University of Colorado Tuition 2026: Costs, Fees & Aid Guide

🦬 University of Colorado tuition 2026-2027

University of Colorado Tuition 2026: Costs, Fees, Aid, Housing, Payment Plan and Net Price Guide

ā€œUniversity of Colorado tuitionā€ can mean CU Boulder, CU Denver, UCCS or CU Anschutz. Most searchers mean CU Boulder, so this guide gives the official CU Boulder 2026-2027 undergraduate numbers first, then adds campus comparison notes.

For CU Boulder Fall 2026 and Spring 2027, Colorado resident undergraduate tuition and fees start at $15,014 per year. Nonresident tuition and fees start at $46,058, and international tuition and fees start at $48,222.

The on-campus billed-style estimate with books and housing/food is $35,456–$41,696 for Colorado residents, $66,500–$70,608 for nonresidents, and $68,664–$72,766 for international students, depending on tuition tier.

$15,014+

CU Boulder 2026-2027 Colorado resident undergraduate tuition and fees.

$46,058+

CU Boulder nonresident undergraduate tuition and fees.

$19,242

CU Boulder on-campus housing and food estimate for Fall/Spring.

001370

CU Boulder FAFSA school code for financial aid.

Quick answer: what should a CU Boulder student budget?

Use the correct tuition tier first. Base-rate Arts & Humanities, Education, Music, Open Option, Exploratory Studies and Social Sciences students have the lowest listed undergraduate rate.

CU Boulder 2026-2027 fast planning estimate with on-campus housing and food
Student type Lowest listed tuition/fees Books On-campus housing/food Lowest listed total
Colorado resident undergraduate $15,014 $1,200 $19,242 $35,456
Nonresident undergraduate $46,058 $1,200 $19,242 $66,500
International undergraduate $48,222 $1,200 $19,242 $68,664
Important: These CU Boulder totals include tuition, mandatory fees, books, and on-campus housing/food. They do not include every indirect cost such as personal expenses, transportation, medical insurance, one-time new-student fees, immigration compliance fees, or optional charges.

University of Colorado tuition guide quick navigation

CU Boulder tuition and fees 2026-2027: official undergraduate cost tiers

CU Boulder uses tuition tiers because some programs cost more to deliver. The base-rate group is the lowest listed undergraduate cost; Business is listed as Tier 4.

CU Boulder 2026-2027 undergraduate cost — Fall and Spring combined
Tuition tier Colorado resident tuition & fees Resident total with books + on-campus housing/food Nonresident tuition & fees Nonresident total with books + on-campus housing/food Common program examples
Base Rate $15,014 $35,456 $46,058 $66,500 Arts & Humanities, Education, Music, Open Option, Exploratory Studies, Social Sciences.
Tier 2 $17,030 $37,472 $48,106 $68,548 Communication, Media, Design and Information.
Tier 3 $19,070 $39,512 $49,798 $70,240 Engineering, Natural Sciences, and some partnership cases.
Tier 4 $21,254 $41,696 $50,166 $70,608 Business.
Official CU Boulder details used: 2026-2027 tuition and fee rates are for full-time undergraduate enrollment. A one-time $232 new domestic student fee is not included. Costs can vary by residency, credit hours and area of study.
Open CU Boulder Undergraduate Cost

CU Boulder international undergraduate tuition 2026-2027

International students use a separate tuition table. CU Boulder also notes that a one-time new international student fee and immigration compliance fee are not included in the main cost table.

CU Boulder 2026-2027 international undergraduate cost — Fall and Spring combined
Tuition tier International tuition & fees Books On-campus housing/food Total shown by CU Boulder
Base Rate $48,222 $1,200 $19,242 $68,664
Tier 2 $50,154 $1,200 $19,242 $70,596
Tier 3 $51,834 $1,200 $19,242 $72,276
Tier 4 $52,324 $1,200 $19,242 $72,766
International add-ons: CU Boulder notes that a one-time $500 new international student fee and an $40 per-semester Immigration Compliance Fee are not included in the listed international cost table.

University of Colorado campus comparison: Boulder, Denver, UCCS and Anschutz

If your search means the University of Colorado system, do not use one campus price for every campus. Tuition and cost rules vary by campus and program.

