University of Colorado Boulder Reviews

"CU Boulder while reputable for sciences and engineering falls short for business degree students. This school is largely pretentious, expensive, and inflexible. Their MBA program is trying too hard to be a top 10 level school when it's top 100 at best. The Leeds School of Business behind closed doors is struggling to determine what its curriculum should be to position students well. My class in 2019 had a near 100% fail rate for some exams in a class titled "Data and Decisions"--after a 4 day crash course on fundamental statistics that was supposed to prepare us for top level business management. Leeds doesn't equip students with resources to land jobs. They market their program as "the Green MBA" pushing jobs in sustainability. This is a complete joke. The only real value is the job boards that one can easily find on their one. The curriculum and the aim in finding a job in sustainability is very much a build-your-own-adventure with little direction provided by the faculty or staff. As for alumni? Don't count on great alumni engagement post graduation unless it involves asking you for donations for their already overpriced tuition. Their staff won't help you find jobs if you find yourself unemployed. In fact, they'll probably disable your colorado.edu email without giving you any forewarning (this happened to me recently). Their customer service is weak--a friend of mine in the program who lost his home in the Marshall Fire requested to have his diploma replaced. Instead of offering basic condolences, they said they would replace the diploma for a standard cost of $50. Most decent businesses would have waived this cost considering the tragedy of the Marshall Fire hit so close to home for CO residents. The Deming Center for entrepreneurship? Also a joke full of staff who gloat about "knowing every business owner in the area" and then proceed to never connect you with anyone. I landed a prestigious internship at Tesla--a place no Leeds student had ever been able land a job and had 8,000 applicants--that required me to take a leave of absence. Instead of being excited for opportunities for me as a student and for the future of their alumni network, they forced me to take a full year leave of absence, took away my scholarships and fellowship, and generally made the entire process for getting readmitted as difficult and expensive as they could make it. There was no room for flexibility. What's more? They were still sending students my way asking me to support referrals and letters of recommendation to help their network at Tesla. At best, CU Boulder's business school is an overpriced money pit that races through coursework and leaves students floundering to figure out their own path to success. They're at least 10 years behind in valuable curriculum that's applicable to real world business ventures. Save yourself a lot of wasted time and energy and avoid this business school."

"I'm a parent who attended CU and made the mistake of sending one of my kids to the school (2021). Over the years it's become a very poorly managed, third-rate educational institution. Professors don't teach the courses; they instead use third rate hack $50K a year Teaching Assistants who often times don't even have their PhD's in the topic they're overseeing (teaching wouldn't be the appropriate term) - this is how they save money on your over-inflated tuition dime. Most of the courses are taught by Zoom call (essentially a poor man's online course), and their administration has no control over the functioning of the University - they're a completely unorganized train wreck. The Teaching Assistants don't have to have a spine and speak to the tuition paying students, after all, a Zoom call that is poorly executed or was recorded 4 years ago should be sufficient. They hide behind these ridiculous processes like pathetic cowards, not educators. They don't have any accountability to the students and rarely if ever respond when a student requests help - these types of processes remove all accountability from the make-believe educators and pave the way for the worst teaching skill sets available. Most of them don't even report to the University, they work from home full-time so they're not even at the University to teach an in-person course. So why would a parent pay $18K+ a semester to have their kid take poorly developed online classes from their dorm room? It's a fool's investment. I have two other kids who recently graduated from CSU and UNC, both schools provided a far superior educational experience, as well as the more traditional overall experience most of us parents remember during our college days. I had no choice but to transfer my kid to CSU where she is thriving and will be graduating in 2025. CU sells the school on what we as parents remember from our experiences 30+ years ago, but those days are in the history books. That school, and those experiences do not exist any longer; it's an embarrassment. The school has even contracted with an online sports book (PointsBet). They receive over $1M upfront plus $30 for each new referral...i.e., students. They are selling out the entire student body for profit, as if the highly over-inflated tuition and the tax exemptions which come from being an "educational institution" aren't enough. I'm sure every parent wants their student to learn how to gamble while attending college; pathetic. Send your kids to get a real education at one of the many other Universities in the State if in-state tuition is important, don't waste your time with CU. It's upsetting to see what has happened to a school where I had many good memories, but like so many things in our world today...buyer beware. The school has reduced itself to nothing more than lipstick on a pig."

