Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Colorado Boulder #177 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $76,850 four years after enrollment, placing University of Colorado Boulder in the 80.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #65 nationally for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median $121,952 four years after enrollment — the program-level anchor behind the university's strong overall return profile. Students at University of Colorado Boulder earn about $6,505 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 79.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Colorado Boulder #228 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, a position driven by strong median earnings and a program mix anchored in business and applied fields that translate reliably into early-career outcomes.
Azimuth ranks University of Colorado Boulder #177 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Boulder, CO, University of Colorado Boulder enrolls roughly 31,939 undergraduates. Retention is 90.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 74.2%, reflecting strong degree completion relative to most public research universities. Where University of Colorado Boulder performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Colorado Boulder #228 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $76,850, and earn about $6,505 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Colorado Boulder in the 79.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the dominant program family, and the university's broad mix of business, engineering, and applied-science programs contributes to strong post-graduation earnings across cohorts. The composite is shaped by a more moderate position on access and affordability. University of Colorado Boulder admits about 78.1% of applicants, enrolls 14.5% Pell Grant recipients and 20.4% first-generation students — figures that sit in the 59.2 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 30.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, while mobility outcomes reach the 93.1 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families weighing cost against long-term earnings, the return profile is the clearest strength in .
The University of Kansas prices its education across income levels in a way that reflects its public-university mission. Low-income families pay approximately $14,231 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $18,828, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,818. Azimuth ranks University of Colorado Boulder #988 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The spread across income bands reflects KU's reliance on need-based aid to reduce costs for qualifying families, with the gap between sticker price and net price widening meaningfully for lower-income students. For a fuller picture of how published costs compare with what families actually pay, the net price illusion is worth reviewing before drawing conclusions from the headline cost of attendance. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families pay at the University of Kansas. KU participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply through the FAFSA. The university's public-tuition structure keeps the sticker price lower than at many private institutions, which means the net-price reduction from aid — while real — starts from a more accessible baseline. Families weighing KU's affordability should compare net price by income band rather than focusing on the published cost of attendance, since the two figures can differ substantially depending on household circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $46,340; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the University of Kansas's median four-year earnings of $76,850, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Kansas is a strong fit for students drawn to business, professional, and applied fields who want a large public research university experience in Lawrence, KS, with access to a broad range of programs and a well-established alumni network across the Midwest and beyond. Graduates earn about $6,505 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Colorado Boulder in the 79.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates also earn median 4-year earnings of $76,850, placing University of Colorado Boulder in the 80.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Colorado Boulder enrolls 14.5% of undergraduates who receive Pell Grants and 20.4% who are first-generation college students, reflecting meaningful access for cost-sensitive families. Net price for higher-income families runs around $34,818, and median student debt at graduation is approximately $19,500 — figures that make long-term affordability a realistic consideration for families weighing borrowing against expected earnings. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and related professional fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those pursuing highly specialized or research-intensive disciplines may find a narrower fit. The university admits roughly 78.1% of applicants, making it broadly accessible to most qualified students in CO and the surrounding region.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Colorado Boulder hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
The University of Kansas prices its education across income levels in a way that reflects its public-university mission. Low-income families pay approximately $14,231 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $18,828, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,818.
Azimuth ranks University of Colorado Boulder #988 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The spread across income bands reflects KU's reliance on need-based aid to reduce costs for qualifying families, with the gap between sticker price and net price widening meaningfully for lower-income students.
For a fuller picture of how published costs compare with what families actually pay, the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is worth reviewing before drawing conclusions from the headline cost of attendance. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families pay at the University of Kansas.
KU participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply through the FAFSA. The university's public-tuition structure keeps the sticker price lower than at many private institutions, which means the net-price reduction from aid — while real — starts from a more accessible baseline.
Families weighing KU's affordability should compare net price by income band rather than focusing on the published cost of attendance, since the two figures can differ substantially depending on household circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $46,340; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the University of Kansas's median four-year earnings of $76,850, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn median earnings of $76,850 four years after enrollment, placing University of Colorado Boulder in the 80.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $6,505 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 79.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Colorado Boulder #228 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects a Business-leaning program mix — Business accounts for 15% of degrees, followed by Engineering at 12% and Social Sciences at 12%. Business Administration combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Business Administration #57 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 1,087 graduates earning median earnings of $86,441 four years after enrollment. The Psychology, General program graduates 567 students with median earnings of $56,867, and Azimuth ranks it #101 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Computer Science ranks #65 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 473 graduates earning median earnings of $121,952, while Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication and Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences round out the top programs with median earnings of $74,779 and $71,444 respectively.
Computer Science
473 graduates
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
199 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
26 graduates
Chemical Engineering
47 graduates
Civil Engineering
81 graduates
University of Colorado Boulder's program mix is anchored in Business, with meaningful breadth across engineering, social sciences, and communication fields. Business accounts for 15% of graduates, Engineering for 12%, and Social Sciences for 12% — a distribution that balances applied-professional programs with quantitative and liberal-arts pathways.
Across 61 programs serving roughly 7,268 students annually, 36 meet Azimuth's [ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), and the strongest national positions cluster in business and engineering subfields. Business Administration combines the largest cohort with strong earnings, making it the program that contributes most to University of Colorado Boulder's overall financial profile.
Azimuth ranks Computer Science #65 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 473 graduates earning $121,952. Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering #101 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $93,073, and Azimuth ranks Business Administration #57 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $86,441.
Among the largest programs, Business Administration graduates 1,087 students annually with median earnings of $86,441, and Psychology, General graduates 567 with median earnings of $56,867. Engineering and computer-science programs at University of Colorado Boulder feed high-mobility career pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly, and four-year earnings reflect actual workforce outcomes.
Business-oriented programs — including Computer Science and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication — similarly channel graduates into applied roles with strong early-career pay. Programs like Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences, by contrast, often serve as grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Old Dominion University Similar quality tier (#4309 ranked) | VA | 90% | $54,914 | #4309 | Compare |
University Of New Mexico-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#4306 ranked) | NM | 95% | $44,792 | #4306 | Compare |
Virginia Commonwealth University Similar quality tier (#4313 ranked) | VA | 93% | $58,128 | #4313 | Compare |
University Of Iowa Similar quality tier (#4316 ranked) | IA | 84% | $64,762 | #4316 | Compare |
North Carolina A & T State University Similar quality tier (#4301 ranked) | NC | 50% | $44,440 | #4301 | Compare |
