Head to head · Colorado
Which of these costs less depends on what you earn. At under $30k and below, Colorado State University-Fort Collins is the cheaper of the two; from $30–48k up, University of Colorado Boulder is. Sticker price shows none of this.
| Household income | Colorado State University | University of Colorado Boulder | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $13,259 | $14,231 | $972 |
| $30–48k | $14,460 | $14,381 | $79 |
| $48–75k | $15,905 | $18,828 | $2,923 |
| $75–110k | $21,927 | $26,915 | $4,988 |
| Over $110k | $29,763 | $34,818 | $5,055 |
Green marks the cheaper of the two at that income. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Public-school figures reflect in-state families; out-of-state families typically pay more.
Think you make too much for aid? The real income cutoffs, measured →
Why the sticker price is a fiction — and what families actually pay →
Each year's reported net price grown 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses inside a family's plan.
Listed Colorado State University first, then University of Colorado Boulder. Acceptance rate is the school's overall published figure — your student's own odds depend on their transcript, scores, and high school.
Again Colorado State University first. The four-year graduation rate matters more than it looks: a fifth year is a fifth year of paying.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
Run both against your student's real GPA, your income band, and your actual high school — odds with the math shown, and what four years would really cost you, side by side. First three schools free.
Colorado State University-Fort Collins — every income band · University of Colorado Boulder — every income band · All Colorado public colleges