College comparison

Purdue vs CU Boulder

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	Purdue West Lafayette, IN	CU Boulder Boulder, CO
Acceptance ratePurdue University-Main Campus is more selective	50%	78%
SAT (25–75)	1200–1480	1240–1430
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	44,503	31,939
Avg net price	$14,600	$25,346
Median earnings (10 yr)Purdue reports higher median earnings	$72,424	$69,738
Graduation rate	83%	74%
Median debt	$19,500	$19,500
Economic mobility	—	—
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Public

Quick answers

Is Purdue University-Main Campus or University of Colorado Boulder harder to get into?

Purdue University-Main Campus is more selective: Purdue University-Main Campus's acceptance rate is approximately 50% and University of Colorado Boulder's is approximately 78% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for Purdue University-Main Campus vs University of Colorado Boulder?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1200–1480 at Purdue University-Main Campus and 1240–1430 at University of Colorado Boulder. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.