Innovative, Impactful Pac-12 Education at CU Boulder
The University of Colorado–Boulder appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Master’s in Computer Science Degree Programs.
Ranked 96th nationally by the U.S. News & World Report, the University of Colorado–Boulder is a flagship public, space-grant AAU member in the Rockies that grants 81 bachelor’s, 91 master’s, and 64 doctoral degrees, including 12 fully online, at an 18:1 student-faculty ratio. For example, the B.A. in Environmental Studies follows a 120-credit, four-year plan outlined by Dr. Carol Wessman where Buffaloes can conduct Mountain Research Station projects, intern with the Sierra Club, semester in Iceland, and volunteer for the Recycling Round Up. Chaired by Dr. Lori Bergen, the 120-credit B.A. in Journalism provides opportunities to report for the CU News Corps, publish Colorado Daily, add the International Media Certificate, engage in the Center for Communication, and earn Emmy Awards.
Online on Canvas since April 2016, the Graduate School has delivered a 32-credit, one-year Professional M.S. in Computational Linguistics headed by Dr. Susan Brown where data analysts pair 5000-level courses like Language Processing with capstone internships at Pearson, Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, and others. Led by Dr. Michael Hannigan, the Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering specializes a 60-credit, STEM-designated curriculum in seven areas, such as Air Quality and Robotics, with hands-on dissertation research at the Design Center Colorado.
Other Boulder degrees include the B.A. in Jewish Studies, B.F.A. in Dance, B.A. in Neuroscience, B.S. in Business Administration, M.A. in Education, M.A. in English, M.S. in Taxation, Ph.D. in Intermedia Art, Ph.D. in Sociology, and Ph.D. in Geophysics.
About the University of Colorado–Boulder
The University of Colorado–Boulder originated on March 14, 1876, when the Territorial Legislature added a constitutional amendment for a state-funded higher learning institution. The Board of Regents selected Boulder over Cañon City to host the university that Fall. In September 1877, an inaugural class of 47 arrived at Old Main for preparatory and collegiate courses. On September 20, 1909, the University of Colorado broke ground to build the Macky Auditorium. In 1938, architects Ralph Ellsworth and Charles Klauder collaborated on designing Norlin Library. During the 1940s, CU Boulder joined the V-12 Navy College Training Program. In 1947, Governor Lee Knous created a World War II memorial at the Student Union. In 1948, CU launched the popular Conference on World Affairs. On August 2, 1958, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival premiered at Mary Rippon Theatre. In 1983, CU founded the Center for Advanced Engineering and Technology Education.
Endowed for $596.4 million, the University of Colorado–Boulder now employs 9,160 staff serving 34,870 Buffaloes from 103 nations across 3,400 courses online and at the 600-acre Front Range campus north of Denver with 500+ clubs like Left Right TIM for 86 percent retention. In 2016, CU received the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories’ Go Beyond Award. In 2018, Boulder accepted the CASE District VI Circle of Excellence Award. The University of Colorado–Boulder won a 2018 Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Award too. Forbes named CU the 40th top public school and 79th best research institute. On Niche, CU boasts America’s 48th best physics, 66th top environmental science, and 76th best engineering degrees. WalletHub positioned CU Boulder 131st for career outcomes. Princeton Review declared the University of Colorado-Boulder the 26th greenest school.
University of Colorado–Boulder Accreditation Details
On August 16, 2010, the Higher Learning Commission on North Central Association (HLC-NCA) issued a new Institutional Status Report to the University of Colorado–Boulder that extended the Level VI accreditation through 2019-20 under the 23rd president, Dr. Mark Kennedy, who earned the Grand Forks Herald Person of the Year Award. Located 1,017 miles east via Interstate 80 in Chicago, this giant 19-state Great Plains Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and Colorado Department of Higher Education (DHE). The Accreditation Office also lists the following degree approvals:
- American Bar Association Section of Legal Education
- National Association of Schools of Music
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Council on Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
- Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- Commission on English Language Program Accreditation
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation
University of Colorado–Boulder Application Requirements
Admission to the University of Colorado–Boulder is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since only 28,861 of the 36,149 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for 80 percent acceptance. First-year Buffaloes must meet the academic preparation standards with a high school or GED diploma. Four course units in English and mathematics are prerequisite. The Class of 2022 presented an average 3.65 GPA. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 1180-1380. Mid-range admitted ACT scores were 25-32. The Honors Program requires maintaining a 3.3 GPA or better. Transfers need cumulative GPAs above 2.5 during regionally accredited college instruction. Graduate programs seek four-year bachelor’s completion at 2.75 or greater GPAs. The College of Engineering & Applied Science mandates a minimum B average. Typical GRE scores are 157 verbal and 161 quantitative. The Leeds School of Business mostly accepts GMAT scores of 550-680. Colorado Law recently broke its record with a mean 162 LSAT score.
The University of Colorado–Boulder has a November 15th Early Action and January 15th Regular Decision deadline for freshmen. Transfers must apply before June 1st for Fall or October 1st for Spring enrollment. The Graduate School has different program deadlines for 10 PM Mountain Standard Time. For instance, the Ph.D. in Music closes on December 1st. The Professional M.S. in Applied Mathematics considers candidates until April 15th. Ph.D. in German Studies cohorts must file before January 15th. Accordingly, complete the CU or Common Application online for $50 ($60 if graduate). Have school mail transcripts to 3100 Marine Street Suite A122 in Boulder, CO 80309. Submit tests using SAT/GRE code 4841, ACT code 0532, or GMAT code 11S-Z2-95. Learn supplemental steps by contacting (303) 492-6301 or admissions@colorado.edu.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, the University of Colorado–Boulder is charging in-state undergrads $6,774 per semester full-time. Non-resident bachelor’s tuition is $18,273 by term. International students cover $19,168 each term. Mandatory student fees are $887 per semester. Unless waived, gold health insurance is $1,874. Standard room and board for dorms like Aden Hall adds $7,389. CU budgets $1,800 for books and $2,294 for personal needs. Annual undergrad attendance equals about $31,044 in-state and $55,798 out-of-state. The Graduate School generally bills Coloradoans $14,756 and non-residents $34,214 each year. Juris Doctor cohorts spend $33,404 to $40,190. MBA tuition ranges from $34,412 to $44,939. The Master of Strategic Communication Design is priced $40,838 to $55,994.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in Regent Administrative Center Room 175 helps 64 percent of new full-time CU Buffaloes earn median tuition assistance of $9,428 each for $30.68 million combined. University funds include the Karen Bajgert Memorial Scholarship, Eve Verderber Scholarship, Mel Cundiff Biology Scholarship, Charles Francis Truscott Humanities Scholarship, Phillips Fine Arts Scholarship, Beverly Sears Graduate Scholarship, Delta Eta Boule Scholarship, and Charlotte York Irey Scholarship. The President Joseph A. Sewall Award gifts $20,000 total to freshmen with minimum 33 ACT or 1480 SAT scores. The $2,000 Maxine & F.M. Gray Scholarship automatically helps transfers with 24-90 previous credits and GPAs above 2.75. Federal programs, such as the Pell Grant and Work-Study Grant, require FAFSA applications coded 001370. Coloradoans could also claim the Need-Based Student Grant, Graduate Grant, Military Dependent Tuition Assistance, Horatio Alger Scholarship, Burg Simpson Scholarship, and more.
Explore nine top-notch colleges with 235+ accredited, affordable degrees ranked 114th globally by The Wall Street Journal at the University of Colorado–Boulder website.
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