University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.
Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
The numbers behind the verdict
Lifetime ROI: the long view
Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.
Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.
Equity & access
Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.
15% gap between the two groups
16% gap between the two groups
10% gap between the two groups
Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.
Net price by family income
What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.
| Family income | Average net price / yr |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30k | $14,231 |
| $30k–$48k | $14,381 |
| $48k–$75k | $18,828 |
| $75k–$110k | $26,915 |
| $110k+ | $34,818 |
How University of Colorado Boulder compares
This college against the Colorado and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.
Graduate earnings over time
Median earnings of University of Colorado Boulder students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.
Best-paying majors at University of Colorado Boulder
Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.
| Major | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | Certificate | $97,334 | — | +1,965% | Strong return |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | Master's | $135,638 | — | +1,688% | Strong return |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Certificate | $88,729 | — | +1,625% | Strong return |
| Economics | Certificate | $87,570 | — | +1,580% | Strong return |
| Psychology, General | Certificate | $81,052 | — | +1,322% | Strong return |
| Computer Science | Associate's | $122,521 | $19,687 | +1,240% | Strong return |
| Engineering Physics | Associate's | $111,748 | — | +1,217% | Strong return |
| Political Science and Government | Certificate | $76,527 | — | +1,144% | Strong return |
| Chemical Engineering | Associate's | $115,257 | $23,650 | +1,085% | Strong return |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Associate's | $107,891 | $19,221 | +990% | Strong return |
| Engineering, General | Certificate | $154,338 | — | +979% | Strong return |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | Master's | $98,889 | — | +963% | Strong return |
| Computer Engineering | Associate's | $107,650 | $23,338 | +958% | Strong return |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | Associate's | $103,431 | $24,500 | +880% | Strong return |
| Applied Mathematics | Associate's | $94,459 | — | +876% | Strong return |
| Communication and Media Studies | Certificate | $69,616 | — | +871% | Strong return |
| Biochemical Engineering | Associate's | $99,194 | $15,516 | +862% | Strong return |
| Computer Science | Certificate | $140,315 | — | +840% | Strong return |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Certificate | $136,752 | — | +805% | Strong return |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Certificate | $67,875 | — | +803% | Strong return |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Certificate | $66,761 | — | +759% | Strong return |
| Architectural Engineering | Associate's | $90,523 | $14,500 | +713% | Strong return |
| Mechanical Engineering | Associate's | $91,715 | $18,958 | +711% | Strong return |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Associate's | $91,156 | $20,500 | +694% | Strong return |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Certificate | $63,656 | — | +636% | Strong return |
Calculate your own ROI
Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.
ROI at University of Colorado Boulder
Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.
Admissions & profile
Location
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.
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