79.6% 83.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1170 - 1390 N/A
ACT range 25 - 31 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 32.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0%
Total number of applicants 54,756 13,025
Total number of admissions given out 43,576 10,873
Admitted students who chose to enroll 6,785 4,125
Yield rate 15.6% 37.9%
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) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,725

Out of state: $55,543
In state: $28,003

Out of state: $44,094
Average net price $22,532 $13,030
Tuition
In state: $10,728

Out of state: $36,546
In state: $7,949

Out of state: $24,040
Room & board $15,220
Room/dormitory: $5,880

Meal plan: $5,456
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
92.0%
Average amount $6,217
Students receiving federal student loan 27.0%
Average amount $4,986
21.0%
Average amount $5,000
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $24,094
1.0%
Average amount $17,424

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 30,886
Men 54.8% Women 45.2%
25,312
Men 43.1% Women 56.9%
Graduate students 8,114
Men 57.8% Women 42.2%
5,367
Men 40.8% Women 59.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 48.8% N/A
International students 7.1% 2.7%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 7,500 2,850
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 N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Legal Profession
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 74.0% 47.2%
Dropout rate 8.6% 44.5%
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
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,835
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $118,208
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $116,502
  • Year 2: $99,683
  • Year 3: $105,571
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,563
  • Year 2: $81,433
  • Year 3: $93,426
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,908
  • Year 2: $90,856
  • Year 3: $92,054
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,344
  • Year 2: $72,177
  • Year 3: $86,154
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,087
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $85,010
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,477
  • Year 2: $75,313
  • Year 3: $79,196
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,725
  • Year 2: $70,296
  • Year 3: $78,028
Hospitality Administration/Management (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,060
  • Year 2: $73,949
  • Year 3: $73,853
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,877
  • Year 2: $59,942
  • Year 3: $73,118

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