Boulder, Colorado Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Boulder, Colorado: median public in-state tuition $26,143 (+374.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $49,229 (-9.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 77.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $19,500 (+46.9% vs U.S.) 40,794 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 4 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 40,794 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $26,143 (+374.3% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $49,229 (-9.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 77.1% (-10.8 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $27,262 (+173.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $19,500 (+46.9% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $10,555
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 55.4%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 72.2%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Boulder serve students across Colorado with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 4 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 40,794 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $26,143. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Boulder, Colorado and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Boulder vs Colorado & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, Colorado | $26,143 | $27,262 | $19,500 | 55.4% | 40,794 |
| Colorado (state median) | $5,140 | $12,045 | $11,008 | 48.0% | 256,128 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Boulder, Colorado vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, Colorado | $49,229 | 77.1% | 72.2% | 3.7% | — | 75.0% | 0.57 |
| Colorado (state median) | $53,445 | 87.9% | 72.4% | 4.4% | — | 70.4% | 0.38 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Colorado (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, Colorado | $26,143 | $27,262 | $19,500 | 55.4% | 40,794 | $49,229 | 77.1% |
| Denver | $11,124 | $18,977 | $20,436 | 53.6% | 55,249 | $71,630 | 88.2% |
| Colorado Springs | $11,616 | $20,725 | $11,008 | 33.8% | 50,332 | $48,054 | 81.5% |
| Fort Collins | $13,373 | $21,279 | $14,375 | 66.5% | 25,877 | $60,543 | 90.3% |
| Lakewood | $15,977 | $26,083 | $14,892 | 32.0% | 12,838 | $46,687 | 83.0% |
| Lakewood | $15,977 | $26,083 | $14,892 | 32.0% | 12,838 | $46,687 | 83.0% |
| Lakewood | $15,977 | $26,083 | $14,892 | 32.0% | 12,838 | $46,687 | 83.0% |
| Greeley | $7,337 | $14,612 | $7,917 | 45.4% | 9,246 | $52,231 | 90.2% |
| Grand Junction | $9,927 | $17,160 | $16,384 | 40.6% | 9,220 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Boulder, Colorado by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 74.2%, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Top college in Boulder, Colorado by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 87.2%, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Most selective college in Boulder, Colorado (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 78.1%, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Top 2 colleges in Boulder, Colorado by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $88,957, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $17,708, Naropa University
Naropa University
Top 2 colleges in Boulder, Colorado by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $121,952, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $43,238, Naropa University
Naropa University
Top college in Boulder, Colorado by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $54,939, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Top college in Boulder, Colorado by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $64,625, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Top college in Boulder, Colorado by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $69,738, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Top 2 colleges in Boulder, Colorado by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $189,536, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $-22,472, Naropa University
Naropa University
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Boulder, Colorado (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $25,346, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
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Rank 2, Net Price, $29,179, Naropa University
Naropa University
Top college in Boulder, Colorado by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 90.1%, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
In-state tuition: Boulder, Colorado vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Boulder, Colorado median in-state tuition is $26,143, +374.3% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Boulder, Colorado vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Boulder, Colorado is $19,500 (+46.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $10,555.
Median earnings (10 years out): Boulder, Colorado vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Boulder, Colorado center around $49,229 (-9.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Boulder, Colorado vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 77.1% at the median Boulder, Colorado campus (-10.8 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Boulder, Colorado median public in-state tuition is $26,143, about +374.3% vs the national median. Versus the Rocky Mountains region, tuition is +432.2%.
Median graduate debt is $19,500 (+46.9% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Boulder, Colorado are $49,229, about -9.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 77.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-10.8 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 72.2% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 3.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 75.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Colorado Boulder (87.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Boulder, Colorado is 55.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Boulder?
This city profile covers 4 campuses in Boulder, Colorado with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Boulder?
Median in-state tuition in Boulder is $26,143 and median net price is $27,262. For Colorado overall, medians are $5,140 and $12,045; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Boulder?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Boulder is $49,229 vs $53,445 for Colorado and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Boulder colleges?
Median completer debt in Boulder is $19,500 vs $11,008 for Colorado and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Boulder?
Top campuses on this page include University of Colorado Boulder (graduation) and University of Colorado Boulder (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Boulder?
Among 4 College Scorecard campuses in Boulder, Colorado, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Colorado college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON