Creativity Makes Us Boulder.

Creativity isn't just an art thing—it's the mindset behind every discovery. CU Boulder is one of only 38 public research universities in the AAU, home to 5 Nobel laureates, 5 National Medal of Science winners and 12 MacArthur "genius grant" fellows—proof that big ideas and creative thinking go hand in hand. Whether you're in a lab, a design studio or a rehearsal hall, creativity is less about what you study and more about how you think.

Ask students and you'll get a different answer every time. As Faith puts it: "Even if there's something that doesn't sound creative at first, like a poli sci major—maybe you're doing math and econ—people really bring out the creative side. There's so much art happening around our campus, so many performances. Everywhere you look, there's something bringing to life the color and amazingness of all of us trying to find creativity together." Camden adds: "Everybody is creative in their own right, and two different people are going to be completely different about how they're going to be creative. CU really empowers everybody to find their way of being creative—and that makes all of us better."

Yes. CU Boulder is one of only 38 public research universities in the Association of American Universities (AAU) and holds the Carnegie R1 designation for the highest level of research activity. With 88 research centers, 12 research institutes and sponsored research funding reaching $766.7 million in fiscal year 2024–25, students can turn creative ideas into real research—right alongside faculty doing the same.

Boulder is a city built for people who like to make things happen. Crowdspring ranked it the #2 town for entrepreneurs in the country, and with the Flatirons as a backdrop and miles of trails just outside campus, outdoor adventure and big ideas go hand in hand here. The creative energy runs deep, too—CU Boulder is home to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and CU Boulder will serve as an official host venue for the 2027 Sundance Film Festival. It's a fitting full-circle moment: Sundance Institute founder Robert Redford attended CU Boulder from 1954 to 1956. It's no accident Travel + Leisure named CU Boulder the #3 most beautiful college campus in the U.S.—this place inspires the kind of thinking that doesn't happen in a typical classroom.

With 250+ degree programs, 83 minors and 5,200+ courses across 160 fields of study, students have endless room to combine disciplines and build their own path. Add in 88 research centers and hands-on studio, lab and makerspace access, and creative thinking isn't just encouraged—it's built into how CU Boulder works.