"I transferred to CU Boulder from several schools (my dad did not understand how college worked and I finally paid for college myself and moved to CO then transferred to CU). So my path is not traditional but it is filled with a lot of wisdom in the form of comparison! I loved loved loved CU. Yes it was hard, but with work and dedication I easily had some of the top grades even outside of business. You have to actually try at CU and sometimes try hard. And most of the teachers were great. Most of the students were also great - a few lazy idiots. But most of the business students were admirable and smart. Yes the campus is beautiful. I found things to do on campus to be lacking but I did not care because I was off campus and older than other students. I thought that it was wonderful to get a liberal perspective after being at conservative schools prior and the business school did a nice job of marrying both liberal and conservative. I had one finance 101 teacher who encouraged cheating, and that struck me as odd. I had one bad experience with a business ethics professor who was UNETHICAL. And i had several bad experiences with the career center. I even caught one recruiter lying about a job she had- I turned her into the director of the career center only for the director to be angry at me! I think they were in cahoots and I spoiled her little plan. It is not ok to have third party recruiters and I caught her having 3rd party recruiters!!! It took me a long time to figure out why she would be mad at me! So I did not trust their office and never went back. But everyone else was truly amazing. I highly recommend CU. Most people fail out because it is HARD to get an A because of grading with curves. Most of my classes were curved, making it super hard to get an A. That is why most people fail out of CU because they dont realize how much work it takes to get an A. Regarding the classes. They are all easy IF you take notes and study. It was the happiest time of my life. I am so glad I chose to go there. I recommend it over all the other schools I attended except Yale. I also found CU’s network to be strong and loyal but it did not help me when I moved to the south with my husband. In fact southerners were anti CU. I was not considered one of them until I earned a masters degree and graduated 2nd in my class from a southern university. Only then was i given the time of day here. So point being their name goes far but it was not useful in the south. So unless you are planning to move to AL (which I do not recommend for the tornadoes alone) then I say - go there, work your ass off, and graduate! Go Buffs! If you do not want to work hard, don’t go. If you need lots of help, get a tutor from day 1. This is a research university like any large state school. The teachers are not there to tutor you. If you don’t like studying and are just an average student, do not go to CU. It has a reputation of being s party school from days old, but the truth of that is long gone."

"DO NOT attend CU Boulder for you Masters degree in English and Literature. I cannot emphasize this enough. My experience follows as such: The professors and faculty are nice enough but there is so much institutional pressure on them to get their works published for a slim chance of tenure that you, as a graduate student take back, back, back seat to their priorities. Most of the lectures I have had have been a total mess not only for me but others in my cohort. Feedback is blinkered at best and the lessons are in a complete disarray. If you are seeking a TA position well… good luck, they offer one every semester so you’ll have to fight someone for it. You enter a graduate program expecting a more focused outlook on the career you’re trying to establish and the person you’re trying to become within that. This program does not care for that and just wants you to spend your nonexistent money so they can do this all over again to another cohort. Take your debt and your time anywhere else…please."

"We are really disappointed at this school's total lack of caring for their students during the pandemic and beyond. Obviously the pandemic set up a poor learning environment, but with no refunds for room/board when I was kicked out of the dorms in 2020 is a complete rip-off (there is a class action suit ongoing). CU Boulder also charged me an extra cleaning fee of $500 on top of the zero refund for the Spring 2020 semester. The online learning is naturally not what we were paying for and is not a good value proposition (especially for an out of stater). We got charged for a bunch of on campus fees when we were not able to step one foot on the campus. Also, we tried to use the school's grade replacement, but apparently there was a form that we did not know needed to be filled out so they will not replace the grade for us or provide a refund or anything else. Basically, all we get is sorry you didn't follow the process and oh well if advising did not tell you about this process step (which is completely ridiculous in the first place). So now we paid for a class twice that I do not need and I still both grades in my GPA calc. BE AWARE as well that if you do not waive health insurance (every semester) they will charge you nearly $2000 a semester - again ridiculous, we provided all of the information freshman year and it is incomprehensible to do this every semester. We are going to transfer to a school that is not so full of red tape and cares to work with the students to be successful, not a school that overcharges and PROUDLY stands behind unnecessary bureaucracy. We thought Colorado was a state that cared about people and doing the right thing, we were mistaken."

"CU Boulder's SLP Master's program is incredibly problematic. The faculty do not support or respect the students. There have been multiple acts of discrimination from faculty towards students. Faculty violate ASHA standards to increase clinic profits."

