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University of Colorado Boulder
About 2007-2008 Tuition

This website provides general information about changes in tuition rates and major features of 2007-2008 tuition and financial aid.  Tuition rates for all campuses of the University of Colorado were approved at the end of June 2007 by Board of Regent action. 

Detailed tables of tuition and required fees are at the Bursar's Office website.

We are committed to offering a quality education to all students. The tuition we collect will be invested in these efforts.  Besides substantial increases in financial aid to maintain accessibility for Colorado students, new revenues will be used to cover ongoing operating costs and increases in those costs.  Tuition revenues pay for recruiting and retaining an outstanding faculty, library materials and resources, academic advisors, writing and other courses, undergraduate research opportunities, classrooms, buildings and campus infrastructure, and more.

Colorado resident undergraduates

Tuition rates for Colorado resident (in-state) undergraduates changed from 2006-07 with

• an increase in the full-time rate of 19% or $864 per academic year
• a change so that students taking 9 or 10 credit hours in a semester are now charged less than the full-time rate.   The part-time or per-credit-hour rate, for students taking 10 or fewer credit hours, increased 2% or $5 per credit hour
• an increase in the college differential for Engineering; see the section By-college tuition differentials, below.

The above information reflects the student share of tuition. In addition to the student share of tuition, the state of Colorado provides state tax dollar support for higher education at the undergraduate level through the "College Opportunity Fund" or "COF." COF is neither a loan nor financial aid. It is reflected as tuition on the student's bill. The COF voucher amount is worth $89 per credit hour in FY08.

To maintain accessibility, CU-Boulder has implemented three financial aid programs for resident undergraduates for 2007-08: 

• The AY08 Tuition Adjustment.  All undergraduate resident students enrolled for 11 or more credit hours per term will receive a credit of $200 for the year ($100 per term) listed on bills as the AY08 Tuition Adjustment.  This adjustment reduces the change from 2006-07 to under 15%. 
• The Chancellor's Citizenship Scholars Program.  This competitive program awarded $25,000 over four years to each of 25 new freshmen who demonstrate academic excellence, show a commitment to the principles of the Colorado Creed, and contribute to campus diversity. 
• The UCB Tuition Grant.  Resident undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (about 40% of all resident undergraduates) who are enrolled for 10 or more credit hours per term will receive a separate financial aid award listed as the UCB Tuition Grant. This program is as directed in State of Colorado budget legislation signed by the governor in May 2007. These awards, when coupled with the AY08 Tuition Adjustment and other grants and scholarships, will for these students limit to 5% the effective tuition increase from 2006-07 for the same school or college and credit load. The maximum amounts per academic year are listed below; exact amounts will depend on the student's financial need and other grants and scholarships. 
  • Arts and Sciences, Architecture and Planning, and Education $436 ($218/term)
  • Business $816 ($408/term)
  • Engineering $1004 ($502/term)
  • Journalism and Music $458 ($229). 
• Note:  The programs above are for Boulder campus degree-seeking and teacher licensure students.  They are based on credits taken on the main campus only; continuing education hours are not included.  The UCB Tuition Grant is not available to students seeking a second bachelor's degree or to students with under $200 in demonstrated financial need for the academic year after the application of all other aid.  

The AY08 Tuition Adjustment, Chancellor's Citizenship Scholar Program, and UCB Tuition Grant supplement ongoing aid programs including the CU Promise, part of CU's performance contract with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.  The CU Promise covers Colorado undergraduates from families at or below the federal poverty line who enter CU-Boulder as new freshmen or transfers from Colorado community colleges.  For these students, grants plus a work-study award will cover the cost of tuition, required fees and estimated books.  About 60 new students are covered by the CU Promise each year.

As in past years, more than 20% of revenues from increased tuition rates will be used for need-based grants. The programs for 2007-08 will significantly increase the amount of grant aid from institutional funds.

Colorado resident graduate and professional students

Resident graduate tuition rates increased 7% from 2006-07, with an increase in college differentials for Engineering and Law. In addition, Law introduced differential tuition rates for students in their first and second years. See the section By-college tuition differentials, below.

Out of state undergraduates

Tuition rates for undergraduates not classified as Colorado residents for tuition purposes have been covered by the non-resident undergraduate tuition guarantee program since 2005-06. Rates for students entering summer 2007 through spring 2008 are about 5% or $1,130 higher than those for students entering the prior year, with an increase in the college differential for Engineering. Click here for details of the non-resident undergraduate tuition guarantee.  See also the section By-college tuition differentials, below.

The Chancellor's Achievement Scholarship offers $15,000 over four years to the top 25% of out-of-state admitted new freshmen. The program, started in 2005-06, awards $5,000 per year during the freshman and sophomore years and $2,500 per year during junior and senior years.

Presidential Scholars are a select group drawn from Chancellor's Achievement Scholars.  Presidential Scholars receive a $10,000 annual tuition reduction for four years, totaling $40,000. Effective with the 2007-2008 year, the $10,000 will not appear as an award on the student's financial aid award letter.  Instead, it is directly reflected on the Presidential Scholars' tuition bill.   Presidential Scholars' tuition will be $10,000 less per academic year ($5,000 less per term) than what other non-resident undergraduates will be charged. Click here for the Presidential Scholar tuition rate table.  The Presidential Scholar program began in 2006-07.

Out of state graduate and professional students

Tuition rates for graduate students not classified as Colorado residents for tuition purposes increased 1% from 2006-07, with an increase in the college differential for Engineering.  See the section By-college tuition differentials, below.

By-college tuition differentials

The by-college tuition differentials at CU-Boulder have been in place for many years.   The revenue from the differentials supports the cost of education in the college -- faculty, student programs, and other expenses.  The differentials reflect differences in the cost of education, the market worth of the degree, and the popularity of the college.

On all three counts, Law, Business, and Engineering top other colleges at CU-Boulder, and their differentials are accordingly higher. 

• The cost of education is higher because faculty salaries in these fields are higher at CU-Boulder and across the country because these faculty often have viable employment opportunities outside academia at higher pay.

• The market worth of the degree is higher, with higher starting salaries for graduates.

• The popularity is higher, with more applicants per entering-class slot than in other colleges.

The 2007-08 tuition rates reflect greater percentage increases for Engineering (graduate and undergraduate, in-state and out-of-state) and for first-year in-state Law students.

Note: In this text the term “college” refers to both colleges (e.g., College of Engineering) and schools (e.g., Leeds School of Business, Law School). 

Fees and housing 

Individual fees are detailed at the Bursar's Office website. All fees follow the Institutional Plan for Student Fees.  Fees covered by this plan include administrative, student activity, course-specific, program (instructional), and academic facilities capital construction fees.  Mandatory student and administrative fees for full-time students increased 11.8% or $128 per year from 2006-07.

A double room with full meal plan in campus residence halls increased 9.5% or $788 per year.  For more information see Housing and Dining Services.

 Process

Tuition is set within the campus budget planning process and in conjunction with external entities including the Colorado Department of Higher Education (also known as the Colorado Commission on Higher Education or CCHE).  A budget timetable highlights this process. It also  shows activities of the campus, the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) of the legislature, the legislature, the governor, and the University of Colorado Board of Regents. 

Note: The terms "resident" and "in-state" are used interchangeably here, and mean "Colorado resident for tuition purposes."  "Non-resident" and "out-of-state" mean "not a Colorado resident for tuition purposes."

Last revision 03/10/11