University of Colorado Boulder
Finances
The cost of attending college is a big factor for most students.
On this page, you'll learn the cost of attending University of Colorado Boulder, the net price after need-based aid, and how much students typically pay if they don’t qualify for need-based aid. Let's dive in and talk financials.
Cost Breakdown
The cost of attending University of Colorado Boulder varies, and it’s important to understand the difference between published rates (commonly known as the list price or sticker price) and actual prices. At some schools, most students get a discount to the list price in the form of scholarships.
First, let’s look at the list price breakdown according to CU Boulder. Here's what the costs look like:
Here’s how the total cost for students living on campus has changed in recent years.
Net Price
Although the out-of-state cost to attend University of Colorado Boulder is $59,770 per year, many students pay less.
Some of this is due to need-based aid being given to students of families based on income and assets. The average net price that families pay is $21,836.
Average Net Price by Income
Net price data is provided by the U.S. government, but it's delayed by 1-2 years. So, the current net prices might be slightly higher. You can get a more accurate estimate of your cost using the college’s Net Price Calculator.
Merit Price
Students from higher income families will generally not qualify for need-based aid, but they might qualify for merit aid.
Some colleges are more generous with merit aid than others. CollegeIQ calculates a Merit Price™ for colleges, which represents the average amount students should expect to pay. We also have a Merit Meter™ rating for colleges, which represents how generous the school is when handing out merit aid compared to other colleges.
The Merit Meter represents how much merit aid the school gives and to how many students. It is based on the percentage of students CU Boulder gives merit aid to and the amount given compared to the cost of attendance, compared to other colleges and universities. Learn more about how the CollegeIQ Merit Meter is calculated.
CU Boulder granted merit aid to about 58% of entering freshmen who did not qualify for need-based aid. The average merit aid discount is $9,245. Based on this, CollegeIQ estimates that many students who don't qualify for need-based aid should expect to pay, on average, $24,707.
The Merit Price represents CollegeIQ’s estimate of attending University of Colorado Boulder for students who don’t qualify for need-based aid. This number is based on the average merit aid the school gave to freshmen, if at least 40% of students receive merit aid. Learn more about how the CollegeIQ Merit Meter is calculated.
While the amount of merit scholarships a school offers is relevant, the more important number is how much it costs to attend. A school that gives no merit but is cheaper than the merit price of a generous Merit Score is still less expensive.
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