Hey everyone, I'm trying to decide between attending a school in the CSU system or CU Boulder. Can anyone help me understand how the tuition and fees differ between these two options, or point me in the right direction to find accurate information?
Hello! I'm happy to help you understand the tuition differences between the California State University (CSU) system and the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder). Keep in mind that tuition and fees can vary based on many factors such as residency, choice of major, and financial aid opportunities, so it's important to cross-check the information for the specific CSU you're interested in attending.
For undergraduate in-state students, the CSU system has a base tuition of around $5,742 per academic year. However, additional campus-based fees, which can range from $1,000 to $4,000, may apply depending on the specific CSU campus. So, the total estimated cost could be between $6,742 and $9,742 per academic year for in-state students.
CU Boulder's in-state undergraduate tuition is notably higher, at around $12,500 per academic year. Like with the CSU system, additional campus fees may apply, which are approximately $2,000 at CU Boulder. This brings the total estimated cost for in-state students up to around $14,500 per academic year.
Out-of-state tuition differs significantly for both systems. The CSU system's base out-of-state tuition is around $5,742 per year, plus an additional non-resident fee of $396 per unit, which can add up significantly depending on your course load. For CU Boulder, out-of-state students can expect to pay around $38,000 in tuition per academic year.
These estimates are based on full-time enrollment, so the numbers will vary for part-time students. To get the most accurate information, I recommend visiting the specific CSU campus website's financial aid and tuition fees section, as well as CU Boulder's Bursar's Office website. Don't forget to consider financial aid opportunities, as they can greatly impact the total cost of attendance for each school. Good luck with your decision!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.