University of Colorado—Boulder vs University of Denver

This page compares University of Colorado—Boulder and University of Denver across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 48 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 48 applicants admitted to both schools, 77% chose to attend University of Colorado—Boulder. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Colorado—Boulder is ranked #46 compared to #88 — a gap of 42 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Colorado—Boulder has a median LSAT of 164 compared to 160, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of Colorado—Boulder face a more competitive admissions pool.

Both schools are located in Colorado — University of Colorado—Boulder in Boulder and University of Denver in Denver — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

On cost, University of Colorado—Boulder has lower tuition at $35,992 per year compared to $63,390. Combined with employment rates of 89.9% (CUBoulder) and 82.3% (DU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Denver offered a median scholarship of $97,500 compared to $51,500, a difference of $46,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.