University of Colorado campus cost comparison notes
Campus What to know Useful official detail Best page to check
CU Boulder Flagship undergraduate campus; most ā€œUniversity of Colorado tuitionā€ searches point here. Resident tuition/fees start at $15,014; nonresident starts at $46,058 for 2026-2027. CU Boulder undergraduate cost
CU Denver Urban Denver campus; tuition varies by college and residency. 2026-2027 resident tuition after COF is listed at $10,008, plus general fees and living costs in the COA table. CU Denver cost of attendance
UCCS Colorado Springs campus; lower-division, upper-division and college/program rates can differ. UCCS says WUE students pay 150% of the in-state tuition rate and lists WUE tuition/fees at $24,174 for 15 credit hours. UCCS WUE cost
CU Anschutz Health sciences campus; mostly program-specific tuition. Medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dental and graduate program costs use separate tables. CU Anschutz tuition and fees
Searcher tip: Use ā€œUniversity of Colorado tuitionā€ for the system overview, but use ā€œCU Boulder tuition,ā€ ā€œCU Denver tuition,ā€ ā€œUCCS tuition,ā€ or ā€œCU Anschutz tuitionā€ when comparing actual bills.

Colorado resident vs nonresident tuition: why the price changes so much

Residency classification is the biggest tuition driver for undergraduate students. Colorado resident students also need to complete College Opportunity Fund steps when eligible.

Residency effect at CU Boulder for 2026-2027
Residency type Lowest listed tuition/fees Highest listed tuition/fees What to check
Colorado resident $15,014 $21,254 Residency classification, COF application, COF authorization, tuition tier.
Nonresident $46,058 $50,166 Flat-rate tuition guarantee, tuition tier, scholarships, payment plan.
International $48,222 $52,324 International fee, immigration compliance fee, health insurance, I-20 funding estimate.
COF warning: CU Boulder says eligible Colorado resident undergraduates must apply for and authorize the College Opportunity Fund. If COF is not completed, the student may be responsible for the total in-state tuition rather than the student-share amount.

CU Boulder tuition guarantee: what it means for 2026 students

CU Boulder’s undergraduate tuition guarantee is designed to make tuition more predictable across four years.

Colorado residents

CU Boulder says resident undergraduates are placed in a cohort with the same tuition and mandatory fee schedule for four consecutive years.

Nonresident and international students

CU Boulder offers a four-year flat-rate tuition guarantee for nonresident and international undergraduates.

Why it matters

Families can plan future tuition more confidently, but housing, food, insurance and other costs may still change.

Special cases

Dual-degree students may be charged the higher tuition rate, and transfer/partnership situations can have different rules.

CU Boulder housing and food 2026-2027: what to add to tuition

Housing and food can change your real cost as much as tuition tier. CU Boulder’s on-campus figure is based on a standard double room and 19 meals per week.

CU Boulder housing and food estimates for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027
Living situation Per semester Per year Practical note
Undergraduate on-campus housing and food $9,621 $19,242 Based on standard double room and 19 meals per week.
Undergraduate off-campus housing and food $9,270 $18,540 Estimate for off-campus living; actual rent can vary widely.
Undergraduate living with parents $5,890 $11,780 Lower living-cost estimate for commuter-style budgeting.

Other CU Boulder room options listed per semester

Bunked roommates + community bath

$8,280 per semester with 19 meals per week.

Standard double + community bath

$9,621 per semester with 19 meals per week.

Individual space + community bath

$10,626 per semester with 19 meals per week.

Roommate(s) + apartment

$10,929 per semester with 19 meals per week.

Financial aid, FAFSA, COF and scholarships at CU Boulder

The billed cost is not always the final family cost. CU Boulder students should check FAFSA, scholarships, College Opportunity Fund, loans, work-study, payment plan and direct deposit.

FAFSA 001370

Use CU Boulder’s school code on the FAFSA.

March 15

Most CU Boulder Scholarship Application opportunities have a March 15 due date.

$116 per credit

2026-2027 COF stipend amount for eligible Colorado resident undergraduates.

Buff Portal

Use Buff Portal for student bill, aid tasks, payer setup and payment plan steps.

