Admission & test scores

University of Colorado Boulder SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1240–1430 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 28. University of Colorado Boulder admits 78% of applicants — largely open. 90% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1240–1430middle half of admits

ACT midpoint28admitted students

Acceptance rate78%largely open

First-year retention90%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile

1240

Average

1357

75th percentile

1430

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1240 and a quarter above 1430. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 31,939.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

University	Avg SAT	ACT	Acceptance	In-state tuition
Chapman University Orange, California	1357	29	65%	$64,984
Emerson College Boston, Massachusetts	1358	30	51%	$57,056
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California	1359	30	45%	$62,357
University of Denver Denver, Colorado	1355	29	78%	$61,398
United States Military Academy West Point, New York	1355	31	12%	—
Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina	1353	30	38%	$15,554

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

University of Colorado Boulder admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for University of Colorado Boulder?

The middle half of admitted students scored between 1240 and 1430 on the SAT, with an average of 1357. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.

What ACT score does University of Colorado Boulder require?

The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 28.

How hard is it to get into University of Colorado Boulder?

University of Colorado Boulder admits 78% of applicants, which is largely open. Of those who enrol, 90% return for a second year.

Does University of Colorado Boulder require SAT or ACT scores?

This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.

What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.