"This school is alright. The main problem I had was with the Office of the registrar. Beth Hesterman was rude, condescending, and had the worst social skills ever. We mainly had e-mail contact and even then she was completely unprofessional. Ultimately I decided to go to this school and once I was accepted and I didn't have to deal with Beth anymore, my experience got a lot better. My advice is to try and get a different Registrar Staff member to help, because Beth is the worst and will make your experience awful."

"The lack of diversity at this campus left something to be desired, but the academic staff were very supportive and well-read. The cultural climate of the time allowed for a very relaxed tone, except for finals. Refuse the hedonism that loans may offer you, and instead restrict yourself to their financial study and the belt-tightening that will only build great habits regarding all other aspects of finance. All in all, it was a complicated time full of fun, games, cheap and greasy snacks, and wild antics typical of teenagers and wanton, crazed bachelors of all types. Boulder was wild, but always rife with lessons in a given subject, or of human nature, behaviors, and contradictions."

"I attended the University of Colorado because it was my state school- more affordable, and I would have family and friends nearby. Honestly, CU was not a great fit for me personally. It is a very large school, around 30,000 students, and has a pretty strong "party" culture. Both of these things were hard for me, being an introverted bookworm. However, within the Ethnic Studies department, I found much closer community than was available in the general culture of CU. Indeed, there are pockets around the campus of closer-knit community, and more academically focused socializing opportunities. As far as academics, I had some really wonderful science and ethnic studies professors, specifically Dr. West in the physics department and Dr, Sohi, Dr. Rabaka, Dr. Maeda in ethnic studies. I would recommend the Ethnic Studies department whole-heartedly, and the general school of CU with some reservations. But ultimately, college is what you make it and you will learn no matter what."

"The University of Colorado was a great school for me. I really enjoyed the outdoor lifestyle and the community surrounding the campus. I think the business school was taking significant strides to become a competitive program, but they werent there yet. While the program had great career resources and lots of extracurricular activities that benefitted the student body, I think the teachers themselves were lacking. I only encountered two professors who I felt were truly passionate about their work, which made it difficult for students to be motivated to learn. I think that as the business school continues to improve and become established, there will be more reputable teachers who will be able to inspire students. Since the University of Colorado is a larger school, I did thoroughly enjoy my elective courses because there was a great variety to choose from, allowing me to pick classes that truly interested me and enriched my education. As for the food, the dining hall is amazing! I visited many friends at their respective schools and I never encountered a dining hall that was better than the University of Colorados. Overall, very happy with my experience at the school and I would encourage anyone to attend. Just make sure to stay self-motivated and dont let yourself get too wrapped up with all that Boulder has to offer. It is hard to focus on schoolwork when the mountains are just a stones throw away. If it was a nice day out, many people would skip class to go for a hike, and trust me, it is tempting out there."

"CU is phenomenal school that continues to improve in national standings. Not to mention, Boulder is a stunning place with a culture unlike anywhere else. I greatly enjoyed my time at CU and feel that I've learned a lot. I studied Integrative Physiology (IPHY), which is their version of pre-med; however, it is very broad and you'll find yourself having to take more classes than what is required in order to satisfy grad school requirements. CU recently cut anatomy lab from the degree requirements, which is silly because its a pre-req for any health related graduate school. Anatomy lab was my favorite class during my time at CU because working with cadavers was a remarkable experience where I truly felt like I was using everything I had learned up to that point in a single class. Cutting the lab from the requirements for the IPHY major will open the lab up to any one who wants to take it and will make it harder for IPHY majors to secure a spot. If you're interested in medicine, I do recommend CU because you'll learn a great deal of valuable information, but just know what classes you must take for grad-school before your junior year so that you won't be stressing over getting into specific classes that aren't required by the IPHY major."

"I loved my 4 years at the University of Colorado Boulder. Fortunately I was able to earn a partial scholarship to be able to attend. Over all i feel like Boulder produces very intellectual graduates who go off to change the world. For me I loved the experience I had with in the Psychology department. it was challenging and informational. Everyone in that department help put me on a path to attain my Masters degree and I am forever grateful"

"I enjoyed CU and Boulder and my overall college experience for the most part. As Biology (Pre-Med), most of my classes were in auditoriums, Chem 140 being a popular location for most of them, as I recall. It was not unusual to have 300 students in my classes. I have always wished I had done one of two things: 1.) that I had chosen a different major and area of study which matched my personality and abilities better and that would have been supported by a smaller class size at CU, or 2.) that I had chosen a smaller liberal arts college with smaller classes so that any latent abilities or interests I might have possessed might have had an opportunity to bubble up to be discovered. Instead of medical school, I flew in the Navy, then with the airlines. Because I have felt I did not receive a well-rounded , more personal education at CU, I have not given monetary support to the institution."

