College comparison

CU Boulder vs South Carolina

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	CU Boulder Boulder, CO	South Carolina Columbia, SC
Acceptance rateUniversity of South Carolina-Columbia is more selective	78%	60%
SAT (25–75)	1240–1430	1180–1360
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	31,939	29,820
Avg net price	$25,346	$22,811
Median earnings (10 yr)CU Boulder reports higher median earnings	$69,738	$62,177
Graduation rate	74%	79%
Median debt	$19,500	$21,500
Economic mobility	—	—
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Public

Quick answers

Is University of Colorado Boulder or University of South Carolina-Columbia harder to get into?

University of South Carolina-Columbia is more selective: University of Colorado Boulder's acceptance rate is approximately 78% and University of South Carolina-Columbia's is approximately 60% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for University of Colorado Boulder vs University of South Carolina-Columbia?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1240–1430 at University of Colorado Boulder and 1180–1360 at University of South Carolina-Columbia. 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.