University of Colorado Boulder Rankings

University of Colorado Boulder is one of the more well-regarded public research universities in the U.S. THE ranks it 159th globally and QS puts it at 299. Both numbers have stayed reasonably consistent over the past few years. 

Nationally, U.S. News places it 97th among National Universities and 46th among public universities. Not a bad spot for a state flagship competing against well funded private institutions. 

In the sections below, we'll take a closer look at the University of Colorado Boulder rankings, how they have changed over time, and how the university performs across different subjects.  

University of Colorado Boulder in QS, THE, and U.S. News Rankings 

University of Colorado Boulder sits in a fairly consistent spot across all three major ranking systems, though the numbers differ by platform since each one measures different things. 

QS 2026 puts it at number 299 globally.  

THE has it at 159 and U.S. News places it at 107 globally, 97th among National Universities, and 46th among public universities. 

Here is how the numbers have moved over recent years: 

Read all about the Admissions at University of Colorado Boulder.  

University of Colorado Boulder Subject-Wise Rankings 

Overall rankings give a starting point but subject rankings tell a more specific story. University of Colorado Boulder holds particularly strong positions in physical sciences, earth sciences, and environmental studies across all three major ranking bodies, often placing well above where the overall rank would suggest. 

Here is how University of Colorado Boulder performs across subjects in each of the three major ranking bodies. 

QS Subject-Wise Rankings of University of Colorado Boulder (2026) 

Earth sciences are where University of Colorado Boulder stands out most in QS 2026. Geology and Geophysics both sit at number 8 globally. Earth and Marine Sciences follows at number 11. These are verified directly from CU Boulder's official news release published March 25, 2026. 

The table below covers QS subject wise rankings of University of Colorado Boulder for 2026: 

THE Subject-Wise Rankings of University of Colorado Boulder (2026) 

Physical Sciences is the standout for University of Colorado Boulder in THE, sitting at number 51 globally. That is one of its strongest single subject placements across any ranking body. Education and Engineering also perform well, both sitting within the top 125 and 150 respectively. 

The table below covers THE subject wise rankings of University of Colorado Boulder for 2026, verified directly from timeshighereducation.com: 

U.S. News Subject-Wise Rankings of University of Colorado Boulder (2026) 

U.S. News gives the most detailed subject picture for University of Colorado Boulder. Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences sits at number 3 globally, which is one of the strongest single subject placements across all three ranking bodies. Geosciences at number 7 and Space Science at number 41 also reflect the university's deep strength in earth and space related research. 

The table below covers U.S. News global subject wise rankings of University of Colorado Boulder for 2026: 

Check out all Courses at University of Colorado Boulder.  

University of Colorado Boulder Excellence and Achievements 

The rankings have real backing behind them. University of Colorado Boulder holds R1 Carnegie classification, the highest research activity level, and sits in the Association of American Universities, which is invitation only and includes some of the most research active institutions in North America. 

The numbers speak for themselves: 

• 5 Nobel Prize winners connected to the university 
• 5 National Medal of Science winners 
• 12 MacArthur Fellows 
• 3 U.S. Supreme Court justices among alumni 
• 18 astronauts connected to CU Boulder 

Close partnerships with NASA, NOAA, NIST, and the U.S. Department of Energy also feed directly into its research output and subject rankings. 

Miscellaneous Rankings of University of Colorado Boulder 

University of Colorado Boulder shows up consistently across several other ranking systems beyond QS, THE, and U.S. News. These cover research output, citation impact, sustainability, and overall academic reputation, and together they give a more complete picture of where the university actually stands globally. 

The table below covers additional ranking positions for University of Colorado Boulder across major platforms 

University of Colorado Boulder Rankings vs Acceptance Rate 

University of Colorado Boulder sits at around 80% acceptance rate overall, which makes it one of the more accessible public research universities in the U.S. That said, the number shifts quite a bit depending on the program. Geology, geophysics, aerospace engineering, and physics draw much stronger applicant pools given where they rank globally and nationally. 

The table below covers how program level rankings compare against admission competition at University of Colorado Boulder: 

 Strong programs, reasonable overall admission rate. For most students the challenge is not getting in, it is getting into the specific program they are targeting.  

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