CU Boulder aid and cost-reduction checklist
Aid or cost item Why it matters Action
FAFSA Needed for federal aid and many financial aid reviews. Use CU Boulder school code 001370.
CU Boulder Scholarship Application Most scholarships inside the application use a March 15 deadline. Apply early and check transfer deadlines separately.
College Opportunity Fund Reduces eligible Colorado resident undergraduate tuition share. Apply and authorize COF; do not assume it is automatic.
Federal loans Students are considered for Direct Loans after FAFSA if enrolled at least half-time. Review loan amount before accepting; borrow only what is needed.
Parent PLUS changes Federal borrowing rules changed for first-time borrowers after July 1, 2026. Families should verify annual and aggregate limits before relying on PLUS loans.
Refunds Aid refunds can happen after overpayment, aid disbursement or schedule changes. Set up direct deposit for faster refund access.
Official aid links: Net Price Calculator Ā· FAFSA Help Ā· Undergraduate Loans

CU Boulder health insurance: hidden cost students should check

CU Boulder requires students to have a complete medical insurance policy. Students must complete the health insurance requirement at the beginning of every academic year.

CU Boulder health insurance and waiver details for 2026-2027
Item Cost / deadline What to do
Anthem Student Health Insurance Plan $2,648 per semester Waive by deadline if you have qualifying private insurance.
BuffCare Supplemental Coverage $270 per semester Optional supplemental coverage for some students with private insurance.
Fall 2026 open enrollment deadline Sept. 1, 2026 Complete insurance selection before deadline.
Fall 2026 tuition/fee bill deadline Sept. 5, 2026 If not waived, SHIP can appear on tuition bill and be due with balance.
Money warning: Do not ignore health insurance emails or Buff Portal To-Do items. If you do not waive or enroll by the published deadline, you may be automatically enrolled and charged for SHIP.
Open CU Boulder Health Insurance

How to pay University of Colorado Boulder tuition: Buff Portal, CUBill&Pay and payment plans

CU Boulder bills online. Students use Buff Portal; authorized payers use CUBill&Pay. Parents do not automatically get access unless the student authorizes them.

Open Buff Portal Students should view charges, aid, payment plan options and insurance tasks in Buff Portal.
Add authorized payers if parents will help Students can authorize payers in CUBill&Pay to view and pay the bill.
Review charges before paying Check tuition tier, housing/food, books, insurance, New Student Fee, COF, scholarships, loans and refunds.
Choose payment method CU Boulder lists eCheck, credit/debit card, 529 college savings plan, payment plans, third-party sponsors and international payments as options.
Use a payment plan if needed Fall 2026 payment plans divide the bill into 5, 4, 3 or 2 payments depending on enrollment date.
Save proof Keep confirmations, bank records, 529 records, scholarship documents and screenshots until the bill shows paid.
CU Boulder Fall 2026 payment plan dates
Enrollment opens Deadline to enroll Number of payments Payment processing dates
June 5 Aug. 4 5 Aug. 5, Sept. 5, Oct. 5, Nov. 5, Dec. 5
June 5 Sept. 4 4 Sept. 5, Oct. 5, Nov. 5, Dec. 5
Sept. 9 Oct. 4 3 Oct. 5, Nov. 5, Dec. 5
Oct. 9 Nov. 4 2 Nov. 5, Dec. 5
Official payment links: Payment Options Ā· Payment Plans Ā· Billing Due Dates

CU Boulder Fall 2026 billing dates students should not miss

CU Boulder says payment is due by 11:59 p.m. and postmarks or post-dated checks are not honored. There is no grace period.

Fall 2026 CU Boulder billing and payment timing
Payment due Bill activity covered Bill date Action
Sept. 5, 2026 On or before Aug. 11, 2026 Late Aug. 13, 2026 Pay full balance or be enrolled in payment plan.
Oct. 5, 2026 Aug. 12–Sept. 8, 2026 Sept. 10, 2026 Pay new/unpaid charges.
Nov. 5, 2026 Sept. 9–Oct. 13, 2026 Oct. 15, 2026 Check added fees, schedule changes or insurance.
Dec. 5, 2026 Oct. 14–Nov. 10, 2026 Nov. 12, 2026 Clear remaining fall balance.
Deadline warning: Do not wait until the night of the due date if you need COF, aid, insurance waiver, 529 payment, outside scholarship or authorized-payer setup corrected.