"The University of Colorado at Boulder was one of the best investments I have ever made. I've had many years in the professional world after graduation, and not only what I learned in class, but what I learned on such a diverse campus was extremely applicable to what I found in my first career."

"I went to CU undecided on what I wanted to study. Because it is such a big school, people who are more social and experience less anxiety in general will flourish here. It is beautiful and there is always something to do. Living on campus, however, is difficult as it is often very loud in the dorms. To say it is a party school is almost an understatement. While I didn't attend any parties, I was invited to many and there were quite a few on Mondays. Because of this pressure to attend parties and rank higher in popularity, I witnessed a lot of girls that struggled with drinking or being in unsafe situations. Overall, I personally didn't feel safe living on campus. The professors are engaging and have helpful resources. Students range but I generally found they were not welcoming. Most students were, unfortunately, reserved and stuck-up. This may have just been due to the stress many students experienced or bad timing, but I had to go the extra mile to make friends. This school is great for receiving a degree and being in a beautiful environment, however it is socially loud, socially demanding and sometimes dangerous."

"UCCS was a wonderful school that provided me with many opportunities. I grew up in New York my entire life and went to college in Connecticut for my first year and a half. After realizing that the east coast was no longer my home, I decided to venture out and explore new territory. I am so glad I was able to attend school in the state of Colorado. Not only was the institution itself beautiful, but so was the surrounding area. The classes were extremely interesting, the professors were highly professional and always willing to help their students, and I believe the school itself really helped me prepare for my future endeavors. UCCS helped me realize my passion and helped me realize that I was meant to continue my education in hopes of obtaining a career I had not even thought about while attending school in Connecticut."

"UCCS was a wonderful school that provided me with many opportunities. I grew up in New York my entire life and went to college in Connecticut for my first year and a half. After realizing that the east coast was no longer my home, I decided to venture out and explore new territory. I am so glad I was able to attend school in the state of Colorado. Not only was the institution itself beautiful, but so was the surrounding area. The classes were extremely interesting, the professors were highly professional and always willing to help their students, and I believe the school itself really helped me prepare for my future endeavors. UCCS helped me realize my passion and helped me realize that I was meant to continue my education in hopes of obtaining a career I had not even thought about while attending school in Connecticut."

"I absolutely loved my experience at CU. I committed to the school without ever having seen the campus, which was certainly risky, but it definitely worked out. The campus is stunning, the facilities are top notch, and I absolutely loved my classes. I received a BA in English Literature and a minor degree in Philosophy. All of my classes for my degree were smaller in size, which I really loved (note: general education classes can be much bigger). I got to know my teachers really well, and I absolutely loved the courses offered to me: Gothic Horror Literature, American Folklore, Victorian Sexualities, Animal Ethics, and Bioethics were all at the top of my list! Overall, I loved everything about CU and would highly recommend it to any student!"

"University of Colorado is a wonderful university for those going into science fields. It has great opportunities for those in the science/ premedical fields from research positions to teaching assistant positions. That being said, you do have to seek them out yourself and apply for a few in order to secure a spot. However, the effort will be well worth it in the long run whether applying for jobs or graduate school upon graduation. CU is a large university so the first couple of years, class sizes can be quite large (200+). They will usually have study sessions or professor hours with smaller groups and I recommend any student attend these as they will offer a different type of learning experience than the lecture-type classroom. As you get into high level classes (3000 or 4000 level), the class sizes get smaller and feel much more manageable. The programs themselves offer many resources to help students succeed from a writing center to tutoring hours- a great resource that many student do not take advantage of. Overall, I feel that this program put me in a good place to apply for additional schooling both in terms of the courses I had taken as well as the rigor of the school- so consider this if seeking a graduate degree. Location wise, CU really cant be beat. It is nestled up against the foothills and offers boundless outdoor activities in a picturesque location. The school has many clubs to get involved in activities and feel like a part of the community."

"I would say that the education in University of Colorado Boulder is very basic. School does not focus on education quality but focuses on filling their classes more. I think advisors are very misleading. They try to lead students to do many things at once and explore many classes which are not even required for your major. School of Arts and Science is very poorly managed and you could only hope for better job after graduation. School of engineering and business school are much more preferred by employees. Im pursing my masters from different school because I could not find a good job after graduation. As for the location of the campus is very good and environment is very friendly as well."