About

You want to be here.

Discover what's possible at the University of Colorado Boulder, one of the nation’s leading Tier 1 research universities. With 150 master’s, doctoral, and professional degree programs spanning the arts and sciences, business, education, engineering, law, music, and more, CU Boulder offers exceptional opportunities to pursue your passions, advance your expertise, and shape your future.

Join a vibrant community of scholars, researchers, innovators, and creative thinkers from Colorado and around the world. Here, you’ll learn alongside distinguished faculty, engage in groundbreaking research and creative work, and develop the knowledge, skills, and connections to make a meaningful impact in your field and beyond.

Your future starts here.

The Graduate School at the University of Colorado Boulder serves as the intellectual crossroads of the university, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, academic excellence, and innovation. Nearly 6,000 graduate students from around the world pursue graduate certificates, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees across more than 140 programs. Spanning a broad range of disciplines and supported by robust interdisciplinary programs, research centers, and institutes, CU Boulder provides a dynamic and collaborative environment for advanced study, research, and creative work.

Working alongside distinguished faculty and researchers, graduate students develop deep expertise in their chosen fields while gaining the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to become the next generation of scholars, educators, artists, researchers, and leaders. Through rigorous academic preparation, innovative research, and meaningful professional development opportunities, they are equipped to address some of the most complex and pressing challenges facing society.

Committed to advancing the quality and impact of graduate education, the Graduate School provides leadership and guidance on academic excellence and best practices, promotes educational innovation, and supports graduate student success throughout the academic journey. Through strategic initiatives, professional development, and community-building opportunities, the Graduate School cultivates a vibrant, inclusive, and diverse graduate student community where students can thrive academically, professionally, and personally.

The Role of the Graduate School

The Graduate School plays a central role in advancing graduate education at the University of Colorado Boulder. Through academic leadership, strategic planning, advocacy, and collaboration, the Graduate School promotes academic excellence, champions graduate student success, and fosters a vibrant and connected graduate community across disciplines.

Working in partnership with faculty, staff, students, university leadership, and external stakeholders, the Graduate School provides guidance, resources, and support to strengthen graduate education and enhance the graduate student experience.

Our key responsibilities include:

  • Advancing graduate education: Promote the excellence, impact, and value of CU Boulder's graduate education at the local, state, national, and international levels.
  • Ensuring academic quality: Establish and uphold policies, standards, and best practices that support academic rigor, educational innovation, and continuous improvement across graduate programs.
  • Providing strategic leadership: Guide long-term planning, institutional priorities, and initiatives that strengthen graduate education and support the university's academic and research mission.
  • Advocating for graduate students: Partner with Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) and other student organizations to advance graduate student interests, including funding and stipends, health care, well-being, and access to essential support services.
  • Building community and belonging: Foster an inclusive, supportive, and connected graduate student community through engagement, professional development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • Strengthening external partnerships: Represent the interests of CU Boulder's graduate and professional programs with state and federal agencies, national laboratories, industry partners, and the broader community.
  • Supporting academic program development: Collaborate with faculty and academic units on curriculum development, new graduate degrees and certificates, and innovative educational opportunities.
  • Expanding global engagement: Advance international partnerships and initiatives that enrich graduate education and strengthen CU Boulder's global academic community.
  • Securing resources for graduate education: Support fundraising, philanthropic partnerships, and resource development to expand opportunities for graduate students and programs.

Through these efforts, the Graduate School helps ensure that graduate education at CU Boulder remains rigorous, innovative, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving needs of students, academic disciplines, and society.