Before choosing a University of Colorado campus: cost checklist by student type

Colorado resident

Check residency, COF application, COF authorization, tuition tier, scholarship deadline, payment plan and health insurance waiver.

Out-of-state student

Compare CU Boulder’s nonresident total with CU Denver, UCCS WUE, scholarships and housing. Nonresident tuition is the biggest cost driver.

International student

Add international fee, immigration compliance fee, health insurance, travel, visa-related costs and living expenses beyond the tuition table.

Parent payer

Ask the student to add you as an authorized payer. CU Boulder does not automatically give parents bill access.

University of Colorado Boulder tuition contacts, address and map

Use the Bursar for billing and payment. Use Financial Aid for FAFSA, aid offers, loans, scholarships and cost-of-attendance questions.

CU Boulder Bursar’s Office

Best for: tuition bill, payment plan, CUBill&Pay, refunds, billing dates, housing/food charges, insurance billing.

Email: bursar@colorado.edu

Phone: 303-492-5381

Front desk: Regent Administrative Center, room 175.

Open CU Boulder Bursar

CU Boulder Office of Financial Aid

Best for: FAFSA, aid offers, loans, scholarship application, special circumstances and net price.

FAFSA code: 001370

Scholarship application: many opportunities due March 15.

Open CU Boulder Financial Aid

Before contacting CU Boulder: Keep your student ID, Buff Portal screenshot, bill date, due date, residency status, COF status, aid offer, payment confirmation and insurance selection ready.

CU Boulder campus map

University of Colorado tuition checklist before paying

Confirm the campus CU Boulder, CU Denver, UCCS and CU Anschutz do not use one identical tuition table.
Confirm residency and tier At CU Boulder, Colorado resident tuition starts at $15,014, but tier 4 resident tuition and fees are $21,254.
Complete COF if Colorado resident Apply for and authorize COF so the stipend can reduce eligible resident undergraduate tuition.
Use FAFSA code 001370 Add CU Boulder to your FAFSA if you want aid considered there.
Check health insurance Complete the insurance requirement by Sept. 1, 2026 to avoid unwanted SHIP billing.
Pay or enroll in plan before due date Fall 2026 payment is due Sept. 5 for charges billed in August unless you are properly enrolled in a payment plan.

FAQs about University of Colorado tuition 2026

How much is University of Colorado tuition in 2026-2027?

For CU Boulder, Colorado resident undergraduate tuition and fees range from $15,014 to $21,254. Nonresident tuition and fees range from $46,058 to $50,166.

What is CU Boulder in-state tuition?

CU Boulder 2026-2027 in-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $15,014 for base-rate programs, $17,030 for Tier 2, $19,070 for Tier 3, and $21,254 for Tier 4.

What is CU Boulder out-of-state tuition?

CU Boulder 2026-2027 nonresident undergraduate tuition and fees are $46,058 for base-rate programs, $48,106 for Tier 2, $49,798 for Tier 3, and $50,166 for Tier 4.

How much is CU Boulder tuition with room and board?

CU Boulder’s 2026-2027 resident on-campus totals range from $35,456 to $41,696 depending on tuition tier. Nonresident totals range from $66,500 to $70,608.

What is CU Boulder room and board?

CU Boulder lists undergraduate on-campus housing and food at $9,621 per semester or $19,242 per year for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027.

What is CU Boulder international tuition?

CU Boulder 2026-2027 international undergraduate tuition and fees range from $48,222 to $52,324 depending on tuition tier.

Does CU Boulder have a tuition guarantee?

Yes. CU Boulder provides a tuition guarantee for undergraduate students. Resident cohorts receive predictable tuition and mandatory fees for four consecutive years, while nonresident and international students have a flat-rate tuition guarantee.

What is CU Boulder’s FAFSA code?

CU Boulder’s FAFSA school code is 001370.

Can CU Boulder tuition be paid monthly?

Yes. CU Boulder offers interest-free payment plans. Fall 2026 payment plans can have 5, 4, 3 or 2 payments depending on enrollment timing.

What is CU Boulder health insurance cost?

For 2026-2027, CU Boulder lists Anthem Student Health Insurance Plan at $2,648 per semester and BuffCare Supplemental Coverage at $270 per semester.

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